The Jersey City news., 1901-07-09
STATE PRISON KEEPERS
Inspector Will Consider
Talk of. Cruel Treat
ment Of Criminal.
Especial to ..rhe Jersey city News. II

>
TRENTON. July 9, 4 l9O1-The State
Prison Inspectors, at their meeting today
will consider Increases Of Night Centre
Keeper George D. Wheeler and Night
Deputy James w. Waddick, whose cruel
treatment Is alleged to have driven John
Coan Of Princeton to attempt suicide the
morning of May 26. Both keepers were
charged with violation of a strict prison
rule in the case of Coan, but after hear
ing considerable testimony at the last
meeting the inspectors deferred action
pending more thorough investigation.
Rumors have been rife In prison cir
cles that the board had agreed upon pun
ishing both keepers by a long term of
suspension and some quarters it was
limited that they would even be dismissed.
That both these reports were without
foundation appear to be the case from the
fact that the inspectors have not met
since the case was first brought up, al
though some supplemental testimony has
been taken in the meantime
This testimony, it is reliably stated,
tends to confirm the defense made by
both Wheeler and Waddck to part of the
case in question. Although at the same
time showing that inmates of the prison
are often the objects of harsh and even
cruel treatment at the hands of their
custodians
The evidence in Coan's case, as taken
up to date, discloses the fact that for
some time prior to his attempted suicide
he had been in poor health, although not
confined by any specific ailment. That
he had for some days been under physi-
clans treatment was also admitted.
The night before the attempted suicide.
Coan signalled to Deputy Waddick by
rapping on the bars of his cell, just after
Waddick had passed. The first signal
brought no response, but a second brought
Waddick to the spot.
Coan then asked to be allowed to speak
to Headkeeper Moore. but was informed
that he could not do so, the rules requir-
ing that such a request must be made in
writing. Coan repeated his request once
or twice and then Waddick took him from
his cell to the centre and placed him in
charge of Center Keeper Wheeler.
Coan was then kept standing In the CEN
tre handcuffed for several hours. Next
morning he tried to kill himself by jump
ing from the balcony.
Former Senator Carter, one of the in
spectors, said yesterday that the defense
regarding the calling of the headkeeper
was correct, and that he evidence did not
show that Coan had asked for physi-
clan. II he had, Senator Carter said, 1t
would have been the duty of the keeper
to have at once reported it; otherwise,
his dismissal would follow as a matter
of course. Coan, he said, had himself
admitted that he did not ask for ply
sician.
At the same time it is rumored that the
inspectors are disposed to look with much
disfavor upon the infliction of such rig
orous punishment upon even a convict
known to be in i'll health While they
have not discussed the matter as body,
there is we'll defined impression that as
individuals they propose making an ex
ample of the keepers implicatead.
The reports of Waddick's cruelty upon
other occasions have been particularly
persistent, and present signs indicate that
he will suffer in consequence.