New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-21
Witnesses Also Tell Whit
man of Gross Abuses at
BlackWell'S Island.
CHARGE NEGRO, ILL,
DIED FROM NEGLECT
D NJ. Hurd, Director of Prison
Association, Volunteers Help
and Tells of "Ice Box" Case.

Charges were made to the District At
,o,ney Yesterday that while the police
arsnectors who were convicted of a mis-
dsnneanor in cOnspiring TO keep a witness
ou, Of the state received numerous IA
vors at the hands of the authorities on
Rlackwell's Island. less distinguished
prisoners were the victims Of abuse and
gross neglect. In a general way some OF
the charges made by former prisoners on
tho island were also corroborated yes
rerday by Richard NJ. Hurd, president OF
the Lawyers Mortgage Company.
Neither Joseph Du Vivier. the Assist
ant District Attorney in charge of the
,nvestieation into alleged abuses on
Blackwel's Island, nor Mr.. Hurd felt at
liberty 10 disclose the sources Of his
information further than to say that il
came from former prisoners on the island
II was said that IL the names of the in
formants were made known those who
were still on the island would be sub
iected to further abuse and those who
were at liberty would be bounded by the
police.
II was a negro prisoner who told Mr.
On Vivler Of the favoritism shown TO
the former police inspectors. Denis
Sweeney, James +. Thompson and John
7 Murtha. he said, were on Blackwell
Island. while James +. Hussey had been
transferred 20 Randall's Island at the
time Mr.. Du Vivier's informant was in
the penitentiary.
Police Got Favors.
The three who were still in the peniten-
tiary ne said. were permitted to see nu-
nerous visitors in the administration
hall" They were supplied daily with
several newspapers. Their meals were
not OF the same quality nor were they
served as the other prisoners meals
were. Generally they ate with the Keep
ers and deputy wardens. They appeared
70 have the run OF the penitentiary at
night. he said. OFTEN when the negro
and his fellow unfortunate prisoners were
locked in their cells for the night he saw
one or all Of the three eX-inspectors
strolling through the corridors, sometimes
arm in arm with a keeper.
The negro also called Mr.. Du Niviers
attention TO a third death in the peniten-
tiary II was that of a negro, Frank
Willis He was confined in cell on the
top tier and complained OF illness. In
spite OF his complaints. he received no
medical attention. Mr.. Du Nivier was
told. At last his condition became so
desperate that he threatened to jump
over the railing and commit suicide I'M
less ne was moved TO another cell ana
given some attention.
He was moved 10 the first tier, Mr.. Du
Vivier was told. and later to the infirm-
AIRY. where he died within a few hours
after his arrival. Mr.. Du Nivier Will
ask for the penitentiary records dealing
with this case He has the names or
four men who are said 70 have immediate
knowledge Of the matter.
Aurd Volunteers Help.
Richard NJ. Hurd is a director Of the
Prison Association Of New York. He Wis
tied BlackwelTs Island with o. +. Lewis.
general secretary OF the association, IN
the latter part of September. Mr.. Hurd
said Yesterday that while he did not
feel at liberty TO talk as representa-
tive Of the Prison Association. he was
willing TO tell OF his personal experience
District Attorney.
Mr.. Hurd said that he found 1t difhcuIt
to get information from prisoners on the
island because Of the terror in which they
stood OF the keepers, and even OF their
fellow prisoners who might "squeaI' on
them. He drew one young prisoner aside.
he said, and was drawing few reluctant
answers from him, when the boy looked
over his shoulder and whispered: Il
can't tell you any more. I'll get the
cooler for this. can see Warden Hayes
over there laughing at me-"
There seems TO be an atmosphere Of
terror hanging over the penitentiary,'
said Mr.. Hurd yesterday.
In spite OF the order issued by Patrick
A. Whitney, Commissioner of Correction,
on June Is, abolshing the dark cells, Mr..
Hurd and Mr. Lewis found two men in
a light-tight cell-an "ice box Mr.. HuTd
called it-during their visit One of them
was a young Italian. who had been in
the place but two or three hours. He
WAS hlrIdled in "A corner sobbing when
the door was opened.
"Ice Box" Treatment Severe.
Blinking and sobbing he said that he
had been put there for whispering. The
second prisoner was an older man, and
had been in the ice box" for ten or
twelve hours He was in a stupor, and it
was several minutes before he could be
aroused. Where am II" were the only
words they could get from this man even
after he had been prodded into conscious
ness.
\ doctor. Of whom Mr.. Hurd sought in
formation, acknowledged that he &C.
casionally visited the lice boxes" to see
how the prisoners were standing the
treatment. He supposed" that they got
the regular allowance Of water. On his
visits he did not enter the cell to take
the temperature or pulse Of the prisoners
He was able 10 size them up, he sald'
by standing at the entrance.
Mr.. Du Vivier is looking up two suits
that have been filed against the city as
the result Of death and injury alleged 10
have resulted from neglect in public IN
stitutons One suit for $1,000 was filed
by Matthias Konyakovsky. His daughter
Valeria, only nine months old. was sent
TO the Riverside Hospital on April "a.
She was sent there despite the protests
Of her parents, he alleges She had
measles.
Little Girl Victim.
on May 8 he alleges that he discovered
tho. he had broken arm had