New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-22
CLEAN HOUSE, Mr.. LANTRY
MANY BEGGARS GO FREE.
Charity Organization Asks Enptana-
ton from Commissioner.

That the Charity Organization Society Will
back up James Forbes chief mendicancy officer.
in his charges that many prisoners are I'M
properly discharged from BlackwelFs and
Riker's Island Workhouse and Penitentary was
decided last night at a meeting Of the committee
on mendicancy, held in the Charities Building
Agent Forbes spent more than an hour out
lining definite cases which he has investigated
and convinced the committee that there have
been many improper discharges. RESOLUTIONS
were drawn up calling the attention of Francis
J. Lnntry Commissioner of Corrections. to the
undesirable state of affairs existing in his de-
partment
No direct charges were made TO the committee
that prisoners got out before their time by
giving bribes. 1t is said that such charges Will
be made If the present conservative move OF
the society does not bring desired results The
society virtually asks the Commissioner Of Cor
| rections to clean up his department and Will
take no further steps until he has had a chance
| to do
To-day Agent Forbes will prepare a detailed
| statement of eighteen or twenty of recent
| occurrence where the prisoners were freed long
| before their terms had expired. Each case has
been fully investigated and proof will be fur
nished. Prominent among the cases is that OF
fake paraytic named Mcdonald, who should
be in the workhouse still under a six months
sentence imposed by Magistrate Moss McDon-
ald in resisting arrest last week, beat Police
man Brennan, of the Headquarters Squad.
severely that the officer will be confined to his
bed for weeks.
Another case which will be cited Is that of
Edward Asleigh, another fake" paralytic, who
was sentenced to the workhouse for six months
last May. He freed on August H. though
the society had taken pains to inform Commits
sioner Lantry that he was dangerous man and
would try his best to escape.
THE society has determined to put these
mendicants out of business" said Mr. Forbes
to Tribune reporter after he had appeared be-
fore the committee yesterday. For the last
two years have averaged nearly one thou
sand arrests year, and in nnety-two cases out
of a hundred we secured convictions.
The committee which heard Mr.. Forbes's re-
port consisted of Frederic B. Jennings Colonel
Robert Graham Munroe, DR.. T. c. Janeway and
Edgar J. Levey. Edward T. Devine general
secretary of the society, attended the hearing.
At the close Mr.. Jennings gave the follow
| ing resolutions:
Whereas, This committee has received from it's
special agent and chief mendicancy officer
| James Forbes, information which appears con-
elusive that serious Generalization Of it's work
in suppressing street begging is threatened by
the improper discharge of various offenders prior
to the expiration of the terms to which they
| have been sentenced-such discharges being
| either upon the recommendation of the Depart
ment of Correction. failure to keep proper
| records. provided by law. and to supply such
records to the magistrates when called for; and
Whereas a felonious assault upon of the
| officers of the Mendicancy Department has re-
Gently been committed by who at the
! time of the assault should have been serving a
| six months sentence, Of which he had actually
served only one month; and,
| Whereas The magistrate who made such dis
| charge states that he would not have done so
! If proper records had been kept and furnished
| TO him by the Department of Correction: and,
Whereas. There have been many other in
| stances in which similar discharges have been
| made without the knowledge of this commit
tee its officers. in spite of the fact that we
| had supplied the evidence upon which such
| prisoners had originally been convicted; there
| fore be II
Resolved. That the COMMITTEES requests the
| Hon. Francis J. Lantry. Commissioner of Cor
| rection. to investigate the cause of such dis
| charges. and to take measures TO prevent their
| recurrence.
Resolved. That Mr.. Forbes be instructed to
| prepare and forward to the Commissioner Of
! Correction statement concerning the nuner-
| Gus instances which have been presented to this
| committee in which such improper discharges
| have been made