New-York tribune., 1907-07-19

Thinks Sing Sing as Free of Abuses
as Possible.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune J

Albany July 1S.-CornelUs Y. Collins, State Su-
perintendent Of Prisons, declared to-day his belief
that that prison was as free OF abuses and grart
OF any sort as was possible IN institution OF
that sort. Two Investigations. covering practI-
cally every phase Of the management Of the
prison. have been made by him since Janua-y : !.
They have resulted in many changes. and the dis
covery and correction OF some abuses They have
assured Superintendent Collins that wholesale
abuses exist
In the more important investigation. completed
only recently. great volume OF testimony was
taken from witnesses comprising inmates of the
institution. guards. visitors and outsiders whose
up incidentally. y copy of this will
be presented to Governor Hughes for his informa-
tlon. Since the Governor and Superintendent Col
Inns both know that the recent charges OF graft.
cruelty and political nachinatlon from a
convict whose tenn had expired. and that at the
bottom was q desire TO obtain money for alleged
information. people here do not expect the dis
closures TO have much effect other than cause
the superintendent 10 watch Sing Sing closely.
Because OF various charges brought 10 my
tce from inmates and others" said Superintendent
Sing early this spring. I found various things
quite right such as ara bound to crop out In a big
prison from time TO time. Guards in one case-that
OF Larry Summerheld. the wire tapper-were SNUG
Cling in money. l laid a trap and caught three
two OF whom later confessed. They were dis
charged. The food sometimes was not so good nor
SO plentiful II should have been That was
remedied- Charges OF assaults by guards pris-
oners almost invariably turned out TO be cases
where guards had to use force to subdue unruy
prisoners For two years I had been told that
prisoners with money influence bribinS
attendants to get them into the hospital. where
they would escape work and have delcacies in
stead OF the regular prison fare Once I brought
my family physician there to look the prison.
| ers. He found some who did not need to be there
| and there cleaning out. l don't think there
is anybody in the hospital who oughtn't TO be-
and am certain that prisoner who needs medi-
cal attendance goes without IT.
Last month I made general examination OF
the prison which resulted I'm transfer OF guards
from place to place and a shifting OF TRUSTEES I
never discovered that guards We're selling whiskey
TO prisoners. l did find that a Jewish rabbi
in attendance at the prison smuggling in
opium. and his attendance dispensed with so
quickly that he hasn't recovered from the shock
yet"
/ Ex-Warden Johnson. whose successor was ap-
pointed few days resigned practically under
| fire. According superintendent Collins there
were no charges Of mafeasance or of anything
dishOnorabe made against him. But the two in
vestigations OF Sing Sing showed that Mr.. John
away good part of the time attending TO
some personal business.
He resigned because he chose 10 devote his en-
tire time his business rather than to the affairs
/ at Sing Sing said Mr. Collins.
! ]. Edward Hola. who for thirteen months has
! been an assistant clerk in Sing Sing prison. was
informed yesterday by the State Controller that on
July 20 he should surrender his position to William
! G.. Downey. of Albany. who nHd been appointed in
/ his place. Polla's removal was surprise at the
prison It W wholly unexpected He had been a
keeper in the prison for years. and resigned TO
the keepership Just too long restored without
examination Mr.. Holla is a prominent Republican
| iu cssining leader in the LIST Ward and has been
nresident OF the village