New-York tribune., 1915-07-10
OSBORNE STAYS;
WHITMAN MEANS
TO GUST RILEY
Governor Convinced Sing
Sing Warden Should
Keep His Place.
BELIEVES ATTACK
WAS UNJUSTIFIED
William A. Orr Likely To Be
Made New Superintendent of
State Prisons.
lion a So ,pondcnt d The Trlhunc ]

From a STAT spondcnt Of The Tribune
Albany, July @ John B. Riley, Su-
pcrintendent Of Prisons. will be ousted
from Office carly next week. Thomas
Mott Osborne. warden of Sing Sing,
who was bitterly attacked by Superin-
tendent Riley. will stay.
This was learned from an authori-
tative source tonight, and The Trib-
lnc'S informant said the reason Gov
crnor Whitman decided to dispense
with Superintendent Riley was chiefly
because OF his attack on Warden Os-
horne.
Governor Whitman's decision was
reached on Wednesday when he inter-
viewed Warden Osborne at Sing Sing
prison. The Governor and his secre-
tary. William A. Orr. motored 10 Sing
Sing after reading Superintendent
Riley's attack on the warden, which
was printed in the newspapers that
morning.
What the Governor heard from
Warden Osborne and what he learned
from the prison records proved to his
satisfaction that Superintendent Riley
had placed the Sing Sing warden in a
wrong light. lie was convinced tina,
Mr.. Osborne not only was the man
Tor the place, but had effected reforms
and started others that required his
continuance in Office.
Governor Whitman intends to send
for superintendent Riley next week
end ask what he meant b. making the
attack on Mr.. Osborne and demand
that he set the warden right before
the public by retracting his charges.
Such a course, il is believed. will
leave Superintendent Riley only one
choice that Of resgning He was ap-
pointed on May 26, 1918, b. Governor
Sulzer. His term is for five years, and
his Office carries an annual salary Of
$4,000
Should Mr.. Riley elect to remain the
Governor could remove him on charges
after a trial. The Governor could file
the charges. and he would be the sole
judge whether they were proved or
not.
1t is said here that William A. Orr,
secretary to the Governor, will be APP
pointed Riley's successor. Politicians
who have been urging the Governor to
make a political appointment have
given up hope of gaining their wishes
Mr.. Orr has made a study Of prisons,
and as a newspaper man he wrote sew
era! articles on prison reforms. A man
with executive ability and a knowledge
of financial problems is required for
the job, and both these qualifications
are credited to Mr.. Orr.
Ever since Governor Whitman's visit
10 Sing Sing, on Wednesday, it has
been rumored along the tiers Of cells
that Martin Deeley, the ''P. X" as the
convic;s call the principal keeper. was
to be removed. Warden Osborne sus-
pended Deeley yesterday. Slackening
of discipline among the keepers and
the recent escape Of two convlcts are
the chief reasons for Deeley's suspen-
sion.
Il have suspended Deeley tempor-
arily." said Mr.. Osborne yesterday,
partly on account of the recent es-
capes and partly for his tendency TO
permit laXness among the 100 keepers
under him. | spoke to him about it a
number Of times, but there was no i'm
provement. cannot say now whether
he will be reinstatod."
Mr.. Osborne has shown an inclination
10 tighten the discipline at the prison
since the escape Of Rocco Salzo. He
has stationed q guard to keep track of
the TRUSTEES employed on the grounds
outside. These men are now checked
up every hour