New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-18
TWO CONVICTS Fight.
ANOTHER HANGS HIMSELF
Troubles in Jersey State Prison Lead
to NOre for Investigation.
fBT TELEGRAPH TO THE 1R1BuxE.I

Trenton, y. J., March 1.-THE suicide OF
convict and a fight between two other prisoners.
one Of whom was thrown from a parapet sur
rounding the third tier OF cells in one Of the
wings in the State Prison here to-day. added TO
a long list Of outbreaks at the institution in the
last few months. led to the Introduction in
the Assembly Of a motion for official investi-
CATION into the conditions there.
The suicide was Charles Brown. a horse thief
recently sent TO the prison for three years from
Union County. Brown was predispOsed to self
destruction. having made previous attempt 70
take his life while IN a Jail at Somerviile- He
was found this morning IN his cell with noosed
rope drawn tightly about his neck while the
other end was fastened to the bars near the top
Of the cell. Brown was lying on his cot but.
while the moose was frightened. the rest Of the
rope was loose. showing that the prisoner had
not succeeded in hanging himself. He had
probably jerked suddenly at the rope. tightening
the moose and had then fallen on the cot, where
he was strangled to death. His wife came TO
the prison and told the authorities Of her hus-
bands previous attempt at self-destruction IN
the Somerville Jail.
The fight was attended by what was almost a
riot among the prisoners. crowd OF them
formed a ring about the fighting men, frustrat-
log all efforts OF the keepers to get at the fight
ers. The fight occurred between two runners,
CnarteS BuSdnet OF HdSSdlC county anu JOiili
Brown, Of Morris County. The men had been
set to carrying water when the difficulty arose.
Brown says that Busane accused him OF trying
TO stir up the other cOnvicts against him. They
fought ferCey for few minutes in the narrow
gallery that runs around the cells. Finally
Busane seized Brown about the waist and lifted
him over the railing. Brown landed on the
stone floor thirty feet below. He received sew
eraI broken bones and was otherwise badly bat
tered.
Since the first Of the year there have been
several outbreaks on the part of prisoners. On
struck Deputy Keeper Harvey over the head
with an iron bar. and. wrestling his revolver
from the deputy, made his way to the centre
wing. where he shot Centre Keeper Fitzgerald
and was finally killed himself by the assembled
deputies.
on the 5th inst. Elmer Duraut was fatally
stabbed by his Cemate. Henry Jones. the latter
having his wrist severed so that amputatio
was necessary. During the same week one con-
Wet stabbed another with a screw driver durins
a fight. Last fall there were several other out
breaks Of a similar character.
Assemblyman ScOvil offered the resolution
providing for the appointment by the Governor
OF a committee to investigate the affairs and
to report to the next session of the legislature
Mr.. Lehlbach moved to refer the resolution u
the judiciary Committee. Mr.. SCOviI objected
and said that now was the time to act on the
. resolution. The motion to refer the resolution
was lost and the resolution went over until the
. afternoon session, when 70 was referred 10 the
Committee Municipal Corporations where Il
+ IS likely. according 20 report current here, "a
take n permanent rest.