New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-25
THINK OSBORNE
WILL REMAIN"
SAYS WHITMAN
Intimates That Warden
Will Continue to Work
Out Sing Sing Problems.
RILEY'S LATEST
ATTACK CRITICISED
Friends of Accused Official Say
Assault Case Cited Had AL
ready Been Reported.

az think Mr. Osborne will continue TO
work out the problems at Sing Sing
with which ne has been engaged This
was the statement made by Governor
Whitman when he was asked at the St.
Regis last night to comment upon the
latest phase of the feud between War
den Osborne and Superintendent Of
Prisons Riley.
"If felonies are being committed Su-
perintendent Riley is within his au-
thority in bringing them 10 the atten-
ton of the grand jury" he said. But"
he concluded emphatically, 81 have no
evidence that felonies have been COM
mitted. nor dc know of any such evil
dence."
Although Superintendent Riley has
chosen as one of his largest shells to
fire at Warden Osborne the case Of
George Stanton, convicted by the Mu-
tual Welfare League. it was learned
Yesterday that in January last the case
was reported to the Prison Department
by the warden. No answer was sent
to the warden's communication. In the
warden's absence Stanton was sent to
another prison by Deputy warden
Johnson.
Mr.. Osborne's friends commented on
this circumstance yesterday, and also
seemed to wonder why Superintendent
Riley had picked out assault cases in
Sing Sing 10 report to the District At
= fora
"Why doesn't Mr. Riley present these
cases from other prisons to the district
attorneys of the counties those prisons
are in ?" one conversant with the situa-
.tion asked. at is not customary to
present such cases, anyway. 1t seldom
has been done before"
Says Assaults Were Triflng.
The same man said the fifteen cases
of assault which the superintendent re-
ported had occurred in Sing Sing
amounted to nothing particular except
in one instance In which an official was
attacked. The Official refused to make
n complaint, and the assailant was re-
moved to Dannemora as insane.
"I don't believe the District Attor-
ney of Westchester will find any condi-
tions in the prison worth investigating
er continued. "Such cases as have oc-
Cured have been dealt with by the
Mutual Welfare League. The warden
Is responsible for the administration
of the prison, and he has seen fit to
turn over the judgment of offenders TO
the league. Riley is attacking the very
foundations Of the league, whose in
stitution he sanctioned.
20 I'd IA
he is perfectly willing to have an in
vestigation made. He has not tried to
conceal anything He expected to re-
port the escape cases to District At
torney Weeks, as was proper. | know
sault cases, Of which | have already
spoken, they are no more serious than
occur in any prison"
Superintendent Riley said in Albany
that he had no idea of attempting TO
remove Warden Osborne at this time or
otherwise interfering with his rules ex-
cept TO ask the warden to enforce pris-
on regulations.
May Happen In Any Prison.
"I do not hold Mr.. Osborne person
ally responsible for the assaults at
Sing Sing" he said. "Such things are
liable to happen in any institution.
What we must guard against is a repe-
tition Of thcm."
Warden Osborne's friends lay not
only the latest attack by Superinten-
dent Riley, but tho others which he has
made, 70 tho superintendent jealousy
Of the warden of Sing Sing. District
Attorney Frederick E. Weeks Of West
chester went 10 Albany yesterday 10
see Superintendent Riley and Governor
Whitman.
1t was reported at Sing Sing last
night that one OF the inmates received
a broken jaw as the result of squab-
bic over a cup Of coffee. He was a
member Of the Mutual Welfare League.