New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-20
IBLACKWELL'S JURY
IGNORES OBSTACLE
Warden Hayes Fails to
Bring Records, but This
Won't Halt Probe.
PRISONERS DEATH
is INVESTIGATED
Information Said To Be Hard TO
Get. Generally, as Inmates
Seem in Terror.

The Nav grand jury. OF which Ezekiel
& NJ Rand is foreman. found It's investi-
cation Of BlackwelTs Island hindered at
the outset yesterday oy Warden fatrlch
HAYES Of the penitentiary. In spite OF MS
failure 10 bring the records they wanted
the grand Jurors intend TO go right ahead
and Joseph Du Viver. Assistant Dlstflcl
Attorney. believes there is enough mate
rial Oh hand To keep the grand jury Dl3y
for q month and to warrant several IN
dictments.
Warden Hayes's subpoena directed him
10 bring with him records showing the
general plan OF management of the peni-
Tertiary. the condition OF cells and prs
oners ard the instructions issued by che
warden TO his subordinates Warden
HAYES did not bring the records lie
didn't have any. he said. He wasn't at
all sure that there had ever been any such
records. but If there were they had I'M
doubtcdly been turned over 20 Patrick A.
Whitney. who was r. emily succeeded as
Commissioner Of Correction ny Katherine
Bemeut Davis.
Dr. James r. Hunter. resident physi-
clan at the penitentary. was also suop@-
naed and ordered to bring with him rec
ords OF the inhrmary I'm the penitentiary.
lie brought records showing the names OF
prisoners treated in the infrmary and the
nature Of their illnesses. lie brought no
temperature charts. although he had been
asked To do so. lie said that If tempera-
trrc charts were made they were not pre-
served after the discharge Of the patient.
Or. Hunter said that he had been on
Elackweil's Island since September and
was in charge Of the infrmary. The num-
bor of patients treated daily in the intr-
mary ne said, was now about thirty.
Evidence was presented to the grand jury,
it is said. to show that until about three
weeks ago only three or four patients had
been treated daily in the infrmary for at
least three months. II was about three
weeks ago that Assistant District Attor-
ney Dd Nivlor made a trip TO the island.
lie included the infrmary in his inquiry
at that time
DR.. Hunter. it is said. was asked par
tcuiarly as TO tho death Of prisoner last
month. The man died in his cell and the
cause OF death given in tho death certt-
cate was heart failure. Or. Hunter is said
to have told the grand jury that keeper
Informed him that shortly before the prls-
oner died he was sitting on his cot read
Ing. There were no marks or abrasions
on his body and heart trouble seemed the
probable cause of death.
Richard NJ IIurd president Of the Law
ycrs Mortgage and Trust Company and
a director Of the Prison Association, was
the third witness heard yesterday. Mr..
Hurd told of visits he had made TO the
island as a member Of the Prison Asso-
citation. He said that he had found it OK
trcmely difficult TO get information from
prisoners. as they seemed 10 be in terror
Of their lives. He had seen two men, he
said. taken from the Cooler" raylng
The grand jury will continue the inquiry
to-day. when they will look into the case
of Frank Willis, negro who died IN the
indrm4ry about a year ago. Wills. ii IS
said. was a prisoner on the top tier. He
complained OF Illness. but received no at
tentlon II is said, Finally he threatened
TO kill himself II something were not done
FOR him. AMI he was moved TO the bottom
tier. where suicide was less easy. After q
short time there he was taken 10 the in
frmary. where he died a few hours after
he was admitted.