New-York tribune., 1901-12-09
HAGAN NOT SUSPENDED.
COMMISSIONER LANTRY RE-
VERSES HIS DEPUTY.
A STORY WHICH TENDS TO INDICATE
LAXITY OF MANAGEMENT
AT THE TOMRS.


corrections has refused to indorse the action
taken by his deputy, N Q. Tanning on Saturday
in suspendng from duty Warden James J.
Hagar of the Tombs Prison charges of ac-
cording unusual liberties to ex-Wardman Bis
sert. convicted of receiving money from the
keeper of an alleged disorderly house. Mr.. Fan
ming, when seen yesterday. said:
Commissioner Iantry took the papers in the
ease. and he does not approve of my suspension
Of Warden Hagan. When 1 took the action L
expressly stated that the whole matter was re-
ferred Commissioner Lantrv That is all l
care to say
Warden Hagan appeared at the Tombs about
10 o'clock yesterday forenoon. According to the
keepers it the first time that the warden
had ever appeared his post on a Sunday. He
NAMED until about . O'Clock in the afternoon
Asked about his suspension he said:
While Commissioner Lantry is in the city
any act of Deputy Commissioner Tanning Is
that OF u private citizen 1 shall pay no atten-
tion 10 his suspension of warden of the
Tombs. i came down usual to-day to attend
10 business. and was not interfered with Had
] been ] should have resented such interference.
1t was purely a case of religion. which l de-
piore. and 1 will not say who started it 1t
was alleged by certain missionary who comes
up here to the Tonlbs that L favored Wardnan
Bssert and allowed him to eat at my table
and also send for de1icacies- Before
man is convicted of crime i extend to him the
privileges that a man supposed to be innocent
under the law enjoys. If 1 know a who is
e prisoner 1 shall naturally lean toward him,
any other will, but during the four years
that l have been here I have never given
prisoner an unwarranted advantage, nor have
abused a man.
SAYS CHAPLAIN WAS ANGRY AT HIM.
Chaplain John ]. Munro became angry at me
for reason which / will not state. except to
say that il was a personal matter and Deputy
Commissioner flaming took up the fight.
/ am sorry that IL occurred, especially as /
Will soon be out of Office owing to the change
Of administrations, and hate to have an attack
made upon me at this late day. 1 met Deputy
Commissioner Tanning Saturday afternoon. and
We parted about 3 o'clock. Then he came around
10 the prison about 10 O'Clock that night and
4 note for me saying that l suspended. He
also stated to couple of reporters that he could
not find me there. giving them the impression
that was derelict in my duty. He knew when
he made this statement that l was on days and
was not supposed to be in the office at night
Commissioner Lantry said he had received a
telegram Saturday night from Mr.. flaming
telling of the suspension of Warden Hagan.
My idea. .said Commissioner Lantry. lis that
Hr. Tanning lost his head He certainly acted
ill advisedly. for was in the city, and if there
was cause for Warden Hagan's suspension I
should have been called upon in the mat
ter. The charges. l understand them are
that Warden Hagan afforded special privileges
10 Bissert. that Bissert was permitted to dine at
the warden's table, and enjoyed other special
privileges. The warden of the city prison has
the right to afford such privileges to any pris-
oner in his charge as he sees fit. SO long the
rules of the prison not violated. ] under
stand Bissert did dine at the warden's table. as
he had the right to do If the warden granted
him that privilege.
Warden Hagan is good officer. and in his
term Of four years has proved himself thorough
IL efficient Mr. Tanning is also an excellent
official. but somewhat cratic / shall be at my
office tomorrow (Monday). and will make a
thorough investigation. Hagan will have a full
opportunity the charges against him,
which, / understand, originated through
quarrel between Chaplain Munro. representing
the Presbyterian Mission Society at the city
prison. and another missionary 1t was dis
pute which of those two should have the
right TO deposit certain of his books in an empty
cell"
Mr. Tanning was seen last night. but would
say nothing about the case.
PARnLED MAN KEPT IN A CELL.
\ stcrv WAS told yesterday by David Willard
which would seem to indicate some laxity in the
mana cement of the Tombs- Charles L. Smith.
twenty years old, who was arrested early in NO
VeInber charge of stealing piece Of lead
pipe. WAS paroled probation on November
and placed in the custody of Mr Willard, who Is
connected with The University Settlement, and
who, by special permission of the Department OF
Correction has charge of the boys department
at the Tombs. on Friday he completed his hfth
Year of service there. Although Smith was Off
caIly set al liberty on November s, he was kept
in the Tombs for another month, and might nave
remained there indefinitely if Mr.. Willard had
not accidentally found him there
Il was coming out of the Tombs on Friday
morning. said Mr. Willard to a Tribune re-
porter yesterday, when the man VINO sells
Papers there said he had got into conversation
with young man locked up in one OF the ceiis
who said something about being In my charge-
The young man said he wanted TO see me, ana
went in to loak him up that morning Silith
said he wanted to know when his case was com
ing up for trial He told me he was placed IN
my custody by Justice Jerome on November o.
or thereabouts, and he looked to me for adVice-
1t seems to ne i sald, your case IL io-'7
delayed / will look into it
4 went to the court and inquired of the clerk
ior the papers The papers said plainly that
the case had been disposed of on November .,
The clerk said there must be some mistake L
took the papers and went to see the chlef clelh'
"ho said that Smith had been released on pro-
haticn November 6. i told him he was mis-
aEen; that j had Smith in his cell he
said the young man must have been rearrested
on some other charge, or something OF that
Kind, because on the original charge he had
Eeen released Word was sent over TO ne
Tombs. and they replied that they had no such
boy there: that Smith had been liberated on
probation November s.
" He isn't here they told me. He was re-
leased some time ago and VIII probably come
around see you some time SOON
i insisted that he was in the Tombs. and gave
them his cell and tier number, and told them L
had been there and had talked with him. They
sent for Tombs record to show what DISPOSE
tlon had been made of the case The record
EE.lTN aca6.1