The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-08
Attack on Her Administration
Is Made by Prisoners
in TOmbs.
SHE CONDUCTS AN INQUIRY
FavOrs From Tammany Motive
for DOctOred Petition, De-
clares Confessed Writer.

cro0it Mayor MitChel by attacking the
administ ration Of Miss Katharine u.
Davis, Commissioner OF Correction. with
the hope Of pleasing Fourteenth Street
and thereby winning the approval OF Gov.
Glynn and Attorney General Carmody and
getting favors II Becker needs them
This singular charge was made public
by Miss Davis yesterday after long
examination Of prisoners In the Tombs
AZ TO responsibility for an abusive petit
ton signed by 319 of the 635 prisoners
which she received in the mail Wednesday.
Il Ia alleged that the prisoners were
tricked into signing their names by the
circulation. at the request Of Becker and
others, of a respectfully wordcd request
that Miss Davis rescind her rule which
prohibits inmates from receiving food
and other supplies from outside the prison
and gives the exclusive sales privilege
to the Tombs caterer. When the names
were obtained. according to the testi-
mony of prisoners. the innocent petition.
with tho signatures of Becker and the
other conspirators. was thrown away and
the abusive petition substituted.
Privileges Taken Away.
This petition. which Philip Musica says
he wrote with Becker's fountain pen and
Becker corrected. was sent outside the
prison. typewriter and mailed TO Miss
Davis, a copy going to Warden Hanley.
Five other prisoners. according to Miss
Davis said they saw Musica and Becker
preparing this petition on Tuesday near
Musica's cell in the corridor OF tho first
tiee.
The immediate result was an order from
Miss Davis depriving Becker and the
other alleged consplrators OF their privi-
leges Becker cannot see his wife and
may confer with his lawyers only in n
cell The prisoners on each side OF him
have been transferred. leaving him iso-
lated. Musca, who is awaiting an appeal
Of his conviction for swindlinig banks out
Of S1.000.000 by false invoices on human
hair importations. was shifted from the
first tier to the fourth. where. says Miss
Davis. 'he will no longer be able TO con-
fer with his confederates."
This restriction of Becker's liberties APP
plies only to the Tombs As soon as Dis
trlct Attorney Whitman heard Of Ii he
designated n room in the Criminal Courts
Building where the ex-Lieutenant may
talk to his wife and counsel rs much as
10 necessary in the course OF the trial.
When Becker was told yesterday OF
Miss Daviss accusation he said: '"There' >
absolutely nothing in 1t. I can't help
Mira Becker added: IT'S a damnable
lie and the purpose OF II Is apparent to
anybody not a fool"
4 typewritten letter signed 'Tombs
Prisoners accompanying the copy OF the
petition which Warden Hanley received
was more threatening than the petition
itself. or the note which Miss Davis re-
ceived with it. Part of 1t was:
This is only the beginning. and II
she does not change her tactics within
three days she Is going TO be shown
In every paper in New York what a
faker she is The facts. figures and
details are in the hands of eminent
counsel. and 1t is matter that the
Governor himself will take hand in
II necessary -,
We are out for Miss Davis and will
Get her il money and brains can do
Il, unless she makes good, Her IDEAS
NAV be good up at Bedford or in
John d. Rockefellers Sunday school
class. but not here.
The petition to Miss Davis described
thu rule against outside food and sup
niles as "cruel. inhuman, unjust and IL
Ieral and only "A subterfuge To legalizt
a vast system of graft by and with ths
consent of the Correction Department.
All the documents were on legal fool
soap and obviously written or dictated
Miss Davis Visits Tombs.
when Miss Davis read them she wen
straight to the Tombs with Deputy Com
missioner Lewis and l.. Il. Bland OF th'
Commissioner of Accounts Office. She SAID
she recognized the right OF free petition
but It must be respectful At first sh'
supposed the petition was genuine pu
one of the first prisoners sne talked u
told her II was not.
"The one l signed" he said ICON
sisted of four or five handwritten line
respectfully asking YOU to rescind TN
new regulations"
Whose name was first on the list?
Miss Davis asked.
"Reckers" said the prisoner. From
other prisoners She learned that othe
names near the top We're those OF Philil
Musica, John y. Anhut. the Thaw lawye
who got into trouble l}urton o. Gibson
the lawyer accused Of killing Mrs Szabc
and Paper Collar Joe Stewart the wire
Taper. None of these names was ON III
petition sent to Miss Davis.
A prisoner told her that after the name
were signed the first sheet was removed
and fifteen page petition written II
ink was substituted. He said the writing
was done with Anhuts fountain pen. Tn
investigators went to Anhuts cell ant
asked II he had a fountain pen. lie sal
"I have one here, hut I borrowed 1t fror
Lieut.. Becker" so Miss Davis passe
on to Becker's cell and showed him tn
pen.
as this yours she asked.
Becker looked at the pen and cheerful
said "Yes." He seemed surprised by tn
question.
The examination OF prisoners that fol
lowed lasted until O'Clock yesterda
morning II was said that Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Embrce was present. a
well nv Miss Davis and her assistants
"Finally" Miss Davis said In telling III
story Yesterday "Musica confessed TIM
ne wrote the substituted petition wit
Becker's pen and that Becker helped hir
10 correct IT,"
Miss Davis said she remarked TO Music
that 1t seemed incredible that Becke
should he mixed up in such thing, an
that Musica rcpier
"Mss Davis, this thing Is far bigge
than YOU II leads up TO Fourteent
street lie wanted to curry favor wiz
the Governor and the Attorney-fener'
and thought good way to do II would i
TO dlscrcdit III. Mitchell administrator
There IL u drHguct all over the city
discrcdit the admlnistration--to get hol
OF somcthing that will do IT,"
He said the petition was passed aroun
~ two negro runners. with Beckcr's -four
tain pen Miss Davis asked Musica no
the petition got ont OF the prison to l