The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-18
OF DISCIPLINE
Board Of Inspectors Report on
Rumors About New Jer-
sey State Prison.

4 Especial to "The Jersey City News."1
TRENTON, March Is. is9S.-The Board
of Inspectors of the New Jersey State
Prison gave out a statement yesterday
with relation to the many rumors that
have been circulated within the past two
weeks about affairs in that institution.
The statement is substantially as fol-
lows
1t is true, as reported, that there has
been an unfortunate laxity of discipline
in the women's department OF the Prison
for some time past. Some Of the facts
have been known to the Board, and a
quiet Investigation has been going on.
with the double view of remedying the
evil and of avoiding any injustice TO those
not involved.
1t was only recently that the state
ments which had been made from time
to time to the inspectors assumed such a
character tina they could be used as evil
dence, and when this point was reached
the Board acted promptly and vigorously.
The result was the passage of a resolu-
ton requesting the designations Of the
matron and one of her assistants.
The matron promptly resigned and
has left the prison. The assistant, Mrs.
Mary N. Waters. requested a hearing,
which was accorded her ON Wednesday,
when she succeeded in satisfying the
Board that her conduct. since her en-
pioyment at the prison, had been such
as to justify them in resembling the reso-
luton requesting her resignation, which
was promptly done, and she has been re-
stored to her former position.
Miss Georgia Lloyd, adopted daughter
of Principal Keeper Moore. has been APP
pointed matron in place of Mrs. Leeds,
and Miss Snedeker, of Mercer county, has
been appointed in place of Mrs. Newell,
who was dismissed some weeks ago. Both
of these appointees are highly recon-
mended.
No other changes have been made.
Mrs. Newell was dismissed by Keeper
Moore, without consultation with the
Board, and although she denies the truth
of the charges made against her, she has
not asked for reinstatement.
1t is proper to say that nothing in the
action Of the Board has conveyed any
reflection upon the personal character of
any of the employees involved.
The stories that have been so indus
triously circulated concerning intimate
relations between the male and female
prisoners, which are expected to lead to
unpleasant results, are absolutely without
foundation.
The laws of the State mereifully pro-
vide for the removal of women found to
be in a delicate condition, in order that
they may receive more suitable care than
can be given them in the prison. and also
to spare their children the odium of hay-
ing been born in a penal Institution.
Two women prisoners have recently
been received in the condition referred to.
One of them, who was received about
four months ago.. has been removed, as
the law requires, to a suitable place, un-
der the direction of DR.. Mackenzie, the
Prison Physician, and a similar course
will be pursued at the proper time in the
ease of the other, who has been in the
prison but a few weeks. The condition
of these women'a lat the time they were re-
ceived was fully understood by the
Prison Physician, and the lawful arrange
ments for their care have been made
with the cognizance and approval of the
Board of Inspectors.