New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-28
'SULzER AGENT REPORTS
|NHUMAN|TY AT AUBURN
Place Reeks with Tales Of
Prison Physicians Cruelty,
Says Blake.
WOMEN SUFFER THE MOST
Punishment of Refractory Men
Worse than Ancient Modes
of Torture, Asserts
Investigator.

Albany. April 27.-"As speedy chanRa
as possible" in the wardenship OF Auburn
prison is recommended TO Governor Sulzer
in report to-day by George w. Blake. of
New York, who has been investigating the
administration Of the prison at the insti
CATION OF the Governor. The present
warden is George w. Benham, who has
served since December 5. 1905, and whose
resignation has been on file since January
1. Until the Senate confirms the nomina-
ton Of Superintendent Of State Prisons,
however, no appointment Of a warden can
be made
Mr.. Blake says he found brutality, vio-
lation Of the law. waste and general IN
competency" In the Auburn prison. He
says twenty-eight prisoners have become
insane during the last year. and that the
testimony OF trustworthy witnesses in
dicates that cruel punishment deprived
some of these prisoners Of their reason
that the prison doctor is careless and un-
feeling and that he has repeatedly refused
10 attend upon women during confne-
ment."
The investigator charges Dr. John
Germ, the prison physician. with neglect
of the sick and brutality toward prisoners.
HE Is an sutocrat," says the report.
Abundance of evidence shows that he 10
brutal In his treatment Of the sick. neg.
lectful OF their needs and that he fragrant
~ violates that section OF the prison law
which defines his duties. No effort has
ever been made by any Of his superiors
to compel him TO moderate his severity
or to curb his ntolerant and incompetent
administration.
Tales Of Inhumanity.
Every nook and Granny of the prison
reeks with tales OF cruelty OF this man."
continues the report. Refractory pris-
oners. put In cells for punishment. have
only two gills Of water every twenty-fou-
hours. The doctor fixed this amount and
, declared it was sufficient to maintain life
| weighed the measure used in supplying
the prisoners with water, and found that
its weight was eight and half ounces
If these punishment cells were light
| and sanitary the punishment would be
very heavy, but the fact is that these
cells are only feet 2ia inches long, feet
inches wide and feet high. They are
perfectly dark, and the only ventilation
comes through the iron doors There Is
no furniture whatever in the cells, except
quart can, into which the scanty supply
Of water is poured. The floor has four
rows OF iron riyet heads that make re-
cumbent position practically impossible
so that q man Is deprived of his sleep
and rest as we'll rs his food. drink, air
and light. This punishment is worse than
the old stringng-up machine and other
modes OF physical torture that have been
| abandoned by the state. because it affects
the victims nerves as we'll as his brain
and body.
The treatment by the doctor OF some
OF the unfortunate women prisoners con-
| fined I'm the womens prison is even worse
In some respects II is horrible. During
the last twelve or fifteen years there has
been an average OF one childbirth year.
| and sworn testimony, amply corroborated
proves that in these cases the unfortu-
nate women have been left entirely TO the
care and mercy OF convict nurses one
OF the women who served in the capacity
Of nurse and physician was Augusta
Mack, who was convicted OF completely
in the brutal murder of Guldensuppe."
The commissary department Of the
prison is q subject of criticism. NJ. Blake
declaring that more than three thousand
pounds of food is thrown away every
week.
I'm every branch OF the commissary de-
partment," says Mr. Blake there mas
been a riot OF wanton waste and exuava-
gance and a Haunting display OF gross
ignorance concerning even the most ordl-
nary business knowledge
Mr.. Blake charges gross mlsmanase'
ment of the industrial department OF the
prison. which he SAYS has been con-
Quoted i'm opposition 10 the public interest
and solely In the interest OF individuals.
The investigator expresses the opinion
that the alleged mismanagement has not
been due solely TO carelessness or IN
competency"
The state has invested In the WORK
shops of this prison 1855, 1872. The pro-
ceeds from the sale OF manufactured
goods. Mr.. Blake asserts. are decreasing
Frederick ". Mills. the prison sales agent
who was dismissed by Colonel Joseph r.
Scott on recommendation OF the Gov
ernor's committee of inquiry, was per-
mitted full control over the SHOPS az
cording TO the report. Under his cor'ro'
the shops were kept busy making arnci@
that were not salable," the report con-
tinues.