New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-14
BROCKWAY TESTTFIES.
HE DENIES ALL THE CHARGES MADE
AGAINST HIM.
-Doss. EXAMINED BEFORE THE COMMISSIONS
ABOUT HIS TREATMENT OF INMATES
OF THE REFoRMATORY.

cposs EXAMINED BEFORE THE COMMISSIONS
ABOUT HIS TREATMENT OF INMATES
OF THE REFORMATORY.
ElmIra ~ Y Sept. l3-Commissioners Leafneo
and Deyo began the final session of the Reformatory
Investigation at that institution at 10 o'clock this
morning Dr. Austin Flint. the third commissioner
was not present Ex-Judge Gilbert appeared aons
for the prosecution and William NJ WINS and Jonn
b. Stanchfeld represented the defence
Chief Clerk Hoppe produced statistics showing
tba, during the five years before the investigation
was begun the average number OF inmates reporteo
for lighting was thirty-seven for each six montnA
and during the six months following the opening q
the Investigation the number Increased to IT,
Superintendent u. r. Brockway was the next WIZ
ness He said, In answer to questions by Mr. iN"~
that he has been general superintendent OF the No
formatory since its establishment In 1876 For forty.
a,.e wears ne said he has been connected with pehai
institutions He had established the system OF ais
cipne and the trade schools at the Reforma'orS'
Mr. Rrocway described in detail the object and pufs
nose OF the Intermediate sentence the age limitations
and other features which distinguish this Reformsc
tory from other penal institutions lie saio tnas
when what Is known as the Yates bill, prohibiting
labor in prisons went into effect. the military sye
TEN in the Reformatory was established 10 give 'ne
men occupation and exercise. 1t worked 80 wen
that Il has been retained Mr.. Brockway explained
what he means by moral impression as improved
Obligations" He said that the school OF letters tns
trades the military and other features aided In max
ing the moral impression on the Inmate. Inc az
ciplnary means employed for men VINO "ouu NOV
respond to ordinary agencies Mr. Brockway ss'o'
were loss Of grade with different clothing; warnns'
deprivation Of privileges. secison ana SPANKING
All these were administered reformatory meas
ures and not for a punitive purpose. Mr.. Brockway
described the rest cure cells as certain row OF
cells used to confne men who were to be kept unoe'
observation men In whose all disciplinary
means had been exhausted and who were given .
rest for a while, and men Of low morals
Mr. Brockway entered a general denial OK INC
charges that he kicked inmates struck them IRE
ouentlv with his fist had then strung up In the
bathroom until their feet were or the moor, anu
punished them with the strap until oiooo ho"eu
from their backs. He denied categorcahy tne
statements OF the fifty or sixty witnesses ior 'ne
prosecution who said they had received black eyes:
COMMISSIONS and kicks been knocked down, renoereo
insensibe and permanently injured by him. nc
said he struck man In the neat Oh PdS''0'.s
never spanked a man who was too weak 10 s'ano
I'D any more, never knocked out an inmate 'ee'"
and never saw man taken out or the pathroom
with a coat thrown over his head to conceal his
condition.
Mr. Brockway's direct examination lasted thres
hours Ex-Judge Gilbert then cross-examined MIN
on the many cases OF excessive punishment ana
ill-treatment which have been described oy wiz
for the prosecutor ne sdiu ne oPp'S'~S
of Goggng and preferred 1t to any other means
sunloved in discipining convicts. Judge Gilbert
called his attention TO his testimony before leg
islative committee In 1882 when he said ne dio not
approve OF corporal punishment, ana tnat Hs Use
had a bad effect on those who adrninistereo "
and on those who witnessed It, Mr.. brock"sy
said that was his opinion then. but II Is diherens
now Judge Gilbert asked him II he did not TESTIFY
then that Il is very difficult TO take weapon ID
hand and strike a blow without putting feeling IN
IT, He replied that he believed that also AZ the
time. Judge Gilbert then asked: Ian % ySu b,oWs
with the strap that you can strike biow "itn'
out feeling"
ION none Of the occasions In which you inflicted
blows. no matter how obstinate the man was can
Won saw that no passion was aroused!
Il was not conscious OF any temper or passion.
When inmates who were IN the bathroom mr., ME-, %.
ing punished turned their heads' nave 'ou s"~A
them over the head
Il have slapped them 80
lis there any record or these oio"S Aep' W.
arate from those on the back!'
Did not some OF these blows cause the nose -
bleed"
can you say how many?"
There have been occasions when the handle
OF the strap has been used to strike bows!
What was the result OF that"
"A slight abrasion on the forehead
What done for II? 4. g.. A..
"A piece OF court-plaster was put on It by the
:Wtha. was the man doing when the blow was
struck" ,., H., -. o.. a.. ..
49, von not frequently struck inmates with
vour fst when you were interviewing them
mot frequently: sometimes
..jIove YOU not struck inmates over the mouth
ard across the eyes with the strap?
Il have slapped them over the mead ana tne
end Of the strap may have reached the mouth or
the eyes" -. a., -.
and mouth as the result OF blows with the strapI.
II have seen the nose bleed. but not the mouth"
what was the object OF giving blows over the
head -. ..... .s.. -
..'ro produce the desired effect quicker than ~
punish ment on the buttocks
P"..i,d some Of tho inmates have black and blue
marks afterward as the result OF the blows!
The defence expect TO close their case to-nors