The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-05
PRISON ABUSES.
Inspectors Punish Guards
Who Failed to See Con-
victs Escape.
ALL DELEGATES ABOLISHED
Keepers Had Alarm Clocks to
Wake Them Up When
on Duty.

Especial to THE Jersey City News.'1
TRENTON. Oct. 1. 1S9s.-The State
Board of Prison Inspectors has confirmed
the three months suspension imposed on
Keepers Yard and Bergen for permitting
the smuggling of delicacies into the prls-
on and has suspended three other keepers
for two months each sfor contributory
negligence in connection with the escape
Of two convicts from the prison on the
night of August IL" The Suspension
in each case carries with it loss of pay.
In addition the board decided to have
removed from the prison cells such lux
uries as gas stoves, plush couches ana
similar articles heretofore permitted to
be used by prisoners able to pay ior
them. One Of the first to suffer on ac-
count of the new rule was George M Val
entine, who is doing a six year term Tor
looting the Perth Amboy Bank Of q Few
undred thousand dollars. He protested,
and appeared to think the new order was
aimed directly against him..
The suspension of Yard n Bergen, as
stated. was because of their failing TO
have discovered that delicacies were be-
ing struggled into the prison for the use
of a few prominent prisoners. At hrst u
was supposed that the accused keepers
were responsible or had procured the
goods themselves. The investigation, It
is said. proved that such was not the
case and It also brought to light the
fact that such prisoners as were willing
to pay for it could ~btain-excep 50 Iar
as absolute freedom was concerned-ah
the comforts the desired. That led 70
the issuance of the order directing the
removal of gas stoves, couches and SINH
lar c-ontrivances for the comfort OF the
prisoners.
The .scontributory negligence" of which
the other keepers were accused consisted
If baing .asleep on post when William
smear and David Holden, two desperate
conviets. escaped and have not been re-
CAPTURED. It was found that the accused
keepers were doing extra work at the
time. made necessary by the Inadequate
force employed, or otherwise, 1t was SAID
tha keepers would have been dismissed
smear and Holden took a very long
chance in making their break for liberty.
In tbe course of their departure they were
for a short time at least. within sight OF
the CENTRE at which point a spseiai
off3eer is supposed to be always keeping a
vigilant watch. Then they mad 70 pass
under several big electric lights before
reaching the southwest corner OF the prls-
ON wall, over which they climbed 70 np-
ertv. In crossing the yard 1t was neces-
sarv for them to dodge the rays of the big
saarchlieht that is supposed to be ever
Ia et;nolv switching about over all com
ars of the prison at night. But they pass
ID through the entire ordeal successfully,
,eaving behind only the striped suits that
tba state had furnished them. Where
they got the other clothes Is another OF
tbe mysteries that surround their easy
departure.
The point at which they scaled the wall
was within ten feet of the southwest tow
or b,,t neither this nor the northwest
tower are manned between 9 o'clock at
night and 4 O'Clock in the morning, an Of
which was evidently known to the con-
victs.
midway down the south wall is another
tower within easy view of the scene OF
the escape. This was manned by an Oh
icer. hut he has to make a trip around 70
the front of one of the shops and the prs
oners may have waited for him to cross
out Of sight.
After reaching the top of the wall spear
and Holden. with a rope made out OF one
of their blankets, hauled a ladder up ana
lowering it on to the street. they descend
ed to the world of freedom. Knowing that
the tower close by would be occupied at
four o'clock in the morning, they carried
the ladder away and hid 1t under some
trees at the State Arsenal.
The inspectors in the course OF their IN
v~estigation found that the towers were
manned by keepers who were doing an
"extra trick and slept while doing So
In other words. they performed other
work apart from that Of keeping watch
in the towers, and slept while doing the
latter.
1t was also found that the towers were
supplied with alarm clocks set so as to
awaken the watchers every hour. The
| clocks, as well as the gas stoves and
| couches, were ordered removed.