The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-04
'ELMIRA'S HOT HOOK.
Keeper McNish Describes How
Brockway Used It.
Saw Many PaddIings, but No FISH
Blows Struca.
His Testimony for the Defense Cor
roborates Many Accusations.

Brockway and his Board of Managers
OF the Elmira Reformatory began this
moraing, at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
their deterse in the second investigation
of the mismanagement of the institution
and of the inhuman treatment of its
inmates.
The State Board of Charities unani-
mously condemned Brockway at the
close of the first inquiry. and now the
managers are on trial for neglect Of
duty In failing to remove him.
Jimmy the Tough" carried on the
rolls of the Reformatory as James Lag
endy. a keeper. was a conspicuous fig.
ure in the corridors of the hotel. the
popularity OF his carriage. with his
elevated shoulders and dropped chin
contrasting strongly with his surround.
ings.
Ex-Convict and Prison Clerk Oscar
Hoppe. Keepers Sam Semple and Bur
dette Spencer and DIR. w. G. Wey Presl-
dent, and James Il. Rathbone, of the
Board Of Managers. and j. b. Stanch-
field. counsel, came down from Elmira
last night.
to make light OF the evidence against
them. and in default of witnesses to re.
flute the charges of brutality. SO fully
proven by 1.-The World" will try to
laugh away the stories OF Brockway S
cruelty to over $50 victims.
From four to five days will be con-
sumed by Brockway and his fellows IN
their effort to dissipate the clouds OF
evidence against them
In the course of inquiry seventy-two
inmates and ex-inmates have testified
head with paddle; twenty-five ha 4
been punched and kicked by Brockway:
fourteen had been knocked senseless by
Brockway: eight were strung up by the
cieG by Brockway: thirty-five had been
kicked and punched by keepers in Brock
wsJ's presence: thirty-eight swore that
plocd had been drawn while under pun
tshmeht by Brockway.
Brockway's own, records showed that
1850 inmates had been subjected to
physical treatment" and that inmates
subsequently transferred as insane had
Judge w. L. Larned. OF Albany; Is
isel 4. peyo. of Binghamton, and DR..
Justin Flint. of This city. the three
commissioners appointed by Gov
rtvec promptly at 1890 o'clock. Brock
way was not present.
Jessie 8. McNish. an ex-guard. night
watchman and keeper at the Elmira
Reformatory, was the first witness. He
was keeper In the hall in 1887. He was
In the bathroom when Leopold Cohen
and Jacob Meyers, two inmates. were
taken there. Brockway and Winnie were
Brockway DID not strike or Kick
either Of the men, nor did he see Whine
strike them, he said.
did you see Supt. Brockway strike
or punish Meyers on the head?"
mo. l-well, ! saw some trouble, hut
don't remember seeing Meyers struck
by the superintendent or Whine"
McNish denied that anyone had dra VII
q knife OF stood over Meyers with a
, knife while In the bathroom. He also
dented that he had seen Leopold Roser
struck oyer the head by Broadway OF
any OF the Reformatory officials while
In the bathroom.
II saw Rosen spanked. but he was
not MT on the head, said he.
but never saw it flow from anywhere
but the nose. ! never heard Brockwa,
use profanity other than to say damn
and that very seldom. ! never saw
ing. with a coat thrown over his head
by the wrists"
This testimony was put in 10y the de
tense In contradiction of evidences o.
brutality submitted by the prosecution
Cohen testified that McNish beat ant
struck him: Meyers sworc that McNlsl
held knife over him: threatened an,
NIT him and Rosen and Kinney. and tina
he was present when they were strucl
by Brockway and Whine
Cross-examined by Judge Gilbert. III,
witness said he could not remember
ever having made reports against Cohen
Rosen, Meyers or Kinney, in the de
partment of which he was in charge,
You know 1t was long time az,
and 4 CANT recall everything that oc
The witness described the solitary con
nnement cells with two rings In the flon
70 which prisoners were handcurfcd. II
had known of inmates to be confined ii
the cells for four or five days, bu
could not remember that any OF then
had been there for six days or more.
.Two-thirds of the time while he was a
the Reformatory 1t was his duty to b
present at the punishment of inmates
You have seen Brockway strike in
mates over the head several times wit
q strap"
Yes 1 have"
Whom did you see him strike?"
can't remember"
''How many did YOU see struck +
that mannerP'
~ can't remember
Didn't yor see an inmate bleed a
the nose as the result of such blows"
Yes: but he might not have bee
soes bleed In The face in order to make hi
Why were the inmates struck owe
Because they turned their head
while under punishment, after havin
been cautioned not to do so.
Il did MT examine the backs OF an
OF the inmates after punishment. but
never saw the skin broken. | have see
blood-boil or pimpie on the back broke
under punishment"
"One pinple or more" asked Judl
3 Larned
oh. thele may have heen more tina
one"
: McNish could recall only one instan,
In which he had seen Rrockway NAL
n motion to strike an inmate with h
hands. He had seen black and Bit
mark on the face of an inmate ATT
punishment.
81 remember tnat Meyers was beir
spanked, and that he fen down" ga
McNish. II can't say that he was stru,
on any part OF the body except the ha elk
az least don't recoleCt that he was.
After he fell down Movers was pick,
up, stood against the wall and whippe
] have seen inmates strung up by Il
wrists but am quite sure that Meye
was never strung up.
Il have ON several occasions clean
up blood from the floor and on the va
OF the bathrooms after inmates had be
punished"
He said he had seen the iron no,
made of bent gas pipe.
THE hook was heated red hot Al
thrust through the door of the cell Al
around the body Of the prisoner to dr.
him out" said he.
You have seen the performance "
describe on several ocCa spns?"
Yes | have. The iron was used
take the men ou' Of their rooms. aft
fhaN gHTt at al .