New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-06
ALL TOMBS KEEPERS
CALLED FOR INQUIRY
Every One Employed There IN
Last 4 Years Wanted to Tes-
tify to Alleged Irregularities.
HYDE STAYS IN "SHACK"
Rule Regarding Treatment OF
Prisoners, Whether Rich
or Poor, Is Distributed
Throughout Prison.

The scope Of the grand jury investi-
CATION into conditions in the Tomps
widened overnight. The District Al
torney dispatched subp9nas yesterday
for every keeper at present IN the
prison and for every one who within the
last four years has been keeper there
and still lives.
Before the inquiry closes the grand
jurors will have delved into those
stories Of favoritism and irregularities
which surrounded the Incarceration OF
William ]. Cummins. chief stockholde:
OF the Carnegie Trust Company; Chris
TOPPER Columbus Wilson. head Of the
wireless swindle: Charles w. Morse,
the convicted and subsequently re-
leased banker, and Joseph G. Robin,
the District Attorneys assistant IN
working up the case against Hyde, as
well as of Hyde himself.
They will know more also about the
assault committed by "Gyp' the Blood
and Lefty Louie" against an alleged
stool pigeon" named Goldstein in the
prison barber shop. about the narrow
escape which RED Phil Davidson,
slayer of Big jack Zelig, had from
being Drained by an iron skillet hurled
at him from an upper tier of the
Tombs, and about Robins charge that
some enemy of his among the prison
ers tried to crush out his life with q
heavy milk bottle slung at him while
he was exercising in the courtyard.
The escape of Reynolds Forsbrey VIII
form another absorbing topic Of in
vestigation.
When the grand jury reconvenes this
morning there will be on hand as wit
nesses, 1t is expected, at least two
editors of 1.-The World" who will tes-
tify to the reliability of Eduardo
Broker, the reporter who quoted
Deputy Commissioner William j.
Wright. Of the Department of Correc-
ton, as saying that from Tombs "trus'
ties" who had overheard conversation
between Robin and his sister he had
gained information which convinced
him that Hyde was innocent. This
phase of the grand jury's investigation,
however, promises to prove abortive. in
as-much as Wright has denied under
oath that he ever said TO Broker the
things attributed D him in the columns
of THE World" and Broker, has no
confederation of his statement to the
contrary.
Interview Started Inquiry.
But it was this interview. on the
other hand. which started the whole
inquiry, which, in fact, most interested
the District Attorneys Office in the adj
ministration Of the Tombs. since II
the Deputy Commissioner was employ
ing TRUSTEES" to get evidence from pris-
oners of material value in the trial Of
criminal cases 1t was most important
that the situation become known and
corrected. So far as the District Attor-
ney is concerned, the production Of
prisoners when he wants them is the
function Of the City Prison, and ques-
tions Of favoritism are matters which
it Is the business of other departments
TO deal with.
On the order of the court, however.
it Is his business TO guide the grand
Jury In the investigation OF whatever
subjects come within its province. He
quoted yesterday the rule Of the prison
under which the alleged partially
shown to Hyde and others might be
considered q dereliction Of duty on the
part OF the Deputy Commissioner, who
has charge Of the administration OF
the Tombs.
This rule appears in a pamphlet Is
sued by Patrick A. whitney, Commits
sioner Of Correction, for the general
guidance Of the oficers and employees
Of the Tombs. and under the provisions
OF section 894 of the city charter.
which permits heads Of departments
TO make rules for the conduct Of their
subordinates IT reads:
whether rich or poor, must receive the
same treatment from officers and en-
pioyes of this department.
Hyde Stays in the "Shaok."
Commissioner whitney, as the result
of the grand jury inquiry, had large
placards embodying this rule distrib-
uted thu oughout the prison. They did
not, however, cause any change In
Hyde's status. so far as could be as
certained in the absence Of an invita-
ton to visit the former City Chamber
lain where ne languishes in the Cum
MINIS shack"