New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-01

save in transportation charges. as mos'
of the women inmates come from greater
New York"
"Close Confinement" Torture.
After Superintendent Riley had re-
ceived the formal reply of Nettie M.
Leonard. matron of Aubuxn women's
prison. the superintendent wrote TO
Warden Rattigan as follows:
THE important thing that Matron Leon
ard seems To have failed to appreciate
is that it is Il serious punishment for
any normal person To be confined in a
cell from $3.50 .. m. until 80 a. m. every
day and on Sunday from l215 until the
following Monday morning. regard this
as ample punishment for the most hard
ened criminals and | do not think they
ought to he tortured otherwise 50 long
as their conduct is good.
There is no law applying to state
prisons which requires inmates on ar
irving TO be locked continuously in cells
for fourteen days or longer. and / re-
gard any such rule as being cruel i'm the
extreme and entirely unwarranted, and
not think there is danger from infectious
diseases among new arrivals. because they
come from jails where it is fair to as
sumo that precautions have already been
taken against such diseases.
Regarding the regulation prohibiting
inmates from writing the first letter to
relatives or friends within two weeks Of
their reception, / should say that upon
their arrival they should at least be
given the opportunity to write. and in
stead of being deprived OF the privilege
they should be encouraged TO do so.
II observe with pleasure that conyicts
are allowed to converse at breakfast ard
dinner on Sundays and holidays. Why
they should he deprived OF it on other
days I cannot understand. especially in
uomen's prison. and particularly where
the number of inmates is not large.
cannot sec why ordinary conversation
may not he carried on in the shop. al
though it might he Objectionable in the
sChoolroom.
The rule prohibiting conversation in
the wards or i'm the rooms appeals 10 me
as being perfectly proper, but ! do not
know Of any good reason for not allow
ing conversation in the shops or at meals.
Needless Suffering Caused.
u regard regulations Of this character.
FOR womens prison especially. as
physical torture of the rankcst kind. II
Is possible that distinction may be-
made and that such regulations may b.
considered mental torture. but i'm one
aspect or tho other II seems 10 me 10 be-
needless torture.
II think the visitors were entirely justi
fed in finding fault about the supply Of
water do not know Of any reason for
limiting the supply 10 a cup OF water.
Pitchers cost little. and water costs moth
ing Why should not each room be- sup
piled with q pitcher ~ water?
Regarding the cXpurgntiou Of news
paucrs uy cuttinS out such matter as that
relating to the impeachment 81 Cover
nor Sulzcr and the escape ~ Harry Thaw,
can only say that if newspapers are
To- bee admitted - an do not quit" un-
iorstand why one should take the trouble
to clip ont an reference 20 those matters.
have sometimes had misgiyings as TO
the wisdom 81 allowing newspapers Ia be
circulated iu prisons. but II u Is TO he
permitted do not think much will be
accomplished 10y ccrsoriug newspapers
that circulate among the general public.
In conclusion ] ask that YOU advise
the mltron. officers and teachers Of the
state prison for women that I cannot
see THAI Miss Doty and Miss Watson made
any charges from which It may be nm
piled that they were dcrelict In the dis
charge 81 what they considered To b"
their duties / have no doubt that owing
10 the unfamiliar surroundings and 10
peculiar conditions they did not see and
understand many things i'm connection
with the management Of the prison. ]
therefore do not feel that tho matrons
should be heard in order To rcfute state
mcnts that these ladies have made. as !
have no doubt :hat their intention was 10
describe conditions as they saw them