The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-26

dered Mr.. Backes at superintendent Mar
tin
Yes. sir. I am surprised" said the
superintendent.
Later the superintendent said TINT he
was surprised because he understood that
the counsel was speaking Of rhe dungeon -
He said that he would not be surprised If
Il boy was kept twelve days in Solitary
confinement in his own cell.
How are dungeon confinemeuts sig
nided in the book?'
ID Co." replied the captain. what
does that mean. dark cell?' Mr.. Backes
asked.
mo. 1t means down cellar"
Mr.. Backes then discovered that an in
mate by the name Of Bacon had been
confined in the dungeon for eight days.
THAT is the record that was brought 10
your" Yes. SIR. IT shows no interval,
captain"
IT know it was the reply. Turning to
Mr.. Abbott. Mr.. Backes said, You say
this book is accurate?' TO the best OF
my knowledge: there may have been an
error"
"If he was released at the end of six
DAYS how soon would he be recommltted?"
In about n day" said Mr.. Abbott.
Has not IL been a custom to release
men and confine them again after a day."
Mot as a general thing" said the as
sistant superintendent.
Mr.. Backes found several other instances
OF long confinement which showed 'er-
rors'' In the solitary book and asked Mr..
Abbott to get his reports from which the
solitary book is made up at the end
of the month.
Switching to the superintendent once
more. Mr.. Backes asked him why the book
did not show that several inmates who
had been confined In the dungeon had been
released. although they are now out OF the
institution.
THE book is In error said the super
intendent.
"Do you say that to avoid any criticism
that might come for a confinement Of
over six days?"
"No, sir. l make a plain statement
that the book must be wrong"
Don't you depend on that book to
supervise d~ischarge?'
MOT on that alone"
Mr.. Backes then showed that an inmate
named Solatino had been confined in his
cell in SOLITARY" on bread and water
from January 20 to February 2S Of this
year.
The superintendent got himself into hot
water by referring TO most of the In
mates mentioned as being escape men.
do you know that?"
Eyes SIR
Don't you know that you are In error
in that? Did Charles Jamison earn his
parOle?"
Eyes, sir, he did,
because he earned his release, having
served the maximum penalty for his
crime?" o
HE earned his PAROLE
How many boys have you in the In
s%titution who have served more than the
maximum penalty for their crime?"
None, to my knowledge"
Mr.. Sullivan then took a hand in the
questioning and discovered that the 'soli-
tary'' book showed that an inmate by the
name Of NARROW had been confined in the
dungeon" for a mouth and three days.
The assistant superintendent said that
that entry must be a mistake. He said
that he in the course of three days or so
made the entry OF a release from memory
only, although he sometimes made entries
az once. He said that he ordered a re-
lease sometimes and his subordinates.
when the six-day period had expired,
would release the men themselves. after
which he would make an entry from the
report several days later. Mr.. Backes then
took up the Solatino case. He admitted
that he did not know whether the man had
been strung up to the -door of his cell
or not for his long confinement.
IN you do not know, who can tell Us? 2"
II do not know"
'If you do not know. the superintendent
does not know and the board of managers
does not know, who does?p Numbered
Mr.. Backes.
Nobody knows was the startling an
sWer.
what is the name and number Of the
boy who was shot while trying TO escape