New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-23
More Blackwell's Island
Cruelties Revealed by
EX-PriSOnerS.
SING SING WITNESS
TO AID PROSECUTOR
One Inmate Tortured for Note to
Newspaper-PrObe Life OF
Cummins in TOmbs.

Complaints concerning the uealliltHI
OF prisoners on Blackwels Island are
coming TO the District Attorney in in
creasine numbers The majority of the
complaints relate to the conduct of the
penitentiary. which is in charge of War
den Patrick Hayes.
Joseph Du Viyier, Assistant District
ATTORNEY. will apply to-day for writ
of habeas corpus ad tesuticandum to
bring down a witness from Sing sing.
Mr. Du Vivier would not identity the
man. fearing that steps might be taken
either TO intimidate him or To invalidatc
the testimony he might give. 1t IS
known, however, that ne was formerly
a prisoner on BlackwelIs Island and
that his testimony is considered of prime
Importance. lie will probably be brought
from Sing Sing tomorrow.
\ physician whose home is in Englc-
wood. ~ j., is expected at the District
Attorneys ONCE tomorrow TO tell of
the treatment his chauffeur experienced
on Blackwels Island. According to a
letter which the District Attorney re-
reived Yesterday, the chauffeur was sent
TO the island in default of money to pay
his fine. His employer wrote that the
man had not yet fully recovered from
the beatings he received at the hands Of
keepers.
Information confirming Mr.. Du Niyier's
belief that prisoners who assisted in UNI
covering affairs on the island were hazed
10y the keepers was received yesterday.
\ former prisoner in the penitentiary
said that while he was there one of the
prisoners was found to have letter TO
newspaper in his pocket. The letter de-
scribed the abuse Of prisoners by keep
crs. The letter was taken from the
prisoner and he was put in an 'icebOX'-
dark cell After six days confinement
in the 'fcebox" he was told that he could
go 10 work i'm the brush shop
According TO the story told to Mr.. Du
Viyier yesterday, the man fell upon his
knees and besought the warden to put
him anywhere else, but not to send him
to the brush shop. where the Keepers were
his enemies and would pound" him. lie
was then placed in solitary confinement
The cell i'm which he was locked zip is in
the oldest block of cells on the island
They are said TO nave been built III 1891.
Their dimensions are feet inches by
feet by feet.
During the period of his solitary con-
linPment ne was served with two meals
day. and got no tobacco and no reading
matter The man who told the story TO
Nj. DU VivIef yesterday was released in
ScptenIbc-. 10 he satd that the man who
wanted 10 tell the newspapers about con
diJors on the island was In solitary con-
fnement then, and foT all he knew was
there still
\ former examiner Of the office Of the
Commissioners of Accounts called on Mr.
Du Nivier Yesterday He made report
ON conditions on BlaCkwelTs Island in
lSe The report was never acted upon.
@. +. Lewis. general secretary OF the
Prison Association OF New York. said
Yesterday he believed that new methods
were what was needed on Blackwelrs ISL
and.
There should he an effort said Nj.
Lewis. ito institute reformatory methods
in the penitcntiary. As il is now. there Is
no useful classification OF prisoners to
that end. First offenders and oldtimers
are locked up together in the same cell
Reports were brought TO Mr. Du Nivier
Yesterday that favoritism was shown 90
William j. Cummins i'm the Tombs Mr.
Dd Nivier will call the reports 10 the at
tention Of William j. Wright Deputy
Commissioner of Correction.
4 rule of the department which was
commended by the grand jury which CON
demned conditions in the Tombs a year
ago Is as follows:
"All persons, whether rich or poor,
shall receive the same treatment from
the officers and employees OF the depart
ment"
Mr. Du Vivier was told that Cummins
received the visits Of friends. relatives
and attorneys after the usual visiting
hours. and that sometimes his visitors
were admitted as late as o'clock in the
evening. 1t was said that a room had
been let aside on the first floor for The
reception OF his visitors. One of his most
FREQUENT visitors is his wife. A man VINO
registered as Mr.. Hyde" is another.
AT the Tombs it was said that the room
had been set aside for Cummins by the
direction of Justice Gavegan. The settle
ment Of the affairs of the Carnegie Trust
Company and other concerns in which he
was interested required many confer
encas with lawyers, e was said.
Cummns was convicted Of grand lar
ceny on November 20, 1911. He was SEN
fenced TO not less than four years and
eighl months. nor more than eight years
oct. ..Ff 81 lie
year his conviction was affirmed by The
Court Of Appeals, and six days later Cum
Minis was committed TO the Tombs. Since
that time he has been detained there by
wits issued In the federal courts.