New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-02
BECKER TAKEN in
AUTO AS A TEST
Sheriff Grifenhagen Says
He Will Ask for Money
to Buy a Van.
EXPLAINS 1T is
SAFER THAN TRAINS
Points Out Danger of Escape
Under Present System or
Moving Prisoners.

Sheriff Grifenhasen said yesterday that
NJ, experiment in using an automooi'e
instead Of train TO transfer Charles
p....r from, the Tombs to Sing Sing was
% satisfactory that he intends to apply
~ IN. Board OF Estimate for an sppro-
nriatton for a regular automobile prison
,x1 for such use in the future. He
said tho automobile afforded safer
and more convenient method OF trans
portaion.
INV attention WAS directed some time
sxo 70 the danger OF transferring prison
.-s from the Tombs 10 Sing Sing prison.
he said. "oy an experience OF the sherin
81 Bronx County. involving the escape
Of James Valentine. known as Jimmie
Valentine" charged with attempted ourg-
larry and held by the magistrate In the
eth District Court. He slipped his hano-
cuffs at the lz5th st. and Third av. eie-
va,ed station and has not yet been re-
captured.
III occurred 70 me- then that the IRE
ouent transfer OF prisoners from ono
vehicle 10 another is fraught with tne
greatest danger OF escape. and the gen
ersl subtect Of the ACCESSIBILITY OF limiting
tho transfer Of prisoners 10 single
vshicle has been in my mind ever since
.rb. transfer from the CITY Prison to Sing
Sing nv automobile was In the nature OF
an experiment and confirms the I'M
pression 1 have had that all prisoners
ought TO be transferred rom the lily
Prison to the various state and county
isils by automobile van.
The present method Is baroarous, an
tiouated. expensive and unsafe we TO-
dav load our prisoners In the morse vans
in the courtyard in the Tomos. II
nedisree is required we stop at Foice
Headuuarters and from there we TAKE
them 70 the Grand Central Terminai st
Iod 81 There we have at least five BLOCKS
~ walk through the crowds TO the gate
TIA, loads 70 the train. and then down to
the platform. The prisoners WINE o"
the train. are kept in the SMOKING car
surrounded by the passengers ana ire
ouently by friends or pals
Altar the train arrives at Ossining we
must walk almost one-half mile through
q dangerous and lonesome road "hlch
sronhasizes the danger Of escape and sur
reptItious delivery OF poisons ana
weapons.
..U-bsn figure the cost OF the main
.sranca Of two horses. the driver ana an
assistant. the cost Of transportation OF
IN. railroad of the prisoners and the
nr,son guards. as compared with automo-
bile transportation. find that a steer au,o
van. carrying twenty passengers "ou.u
mako batter time and cut expense 70 haii
or less than 1t is to-day.
IT intend TO apply 10 the Board OF Esu-
rate at an early date for Appropriation
IN purchase a van. No additional expense
is required The present Appropriation io'
dr,ver and assistant driver rs ample LOT
on automobile van driver. one man Will
=. suf,cient on van. The prisoners are
smn,v guarded by prison guards.
Sam schepps and Harry WALTON caileo
-. ~. District Attorneys Office yesterday
and collected their witness fees. Schepps
scanned disappointed that he was not
called as a witness at the second beeAei
trial. but he received the same Witness
te. as Vallon-te 60-and his transporta-
ton back TO Calgary.
Incidentally. Schepps had tale TO tell
the Dd,trict Attorney. He carried "oou
having block which he swore mot unoe'
oath this time) had been dropped upon MS
had as he was walking under the ele-
vatad structure at Sixth av. and 9th st
y. showed an abrasion and bump I'M
der IN. rear Of his hat 10 lend credence
"a his story. He said that they were
irving TO get him in broad daylight ana
that II was high time he beat II PACK
"a Canada WALTON said he was not afraiu
20 s,av in New York and work