New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-28
MatteaWan Superintendent Re-
signs Before the Governor
Can Convey Demand That
He Be "ThroWn Out"
"0ISGRACE TO THE STATE"
Sulzer, Angry at Resignation,
Asks Whitman to Investigate
Alleged Thaw Bribe and Bar
Association to Examine
the Conduct of Anhut.
I By Telee raph to The Tribune.

Albany. Feb. 27.-Athough Governor
sul%er Nehemently denies that he is
trying 10 discredit Colonel Joseph F..
scott. superintendent Of Prisons. and
insists that there is no i'll feeling or
political controversy between them. de-
Nelopments to-day have forced "A situa-
tion which is likely TO result either in
Colonel Scotts departure from office or
a decisive and crushing rebuke TO the
Governor. Or the outcome may be a
legislative investigation OF prison mat
ters involving the relations existing
between Scott and Sulzer
Two Of Colonel Scott's subordinates
were scathingly attacked by the Gov
ernor to-day. One. DIR. John W. Rus
sell. superintendent of the Matteawan
Hospital for the Criminal Insane. re-
signed before the Governors demand
for his removal had been received by
Colonel Scott. Governor Sulz~r's action
was in effect reflection on Colonel
Scott himself What the Governor said
was direct criticism Of Colonel SCOTS
official action in one instance.
The Governor sent To the Superin-
tendent of Prisons letter demanding
the removal Of DR.. Russell. who swore
that an agent OF Harry *. Thaw had
tried 10 bribe him to bring about
Thaw's release from MatteaWan The
a, oil nj gftfa
ney Whitman OF New York County a
copy Of the testimony taken by the
department Investigators relating 10
this alleged bribe and the part played
in il by John Nicholson Anhut. Thaw's
lawyer. He also forwarded a copy Of
Anhut's testimony 10 the grievance
committee OF the Bar Association in
New York for action.
The Governor criticised Or. Russell
severely, saving he ought 90 he thrown
out Of Office as disgrace 10 the state y
The Governor also declared that George
w. Benham. warden OF Auburn pri son.
was not fit 10 hold that place, and that
he had filed charges with Colonel Scott
against Benham. SulZer charged
Colonel Scott with holding Benham III
office. although the superintendent
knew the warden was the political
boss Of that county
Russell Cireumvents Sulzer.
While the Governor Was preparing
the official documents and scurryng
around TO get the material for them
DR.. Russell had resigned over the teie-
phone to Colonel Scott. who accepted
the resignation ana appointed DR.. Roy
l.. Leake. DR.. Russells assistant, as
acting superintendent OF Mattea"ah.
This cut the ground nicely from under
the Governor, who expressed httingiy
his sorrow wherr he heard OF il and
Maid his tribute 10 Dr.. Russell as
disgrace" But the Governor declines
10 accept this outcome as hnai eNi-
IDENTIFY having some idea thai ne can
nuni.h. or al least further nun,illa.e.
the former superintendent Of the hos
pltsl.
As to the charges against Benham
which the Governor said he had sent 10
Colonel Scott. the latter asserted ne
had never seen them. Scott said that,
so far as he knew. the Governor never
had presented any charges or toid MN
Renham was active politically. lie in
sisted that two reports which the Gov
ernor said contained material proving
Renham unfit to hold his place con-
tanned nothing which even remotely
cou,d he construed as charges against
the warden.
Renham resigned several weeks ago
10 become an official of trust com
pany in Auburn, but owing TO tne
mirRs of the prison law he cannot
loave his post until his successor has
been appointed and qualified. Colonei
Scott has appointed no successor be-
cause the Governor insists that he
name Charles +. Rattigan, TO nelp the
Governor keep a promise made 10 the
anti-Tammany element OF the Dcmoc-
racv upstate. Colonel Scott says ne
never will name Rattigan for That
n,acc Rattigsn is backed by Thomas
Mott Osborne.
Colonel .,cott. who was vaguely
charged BY William +. Clark. the friend
and campaign boomer Of Governor sui
zer and former secretary OF the Sulzer
investiaating commission, with being.
rho head of the prison ring and with
engaging in conspiracy to make
money out Of pardon brokerage, re-
i,orated tonight his demand that the
investigators go to the bottom ot those
cb,rgcs. The committee must cx-
orerate me or convict me- he said
Committee Will Not Act
The committee apparently has no m
tontiop Of doing much in either direc-
,ion II is known that it's members
feel no substantial case has been made
out against the head Of the Prison De-
uartmcnt, and their announccd course
of action prccludes any exhaustive
taking up Of his challenge.
They declared tonight they would
hcar Tomorrow the testimony of Alfred
Henry Lewis. who was at Matteawan
with Clark when the latter went there,
according TO other testimony, 10 per-
Continued on afth page, second column.