New-York tribune., 1906-04-02
FORT JAY MOVING DAY.
SOLDIER PRISONERS QUIT.
More than q Hundred LedUe GOU-
ern0r's Island for Kansas.

Under orders from Washington March Ia. 11S
military prisoners who have been confined at
Fort Jay. Governors Island, for some months
past, sent to the rehabilitated military
prison at Fort Leavenworth. Kan. yesterday.
The transfer from the prison to the train was
made under a strong guard and without the
slightest disorder or attempt on the part of any
of the prisoners to create a scene.
The government turned. trick" as the SOL
diers say, the curious public. 1t
nounced that the prisoners would go West by
way of the New York Central. and hundreds OF
men and women were gathered about the
Grand Central Station from noon until almost
5 O'Clock.
The government, in the mean time, was hur-
rying the prisoners TO the West Shore Railroad
station the steamer Johnson. The prisoners
left the fort shortly after noon and were
marched to the Johnson in pairs. hsndcuned and
under strong guard. in command of Lieutenant
EImore, of the 9TH Infantry. The guard was
made up of three sergeants. three cOrporals and
thirty-six privates and detachment of the hos
pital corps. The steamer went to Weehawken
n. J., where a special train of six coaches and
sleeper waiting.
On the Jersey side the prisoners attracted lit
tie attention, they marched quickly 10
the train. Five minutes after the last man was
aboard the special pulled out. with scarcely a
dozen persons on that side knowing that they
were prisoners. The train should reach Leaven-
worth Thursday morning.
! In the Leavenworth prison the prisoners will
be subjected to the rigid discipline of the regu-
| lar military prisons. Fort Jay for years has
| been considered. officially. more than place
| OF detention. inasmuch the prisoners. no mat
, ter what their offence we're well fed and worked
for exercise
OF the 11S. the majority were sentenced for
desertion There were few assault cases, some
| of larceny and others of fraudulent enlistment.
The case that excited the sympathy of the big
prison fort yesterday was that of Benjamin
Stein. who has been in the service twenty-three
| years and, altogether had good record Stein
was quartermaster's sergeant until he fell
! from grace. He is a graduate of some institute
of technology, and made himself valuable In the
service by his mathematical genius He is under
sentence for desertion, though his friends de-
clare he never had any intention to desert. Ae
cording to the records. however. Stein confessed
to the charge and being above the grade of a
private the discipline of the army called for a
heavier penalty.
Stein had leave of absence for ten days and
stretched it a few more. Up to the last moment
heroic efforts were made TO him from
Leavenworth. but again the fact that sergeant
of such good standing and long service had
shown such bad example was against hln
During the time of his confinement he made
| friends with every one in the fort. He was
chief clerk of the prison office and will probably
be appointed to the same office at Leavenworth
Stein wept when he left the fort.
Jacob F. Young, leader of the prison band
was more fortunate. He on the printed list,
and had given up all hope of being detained at
Fort Jay when orders came from Washington
on Saturday that he to stay on Governors 5
Island Lucky dog" Young gasped- He is now
chief clerk OF the prison office.
Influence was also exerted in the case of
nrivate named Morgan. He is enlisted under
this name but in fact he is the of a prom
inent Episcopal clergyman in Brooklyn. His
father visited him every Sunday, and, 1t is said
tried hard to have him detained here. Another
version was that the clergyman wanted to have
him shown no mercy. He bade him goodby on
Saturday afternoon. Until Saturday there was
a measure of hope that Morgan would be spared
but a minor offence committed in the interim
made all requests useless.
Private Harry Baker, one Of the long term
mon has deserted ten times. He got five years
I He was a model prisoner. George Rawle whose
torn, Axpires in 1911 deserted three times PTi-
,-,te Richard Sullivan, who figured in the wood
alcohol case was also among the outgoing pris-
ooars Sullivan with several others tried 10
kin biusel. 5- drinking wood alcohol