The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-20
A BR0CKWAY VICTIM.
His Charge, Patrick MoGowan,
Dying in a Brooklyn Hospital
Repeated Padding, 1t Is Alleged,
Caused IncurabIe Disease.
Coroner kene Takes His Ante or
tenn Statement.

Coroner kene. of Brooklyn, was sum-
moned to the Long Island College Hos
pital at l o'clock this morning to take
the ante-mortem statement of Patrick
MCGOWAN, twenty-five years old of 975
Dean street. who Is believed to be dy-
ing. The young man is Ill with pIeiif0:
pneumonia. brought on, 1t Is alleged,
by being brutally padded by Supt.
Brockway, of the Elmira Reformatory,
and his assistants.
MCGOWAN was so weak that 1t was
necessary to administer stimulants to
give him the strength to talk. AS 1t
was, Coroner Kene did not get his story
until nearly two hours had elapsed
McGowan's tale was printed in THE
World on July 8.
Some years ago he was sent to the
Elmira Rcformatory for breaking into
store on Atlantic avenue, Brooklyn,
and stealing several hams. He says he
was innocent Of the charge. On reaching
the institution he was set to work in
the iron foundry.
Oct. %, 1889, was his birthday. He was
summoned to the famous bathroom on
that day. where he was surrounded by
Brockway and three other men. He was
accused of some trivial offense. Nc
Gowan's story of what followed was
thus related to a reporter:
" Brockway asked me what I meant
by my conduct l did not reply, and,
continuing, he asked me II l could not
conduct myself properly. l said; Yes.
against, me in the future He said:
Yes, that is all very fine. but promises
won't work here. ] don't want any Sun
ddsy-school talk: ! guess ! had better
stand over against the window there.
Put your hands above your head.
Keeper Winnie then rolled up my
right, while Brockway stood on the left,
holding the paddle in his hands. bore
up under five lashes. which were laid
hssy sixth Sysr a my n ndq fe
heap on the floor. and Brockwav con-
tinued to use his paddle; l had tainted,
but had not lost consciousness. Keeper
almost lifeless. l was carried to a
cell. and after time / was forced to
return to work, although ! was not able
to raise my hand to my head"
MCGOWAN alleged that he was padded
again in August, 1890, for failing in re-
ports. on that occasion he only got
three lashes.
"In August Of that year was pad
died for the third time" he continued.
tobacco pipes had been found in the
shop where was at work. The pipes
gersoil Keepr Minks said he had seen
me handling the pipes. and had me
chalked' in at II o'clock.-that Is. he
had two KS put on my cell door, which
means that you are to be taken to the
bathroom to be padded.
AT / o'clock ! was taken to the
grade;,room floor: Keeper Winnie asked
did not know. He then sent for a
young man named Hart, and asked him
who owned the pipes. Hart said he did
not know. Both OF US were s,t taken TO
Mclaughlin were there. Hart was pad
died first. Then ! was taken into the
room. Brockway told me. using profane
language, he would burst my kidneys
and make me worthless the remainder
He has kept his word, II, I ever
rise from this bed 1t will be little short
of miracle. never expect to be strong
again. He gave me eighteen lashes.
! was then let out and Hart was taken
into the room and padded again, for
owned the pipes. The poor fellow fin
ally yielded by telling Brockway that
Ingersoll owned them. The latter was
then brought to the the room ne b admisssa
given to him by a young man named
Jock, who had been transferred to the
State Prison.
ton he escaped being padded. After
had been padded ] was taken to the
workshop. For two. weeks afterwards
| could not lie I'm bed. ] did not merit
the severe punishment l received. | was
punished wrongfully, and Brockway did
not even say he had made mistake or
that he was sorry.
In December following he was pad
died again; and he was beaten again on
March 81. 1895.
McGowan was in the Elmira Reforma-
tory hospital from July 2, 1893, until
Sept. 80 He was discharged the fol-
lowing day. Since that. time, three
operations have been performed upon
him, at each of which several quarts
Of water have been removed.
At the hospital this morning IT was
said that in all probability he would
not survive throughout the day.