New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-22
HUNGER STRIKE
MEANS MATTEAWAN
Becky EdelsOn Will Be
Judged Insane if She Per
sists in Refusing Food.

Rcbcccs Edclsou. the anarchist sem
fenced TO Blackwell's Island for three
months for melting riot in Print
ing House square, began her hunger
strike in earnest yesterday by refus-
ing three meals. She also declined
TO let the prison doctors make =
physical examination to determine
how far they could let her 20 with
her starving performance before re-
sorting 70 rorcible feeding.
The next thing after forcible feed
ing. if she still rcsistS all efforts 20
make her conform TO prison routine,
will be commitment to Matteawsn'
as n person crlmlnally insane. 1t was
learned by The Tribune yesterday
that early in June. Jane Est, another
agitator Of Miss Edclson's type, was
transferred 20 Natteawan on the COM
plant Of Katharine 3. Davis, Com
missioner Of Correction, As result
OF her attempt to defy rules at the
Workhouse.
Deputy Commissioner Burdette q.
Lewis verified The information, and
,aid that he thought the same method
would be followed M Miss Edelson
case IT. she could not be conquered
by other means.
The result OF This would be TO pro-
long her sentence indefinitely, as her
commitment 10 Matteawan would De
until cured" and she would not be
considered. cured until she consented
10 cat. Mis-, EdClson declares she
will never eat while I'M jail, % she
will have a chance TO spend the rcSt
Of her days in Mattcawan, being ied
by wav Of tube inserted through
hcr nose down into her throat
sent to Matteawan.
lane Est was sent TO Blackwell ;
Island on June 10 for three months
for disorderly conduct IN disturbing
meeting Of the Peace Forum IN
Madison square. When she got 20
the workhousc she refused to work,
went about talking IN an lniamma-
tory way, and refused 70 obey ru!es'
Section S36 of the Code OF Crim-
NAL Procedure, DR.. Davis found, htted
the case exactly. 1t provides tnat
any person i'm a penal institution N
Now York City who appears 20 De
insane shall be committed by ludl-
cial officer having jurisdiction OF tHe
original oifensc TO Bellevue Tor Cd,
,cryation and judgment by a special
commission. If the commission mas
the person insane, ne shall tneh De
transferred from prison 10 Ma'tea-
wan.
ccdurc worked m Jane ESts case II
will work in Miss Edelsons, Mr'
Lewis said. "Starvation Is certainly
AN act Of seif-destructlon' and con-
tinued attempts to take ones lie IS
state OF insanity. Miss DAVIS -
loath to take this course, but l thlhH
II will come 10 that IN the end.
Miss Edelson was taken 10 Black
VOLS Island from the Tombs yes
terday morning. having refused her
breakfast Of corn meal, bread and
coffee. She said ali the DR.. DaviSes
in the world" couldn't make her eat.
Here is how DR.. Davis talked ABOUT
"She will be offered her food each
day and also offered chance 20
work. II she refuses both she VIII
.imply he kept in her cell. She ap,
ncared in good physical condition and
able to go without food for thirty
Ja-s our experience has been tnst
IN four days people who refuse 1000
necomc weak enough TO demand med
,caI attcrtiou. She Will be fed by a
tnbc through her nose when the doc
tor. decide that is necessary. 1t VIII
not hurt her, not even cause her DIS
comfort. She will be treated as any
other person. We shall not tempt
,,r ..itb food. hut We won't run the
n.s Of having funeral on our
L.,I.