The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-12
SQUIRES NOT
ILL, MANAGER
SAWYER SAYS
ecOntlnued from FIRST pager

good health. to the best Of his knowl-
Squire is the man reported sick.
Subpoena servers have beer unable to
find him. After testifying that he had
given thought to reformatories, witness
was asked. If he approved the contract
system at the reformatory. Mr.. Saw
yer said he did not, but the lnstitu-
ton did not nave enough money, n
that 1t had been necessary to put the
boys to work to earn money for the
maintenance of the reformatory. Wit
ness said he had been before the joint
appropriation committee of the Legisla-
ture once, and that the chairman three
years ago had taken out his watch and
said. I'VE will give you but five min
utes."
Counsel Backes asked for the name of the
chairman who said this, but witness said
he could not remember his name.
He favored the appropriation Of enough
money TO the institution TO allow the boys
10 be taught useful trades. At the present
time fourteen trades were being taught at
the institution. At Elmira R~eformatory, in
New York State, all trade were systemat-
eicaliy taught, he said. Mr.. Sawyer de-
plored the fact that old offenders are COM
mitted TO the institution, but declared this
feature less Objectionable than the crowded
condition of the reformatory. He testified
that 500 reformed boys had been sent out
on parole, and Of this number but % per
cent. had been taught trades, whereas 100
per cent. should have been turned out as
craftsmen.
I'VE have only been able ito place on
parole boys where they could carp a living
because of the good times which have pre-
vailed the last three years" said the
witness.
Witness said that he was a member of
the parole committee, that superintendent
Martin made recommendations for parole,
that the committee consulted the CON
duct book and then passed on the parole.
Counsel Backes showed that 1t had been
testified that the conduct book" was i'm
correctly kept. This witness did not know
was a fact until he read the newspapers.
He had heard of the solitary confinement
book and consulted 1t when a boy was up
for parole.
The superintendent makes the initial
move for a boys parole. If he does not
do so there Is little chance of parole for
a boy.
Counsel Backes asked witness II he
agreed with the rule which provides pun
ishment for a boy If he asks for change
of employment, and Mr.. Sawyer said he
did not.
There were other rules which needed
amending or repeating. but the managers
had not done so. Witness disapproved u
the solitary confinement cells. has been
of that mind for three years. He said h a
the abolition of these solitary confinement
cells had been discussed by the managers
several times, and when Counsel Backes
stated that no minute appeared In the
-..o.5 - ato ,x,opaDoret roaetfnpg witness
said: THAT is correct. 1t was never ia
ken up formsoly.'
Asked II he approved of solitary confine-
ment, six days chained to the floor in a
dark cell on bread and water for stealing
a chew of tobacco, witness answered.: i
do not approve Of solitary confinement as
we administer it in the Railway Reform
atory."
In replying to questions by Mr.. Hahn
Manager Sawyer said that he frequently
visited inmates In the solitary cells. HI
had never ordered anyone released. At tn
meeting of the board of managers tw'
weeks ago Mr.. Sawyer offered a resolution
to abandon the use of solitary cells. Il
was tabled. Witness stood alone on the
resolution. He could not recall who made
the motion to lay the resolution on the
table. Those, present were former Gov
ernor Foster NJ. Voorhees,. Freeman Wood
| u dbtF II IL AIN 0OSNI-
Schmidt.
Mr.. Sawyer said he did not protest when
his resolution was laid on the table. He
knew that his associates were favorable
to the solitary cells. He believed that the
solitary cells would finally be abolished
He agreed to call for a special meeting OF
the board and press his resolution.
Witness was then taken in hand BY
Committeeman Jess and he testified thai
/ he vna aAWv,-aLl~ a.
but not in the cellar cells as at Railway
Witness said he was of the opinion thai
old offenders should not be accepted at the
Institution. He believed that II the man
ayers would refuse to accept any blu
first offenders" undesirable inmates coult
he thrown back on the courts.
Then the probe went to. the unprintabI,
matter regarding an officer OF the institu
ton, and witness was asked If Captain
Martin had reported to the board. Mr.
Sawyer answered mo" Counsel Backei
told witness that Captain Martin was I,
report to the board charges against his son
Harry S. Martin. and asked him IL he la
done so. Witness again answered In tn,
negative.
Counsel than said: "a Newark news.
paper printed a story to the effect tina
Harry S. Martin said that the charge.
against him had been investigated by the
board of managers. and the board founo
no substance in the charges" Has the
boards attention been called to this mat.
ter, and is 1t a fact that an Investigation
was held?
did the board exonerate Harry S. Mar
tin from the eharges?"
To this question Mr.. Sawyer replied
THE matter has not been reported to tn,
board, nor investigated"
Counsel went to the death of Fordham
the inmate who died while strung up
after drinking wood alcohol, and inquired
If Captain Martin had reported the matter
to him.. Witness said: Yes, Captain Mar.
tin told him the man had been drinking
that he was chained up to make him con.
fess who gave him the liquor, and that Ia
died there. He told me the doctor could
not revive him" salt the witness.
Counsel then went over the testimony
about Fordham staring in the face of tn,
guard, unable to answer questions. of his
crying out from the pain Of the poison
etc, and asked witness If he had been told
any of these things. Mr.. Sawyer said b.
had not been.
Witness did not know until he read IN
the newspapers that the State did the
washing for all officers. for their familie:
and for some of the officers boardina
houses in Railway. Witness did not think
the salaries of officers too high, even tax.
ing in consideration all perduisites. They
run from $50 TO s125 a month with keep
laundry and clothing at cost. Mr.. Sawyer
said he did not know how close they
were running to the appropriation, and de
1 MED that the bfob GaIaripe nattsad IA