Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-22
MOVIE COMPANY
/ AT PEN|TENT|ARY
Much Ado Over Pictures Taken
at nstitution-InVesti-
+ cation on Tap.

When the prison committee of the
Board of F'reeholders holds it's next
meeting there will be an inquiry into
the methods used by a moving pic
ture concern to obtain permission to
stage scenes of PRISON life at the
penitentiary in Caldwell. Freehold
er Richard F. Malta, chairman of
the prison committee. was indignant
when he learned that the pictures
had been taken at the county prison
and as a result ordered that here
after not even the use of a pocket
camera is to be allowed on the pris-
on grounds.
The request to take moving pic
lures at the Essex County Peniten-
tiary should have been made before
the entire committee" said Chair
man Malta today. THE pictures
should never have been taken and,
if it had come before the committee
I should have voted against grant
ing permission. We certainly will
investigate the matter at our next
meeting"
Pictures Taken Friday.
The pictures were taken at the
penitentiary last Friday. On pre-
vious Wednesday a man who gave
his name as Joseph B. Sears, of
Bloomfield, and protesting consider
able interest in prison reform move
ments applied to Warden Ferdinand
Hosp for permission TO take the pic
lures The warden declares he in
formed Sears that permission would
have to be obtained from the free
holders. In reply Sears Is said to
have announced that Freebooter Sey-
mour p Gilbert, who is a member
of the prison committee, was a
neighbor and personal friend, and
that Gilberts permission would be
asked.
Last Friday morning Sears tele-
phoned to the warden and announced
that Freebooter Gilbert had granted
permission to take the pictures and
that the moving picture operators
and some actors would be at the in
stitution in short time. Knowing |
that Freebooter Gilbert was also a
member of the road committee the |
warden thought, he said. the pictures |
of prisoners building roads in the |
vicinity would be taken.
Actors at Penitentiary.
Warden Hosp proceeded to tho |
place where the road work was be-
ing done After waiting there for |
some time he was informed by tele- |
phone that the moving picture actors |
were at the penitentiary. When he |
arrived there the actors were already |
CARRIED in prison suits which they |
brought themselves. The warden an
nounced that he did not object to
pictures being taken If the faces of |
the prisoners were not shown. Sears
is alleged to have assured the war
den that only the actors would ap- |
pear in the scenes.
Scenes Of the actors at work in the |
fields and in the stone quarry were |
taken and there was a picture of a |
prisoner who demonstrated with a |
keeper because a sick prisoner was |
forced to carry heavy load of stone. |
There was fight and the interior |
ting prisoner was chased from the |
quarry Warden Hosp denied that |
an attempted Jail delivery was
staged at Caldwell for the benefit |
of the movie" promoters.
Gilbert Denies Giving Permission.
1t developed later that Freebooter |
Gilbert denied that he had given |
Sears permission to take the pic
lures Gilbert is said to have in
formed Sears that he should appear |
before the prison committee which |
met last Thursday. Freebooter Gill |
bert could not be reached today, but |
Freeholder Malta and Warden Hosp |
given his permission when asked If
the pictures could be taken.
II understand that the pictures
were taken for exhibition by some
prison reform association" said War
den Hosp today. CAS- 1t was ex-
planned to me the pictures would
show the old method of handling
prisoners and the modern method
used at out institution at Caldwell.
So far as I can see there was no
harm done, as none of the prisoners
pictures were taken. The actors
enacted the whole thing and brought
along their own prison suits.
I'm my way of thinking the pic
lures would be a good thing to show
to my prisoners and let them see the
difference between their treatment
and the treatment of prisoners in
other institutions not quite so i'm
proved as ours. In fact / asked that
the pictures be shown here later. and
Mr.. Sears announced that he would
do So / felt proud that our peni-
tertiary should be selected as the
model institution in which to depict
the best and most humane way of
treating prisoners"
No Way of Preventing Exhibition.
AS the matter now stands, the pic
lures have been taken and there does
not appear to be any way of prevent
ing them from being exhibited, even
If the freeholders should desire to do
So The warden is proud of the fact
that the pictures have been taken,
Freebooter Gilbert is quoted as claim
ing he was imposed upon and that
he never granted permission, and
Chairman Malta is indignant and
insists the committee will make
thorough investigation.