New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-23
NOT SAFE TO TESTIFY.
THE ELMIRA REFoRMAToRY INvEsTIGA-
TON
WITNESSES APPEAL, TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
PROTECTION-MoRE EVIDENCE AGAINST
THE MANAGEMENT.

a sensation at the opening Of the days hearing at
| the Reformatory investigation lie IL an inmate
who yesterday told about being arrested while on
parole and returned to the Reformatory He asked
for an opportunity make a statement to the COM
mt,ee. He said: II want TO state a few facts. OF
which there is plenty Of proof, and which think
the committee ought to know. Since the last inves-
tigation Mr.. Hoppe has interviewed two men. and,
I think some others and promised them promotion
if'they would come before the present investigation
and perjure themselves by testfyng against the men
who had testified before Another man. who. was
told is a lawyer. offered employment TO an inmate
named Reynolds II he would perjure himself. The
men have requested to tell this to the commit
tee 50 that they could be called and allowed TO tes
tify"
Judge Learned asked: "Can you give their names
or numbers" Tho witness replied: "Tarpey. 400:
Lynch $40; Sneller 5,747; Garfield, 5,5f3 and
Pierce, 1914" The last-named is the man who was
produced yesterday and found to be too deaf to be
examined
The witness continued his statement. saying: 1T
Is rumored through the institution that men who
testified would have hard time hereafter. II the
committee will examine the books OF the institu-
ton they will find that since the first investigation
bsgan there have been grade changes and
twice as many paroled than during the same
length of time in the past five years
The witness then appealed to the committee for
protection He asked 10 be transferred to State
prison. where. he said, II he acted like man. he
would be treated like a man. while at the Reforma
tory, he said. he was ted like the underdog He
said that Mr.. Brockway had told him that he would
only serve out thrty-two months of his maxi
mum term but would be kept months besides
to make up for the time he out parole. He
gave the names OF ogden Jacobs and Reynolds as
the men who had been asked to perjure themselves
by giving testimony favorable to the management
He said. in 10 questions by eX-Judge Gilbert
that he had the backs Of several men who had
been padded ana in one case-that of Tarpey-the
Ill, Dfr lo,l
ming down his legs. He said he had seen Hoffman
Manuel Duyer and Raynor when their backs were
black and discolored. On cross-examnation the
witness admitted refusing TO leave his cell recently
when ordered. and to talking back" to the keepers
He also owned up to resisting when handouts were
TO be placed on him. and minor offences. He said
that he asked permission 10 write to Governor
Flower. and that he refused. draft Of A let
found in his room. which he said he in
tended send If he got permission. but did not in
tend to smuggle out. lie was reported for having
correspondence in his room.
The committee told Gilmore that they had no pow
in regard transfers of inmates or to the dsci
pine of the ReformatOry.
Ex-Judge Gilbert asked that the guarantee Of I'm
munity from punishment which was extended to
witnesses a; the first investigation be extended 70
witnesses at the present hearing. After some
argument Mr. WINS of counsel for the manage
ment. stated that he would promise that witnesses
who gave testimony would not b. treated in any way
differently than II they did not testify
The next witness. Frank White. startled the Com
mission by refusing to testify. He asked by ex-
Judge Gilbert If he coming from the bath
room with WI marks Of punishment on them He re-
had one experience giving testimony and don't care
what he meant. He replied: Il had my labor
CHANGED for speaking freely and was placed in
on December u. was eight days in close seclu
sion in the rest cure, and was then kept in solitary
confinement the south gallery to January rs /
WAS then put in the pipe shop and given harder
from the library and was not allowed to go to the
The Witness S further said that he sin in the
injury to his character as the most depraved in
mates are kept there He was also reduced from
MIR. DeyO. Of the committee asked the witness:
Has any. one spoken 10 you and asked you not
to ~Y 5est1fy?"
Was the person an officer of the institution or
IF we assure you that you would not be made
20 suffer for anything you may say would you
mo. given that assurance before and It
was not kept. do not propose to take any more
chances. l have four months more to serve and
Counsel for the prosecution asked the committee
10 Gre Fnt the witness b TO answer Cannot no made 70
sacrifice himself" Judge Learned. the chairman.
Dr. .'' Henry ' Flood was called to tell of his exami-
nation Of the inmate Pierce who Is too deaf TO be
practically destroyed. but that there we're indi
cations of external violence In his opinion the
caused by a blow or blows Pierce told the doctor
WAS Struck on the head With ~ key by one Of the
keepers. and pounded all over the head After
that he had gradually lost h4s hearing, until he had
become permanently deaf. Or. Flood declined to
caused by the assault made on him.
ICr Case. another medical witness. gave similar
Several inmates testified to punishment in the
rated in part what Gilmore had said in regard TO
inmates being asked by Chief Clerk Hoppe to testify
actions Of the witness raised question as TO his
minated and the committee requested that his name
and me statements which he made be Withheld from
lie by cutting his throat several times. Harry
Jacobs Of the boys mentioned by Gilmore.
Hoppe had sent for him and asked him to give
testimony, but promises were held out,
threats made. and ne asked to testify
positively that he was padded four times. although
the record showed that he had been taken to the
padded, Mr. Brockway kicking him in the back
Ramsd august Ku,sshs taken to the bdthro0m And
on The witness SAID that he s V
to the hospital. The witness said this was early in
June. 1899; and that on June H.. he saw Kutsches
pubished in the Reforma t5si'' VIC "'"' p''
The defence denied this story and produced the
records of the institution. which did not mention
Kusches being taken to the bathroom at any
time. but showed that he admitted 10 the
hospital May "a. 1893 and died May 30. They also
put In evidence The Summary" of June II. which
did not contain the death notice, It appeared in
the issue Of the previous week.
On cross-examinatlon. the witness. Johnson. ad-
mtted fighting. striking major and doing other
things in the hope that ne would be transferred
to State Prison. as he preferred that 10 the Re-
forma DRY.
MRS SPETERS AND HER son PECOTERING
Mrs Speyers. widow OF James Speyers. is recov-
erng from injuries which she received in a
carriage accident recently. She tramped by a
hors and her leg hrOk on in fVO Her