New-York tribune., 1913-07-27
"MURPHY|SM' BLAMED
FOR SING SINGS CHAOS
Warden Clancy and Kennedy
ASsaiI Political Conditions
at Albany.
PLOT LONG IN HATCHlNG
Convicts Took Advantage OF
Change in Administration
Ultra Humane" Treatment
of Prisoners at Fault.

Warden Clancy of Sing Sing and former
Warden James p. Kennedy, whom Clancy
succeeded after a friendly conference yes
terday gave it as their opinion that politi-
cal conditions at Albany, combined win
other factors, were responsible for the
week OF chaos at the prison. Then Harry
NJ. Carpenter, vice-president OF the Ossin-
ing Bank, went them one better and de-
clared specifically that "Murphyism' was
the underlying cause Of the trouble.
THE trouble all began through the re-
fusal Of the Legislature to confirm the
Governors appointment Of the new super
intendent Of Prisons and to recognize the
new warden" he said Il have no use for
'Murphyism' For years and years there
has been an attempt TO 'Murphyize' West
chester County. Such things as this are
the result OF H. II must result in rldding
Tsmmany Hall OF Murphy.
Property values IN Osslning have de-
preciated hundreds of thousands OF dollars
as a result OF these events. through the
fear produced by conditions. They are
disgrace to the community allowing them.
Mr.. Kennedy repudated all personal re-
sponsibility for the conditions at sing
Sing.
'Gf there Is any man. keeper or convict,
I'm Sing Sing who thinks he is friend or
mine and who was instrumental in any
way in bringing about this disorder he Is
not a friend OF mine" he said. He is
doing more injury 10 me than TO Clancy
! am with Clancy. and no man Is friend
Of mine who is against him He has done
fine work. and no power in heaven or
earth could have prevented this trouble
under the conditions. ! appreciate the
work he has done. and he has my best
wishes"
II am satisfied Mr. Kennedy did not
have the remotest connection with IT, SAID
Clancy after the talk with his predecessor.
Politics we're the basic reason. and the
cOnyicts took advantage of that and ot
the fact Of a change OF wsrdens. To-day
ie my first as actual warden. as ! have
ust received word my $4,000 bond has
been accepted"
Although Warden Clancy denied there
had been any fires in the prison since the
one last Tuesday, two prisoners who were
released yesterday told Of a blaze started
by Michael Gentle, a prisoner, In his cell
on Thursday night lie set fire 10 MS
mattress. they said. They also declared
the plot among the prisoners 10 burn the
prison and make general break had
been Matching for a long time. and the
change OF wardcns Was seized upon as
tho best time to carry it out
one OF the guards said the 'ultra-hu-
name" way in which they had TO treat
prisoners made 1t impossible TO maintain
discipline He asserted unless they could
shoot to Kill. club unruy convicts and
put them I'm dark. solitary confinement
they were pouerless 10 enforce obedience.
Kurt schoenherr. the missing prisoner.
who vas found on Friday afternoon hid
ing between floors in the knitting shop
was put through a severe examination III
an effort to make him reveal what he
knew Of prison intrigucs. but the warden
said he got nothing from him.
II was rumored yesterday that the See
ond draft of prisoners 10 be sent TO Au-
burn would be bundled out secretly to-
dav. but Warden Clancy said the mana
cles I'm which the first lot were sent would
not get back from Auburn before to-mor-
row. and the transfer could not be made
until they were returned.
The warden received letter yesterday
from John g. Riley. the new Surerintend-
cnt OF Prisons ComplimentnS him on MS
work and telling MIN he had asked that
a representative OF the State Architect
Office be sent to confer with him on re-
building the burned buildings.
John T.. jenkins. Supervisor Of Osslning.
issued a hot statement. I'm which he
declared Clancy was unfit to maintain
discipline at the prison, as shown by the
events of the week, and saying that
whether Clancy wished 1T or not hc
would take measures 10 maintain the
safety Of the town against the convlcts
should they escape.
The four hundred prisoners Who were
involved In the strike and revolt were
kept locked up all day. but the rest went
about their work as IL everything was
normal. For the first time since Tuesday
visitors were allowed to enter the prison