The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-03
KIRCHWEY GIVES AID
TO PRISON INQUIRY
Acting Warden Goes to Weeks
With Offer Of Sing Sing
Secrets.
TELLS OF ONE ASSAULT

OssyNtSo, y. ". Nov. 2.--tieorgc W.
%I<irchvey, former dean of the Columbia
University law school, vino Is ptHc'i-
caiiy acting warden OF Sing Sing prison
daring Warden Osbornc's absence. to-day
went TO District Attorney Weeks IN
White plains and offered to facilitate
in every way possible the Grand Jury
investigation of the prison.
Or. Eirchwey offered to supply to the
District Attorney the names OF witnesses
20 an assault in the prison on Herman
Kromansky about two weeks ago. kro-
mansky's skull was crushed with Il ham
mer. The District Attorney, Ii Is as
serted. made three attempts 10 learn the
name OF the assailant from Warden G.
borne and failed also la his effort TO OH
tain interviews with men who wee said
10 have been witnesses. IN. kirch-
wey's offer to furnish all information at
his disposal to District Attorney Weeks
is regarded as a happy contribution to a
solution r 'hc problem
District Attorney Weeks received TO-
day a letter from Warden Osborne. who
is row In his nome at Auburn. In whiCi,
the warden oficially notified Nj. Weeks
of the assault OH John Leyden two
weeks ago. Leyden was stabbed during
a fight by another inmate. and on Octo-
Ter 20 last his arm WAS amputaied.
This is the first notice. II is said. that
Mr.. Weeks has received from Mr.. o.
borne of the assault.
Elihu Church, for five weeks deputy
warden Of Sing Sing, was engaged to-
day In packing up his belongings pre-
paratory 10 leaving Ossining. Accord
ing to the opinion prevalent here. Mr..
Church was ous,cd by Warden Osborne
Dr. kirchwey said to-day hat ne was
acting In an advisory capacity and that
Fred Dorner. acting PRINCIPAL keeper,
was really the executive ut sing sing.
81 rave no desire to become warden
he said in reply to a question. Heaven
bprbid' Mr.. Osborne has no Intention
Of rcsignlug.'
DR.. kirchwey said III regard 10 Mr.
Church's leaving that IN his opinion
there was no need for an efficiency en-
gineer at the prison and that he though,
"A much more inviting career was await
ing him outside the prison.
District Attorney Weeks. IT was
learned here to-day. will take several
COnNlc's out al prison tomorrow on
writs of habeas corpus and Will tax,
them to White Plains. where trey will
testify before the Grand Jury on Mon
day.
Dr.. kircnwey arrived in New Yorl;
last night following his conference with
District Attorney Weeks at White
Plains. He said he was in complete
harmony with Mr.. Weeks in regard 10
the Grand Jury proceedings. When
asked to define his status at Sing Sing,
Or, kirchwey replied
Mr.. Osborne designated me in
formally as acting warden aud as com.
pletely as * possible without legal
authority | am acting in that capacity
although. OF course, acting Prlncipa,
Keeper Dorner Is the executive in
charge.
II -'ish to say that all these stories
in the newspapers that Mr.. osborne is
iustructing ne in the duties of the
warden so that he may retire are alb
solutcly imaginary. | haven't the
slightest intention Of becoming warden,
even should Mr.. Osborne resign, which
10 highly improbable