New-York tribune., 1902-02-20
NEW-JERSEY NEWS.
TALK OF A NEW CANDIDATE
EDWARD II. HOLCOMBE MENTIONED AS
POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR OF PRESENT
PRISON KEEPER.

Trenton " j.; Feb 10 (SpeciaD.-The belief
is popular among such competent authorities
as inspectors. ex-inspectors. deputies and others
who are fully acquainted with the inside work
inss and management of the State prison that
Samuel S. Moore, the present keeper, has bad
memory. There also are indications that Mr..
Moore is not so sure of himself as a man ought
to be who contradicts the statements of men
of known veracity and probity of character and
who have been at one time another during
his management of the State prison in close
contact with him. and who have not hestated to
say that the statements made in The Tribune
a few days ago concerning his conduct of the
prison correct.
one excellent authority has said that The
Tribunes statements really mild in COM
parison with the facts. Indeed. Mr.. Moore him
self referring to his contradictions in The
Tribune of what his conduct of the prison was
reputed to be. said to a Tribune correspondent
that "to the best of his knowledge and recol-
lection" his published reference to his
management was correct. While saying that
he did not wish to talk any further for publiCa
tion. MIR. Moore attempted TO define, if not ex-
cuse profanity in a way which alike equiv
ocaI and in the nature of special pleading. He
spoke of the extreme provocation TO which
keeper was sometimes subjected by way of eX-
tenuation in where a good might
nOmentarlly lose mis- temper To the extent ~
saying Damn it," or Damn you" to a deputy
without being profane, OF course. Mr.. Moore
knows what profanity is. and that il is in the
language of an ex-inspector, "a clear violation
o; the rules of the prison." What in addition
Mr.. Moore might have said in testimony his
bad memory of incidents which occurred in the
prison may be inferred from the foregoing, and
need not be further dwelt upon here to sub
stantiate the veracity of the men of high char
acter whose only reason for making the state
ments already published was in the interest of
the proper management of the State prison. and
had no connection whatever with the personal
character OF Mr.. Moore. 1t is quite enough To
say that what already has been printed and
much more of a sterner force and effect is
easily available to those who are similarly in
terested in the Creditable mana cement of a
state institution. The facts can be had for the
asking by any one whose public position entities
him to know them, without evasion or equivoca-
tiOn.
As single instance. The Tribune correspond
ent fell quite by accident on the statement of a
man who had been called to an in
quest at the prison. who said that he then
thought that the freedom with which knives
were used in the prison on the occasion which
required an inquest indicated anything but sue
cessfu discipline and management
i want to say" said one of the half dozen
reputable men who are opposed TO the continued
management Of the State prison by Mr. Moore,
that what / said the other day in connection
with the appointment TO the ad interim term of
Mr. Moore by Governor Griggs, that, although
the Governor did subsequently, appoint him to
contrary to his better Judgment. on the solicita-
ton of a Republican who was then strong fac
tor in the State government. This fact / wish
10 emphasize, and TO add that there was. to my
knowledge dancing in the centre and prone
nadirg in the corridors Of the prison; that the
music of the prison string band accompanied
these things, that beer on ice was served to
employe of the prison, and that Mr.. Moore per
sonally was complained TO with reference to
these proceedings
Mr.. Moore who again appeared in the CoTTi-
dors of the State House yesterday has from the
first appeared confident of a TeappOintment. At
least some of his confidence may be based on
the repo- that of his strongest supporters
is United states Senator Kean. This rurnor may
may not be true. II viii be recalled that in
the beginning of the recent contest for United
States Senator Mr.. kean quite generally re-
puted to be strong supporter OF eN-UnitPd
States Attorney General GTiggS 4 little later
and after 4 feast which something more
than a dinner of herbs. and which number Of
well know politicians attended. 1t will be recalled
that Senator Kean reported to have taken
a neutral stand on the Senatorial issue and that
ne was quoted as saying that, inasmuCh $ all
Of the candidates for the SenatOTShip his
intimate friends. he had determined TO remain
neutral in that noteworthy contest 1t possibly
with Mr.. Moore, Is equally with other Caudi-
dates for the place of keeper Of the State prison
Anyway. the opinion has been expressed that
a neutral position the prison keeper issue
would seem TO be fitting il in the
Senatorial contest
Senator Cross, of Union County. who said yes
terday that he still "A supporter of Mr.
Moore, added that. although he thought that
The Tribune had honestly believed what il had
said concerning Mr. Moore, he himself did not
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