New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-11
TO PROBE LAND SALE
Dix's Investigators Interested in
WingdaIe Prison Site.
OPTIONS SECURED EARLY
Name Of Son in Law of Assem-
blyman Yale Figures in Real
Estate Deal in Duchess.
nv Telegraph ~ The Tribune. 7

Albany, April 1o-Facts in connection
utth the purchase by the state of the site
for the new Wingdale prison. in Duchess
County. are interesting Governor Dixs in
vestigators OF departments They have
learned recently that number OF farms
apparently had been gathered in on the
option plan BY local real estate dealer
When these farms. which made up the
prison site, We're sold 10 the state. payment
was made TO this real estate dealer and a
companion, one Diehl. son-n-law of As
sernblynan yale. Of Putnam County Diehl
heretofore had not appeared in any way
in the transactions.
Purchase OF the Wingdale site was made
necessary by the gift TO the state OF the
Hartman acres for the Palisade Park.
TIE new state prison al Pear Mountain, IN
Rockland County. had 20 be abandoned. as
IL would prevent the carrying out Of the
terms OF the Hartman gift. There was
considerable opposition in the Legislature
at the time TO accepting the Hartman gift
on the ground that the necessity for a new
state prison 10 relieve Sing Sing was so
great that II was a grave question whether
the state could afford the loss OF time and
money lnNOlNeQ IT selSCrIIg dIOlIeT elre.
However the Legislature accepted the gift
and made necessary the purchase Of an
other prison site. There was much diff
Guilty in hnding this. Finally Robert G.
Hurd a real estate dealer, making a spe-
cialty Of parcels in Putnam and Durchess
counties. offered a site IN Dover, Duchess
County. This was early in 1910
The necessity for a change in the prison
site had been known prior to the making
public OF the terms OF the Hartman gift
only 10 a very few persons. Practically
the only officials who knew Of II were Gov
ernor Hughes himself. who had been con-
suited by Mr. Hartman. and after his
death by Mrs Harrimans lawyers. State
Architect Ware and Superintendent COL
Inns OF the Prison Department.
The state purchased for the Wingdale
site some els acres. for which It paid TO
Diehl and Hurd 500 80. This tract was
made up OF the Wheeler farm, 1866 acres; the
Titus farm. 10 acres the Wilcox farm, Y
acres. and the Brown farm, IS acres The
resolution for the purchase OF this tract
was offered by Superintendent Collins IN
June and was adopted by the commission
ers on a new prison site. The Governor
approved the action. This action did not
include the entire tract. Some land was
taken subsequently that the prison might
have an adequate water supply. This also
was furnished by Hurd. who had options
on the necessary property.
The point interesting the Governors com
r,issioners is that Hurd began TO acquire
options on this bunch OF farms some time
Ia,e in 1903 Various transfers Of the prop
e-tv which the state finally bought were
made between that time and the purchase
bv the state from Hurd and Diehl Nobody
here has much opinion 10 express about II
Those who say anything credit the men
from whom the state bought the property
with good Judgment in real estate, and say
tho circumstances indicate great foresight
on their part.
q V Collins. State Superintendent or
Prisons. and Secretary George Mclaughlin
of the State Prison Commission declared
to-day that the property was purchased ~
the state az a reasonable figure. Nj. Nc
Taueblin said he did not see how am ad-
vance information could have been occurred
y. the states intention 70 buy the property
nublic investigation Of the state prisons
is nroposed by Messrs. Osborn and Van
Kennen. The first hearing Will De held az
Sing Sing prison. Ossining. next THURSDAY
Hearings will also be held at the other state
prisons az an early date.
The commissioners announce that they
intend r. give the officers and employees OF
sing Sing prison and the public an oppor-
tunity TO disclose facts in relation 20 the
general conduct OF the affairs OF that in
stitution. They also state that in case
these employees do not choose 10 make
statement the commissioners intend to ex-
anime witnesses in regard 20 the cost OF
maintenance OF prisoners. the treatment OF
convicts. prison discipline. the conduct Of
tie industries. the use OF convict labor and
other matters relating 10 the management
and affairs .of the prison.