New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-13
MAY THROW WE
ouT;WON'T QUIT,'
SAYS OSBORNE
1TI Be More Dangerous
than When in Prison."
He Declares.
GRAFTERS BEHIND
PLOT, is CHARGE
Foes Fear He Will Spoil Plans
for Gain in Building of
New Prison.

"Tb.y may throw me out Of Sing
asr. and that is the only way they
iii get me out, but they will find that
Ian more dangerous out Of office than
ia Nv usefulness will not have been
,,5sd; it will only have begun
!, these words Thomas Mott Osborne,
warden Of Sing Sing, yesterday bade
5,sspee 70 his foes at a meeting OF
,hr.e thousand negroes in Palace Ca
,no. Harlem. The meeting was held in
~, interest Of the National League on
u,bsn Conditions Among the Negroes,
AID Mr.. Osborne had accepted an invi-
,.tion several weeks ago to attend IT.
Ia took occasion on the eve of his ap-
,.s-snee before the grand jury in
White Plains tomorrow 70 describe
some Of his foes and their reasons ior
wanting TO get rid of him.
These foes. he declared. were inspired
~ ersfters who. with him out Of the
way. hoped to put the graft through
more easily in the new prison the state
,pst soou build" and by "the most
dangerous criminal, the educated crook,
Who steals not 50 but S5,oOO,oOo' VINO
does not Try to steal a pocket5ook' but
does try to steal a judgeship. who un-
dor the present system in Sing Sing
nnnot buy privileges
Incidentally he described methods
u..d 70 obtain affidavits from convicts
,oSe used against him before the grand
,urv and declared witnesses were oelng
,,,;u;se.ed BY threats of perjury TO
h,,k 40 a plot TO indict him, OF which
,lo, ne told Governor Whitman hye
months ago.
Gives Explanation Of Attack.
Tho warden first described the new
,v,.em al Sing Sing. He pointed out
hat under II serious disorder had been
reduced 81 per cent, the number of es-
espes 10 three in a year, as against
Yearly average of 93-7 escapes Tor
seven wears and nineteen in one year Of
hat period, and that the number OF IN
sane eases had been reduced 90 per
cent Then he swung into his explana-
ton the attacks upon him.
aThs most dangerous man." said the
warden. "is not the criminal who comes
up from the crowd. II is the educated
criminal who. because Of his education
and his craft, and the misuse OF his
opportunities for good that is the real
menace % society. The most monstrous
an most eontemptible man have ever
net either in prison or out, Is college
graduate.
when you read about the attacks on
he warden Of Sing Sing you want 70
nov that the attacks we're started ana
formulated By this clever type OF Grim
iaGl, the criminal with the superior IN
,sllset. These are not the men VINO
s.sal 60. They are the men who steal
100000. Il is not the man who al
'erpts 70 steal a pocketbook. l. is the
nsr who attempts 70 steal judgeahip
ron the people.
IN prison they want everything in
tgkt. they are not satisfied unless
hey have the opportunity TO buy up
suUleges. They don't like the present
iJs,em and the present warden because
.:sr it and under him the old system
Z grsft has been done away with.
ltese men, | an proud 20 say, l have
'tndsd.
Hoping for Graft In New Prison.
Then there are other men who have
,f'atcd b. graft in the past and hope
. profit By 10 in the future. Those
$50, have offended. The time is near
re. We must have a new PRISON.
'tsie clever crooks know that with the
resent warden in Office IL viii be more
--eslt for them % get over the graft
NhAn y would be with me out. They
sis determined % get me now.
Lever they do or not IS up 20 the
TIE new system can stand my re.
.-o'al y death, b. voluntary resigna-
'l o. IN other legitimate ways, but
.-rfe % one thing the new system can
n. stand, the Prisons Department
'Anfei stand, and the state cannot
'sl1' and that IL % have any honest
y.'4c servant thrown out Of Office in
1s Nay they will have 20 throw me
y order % pet ne out"
.'slsrrlng % the investigation %
,hy sing, Mr Osborne declared that
JlIiet Attorney Week., who is con-
.ang H. knows nsught Of the actual
',aae.iions o. Sing Sing.
"etm ago. eaid be, 81 invited the
o|isi Attorney and the grand jury
'itit sing Sing and look u over and
tain2a for Themselves. Mr. Weeks
'nssn.
las the grand jury heard the
,HoehE u haz. j. heard him last
sAy. ] sat there two hours and the
--fiei Attorney questioned nr about
~ speech ! had made. Then some
.%s nerc taken 10 inqrirc about
q sais of calf ! had 10 sold 70 an
hinr man for 81 and the money
bai9 0yer 10 the Controller clerk.
Says Witness Vas Indicted.
Ihsy had The man there who bought
Sna mey indicted him Tor perjury.
Ris Na5 10 conflict in statements.
"hf di1 they indict himZ
,.m Diafr ~ fofce prisoners and
,'f hitnfssez called ~ White Plainy
s@llf aYainzt fhc warden.
3pS sacw the VAy IN which this
Continued on pazs 70. column