The Washington times., 1915-08-03
OSBORNE SAYS He
IS BEING FRAMED
Tells Students Politicians Seek
to Get Something On Him.
Expects To Be Removed.

NEW YORK. Aug. 3.-Thonas Mott
Osborne. warden Of Sing Sing Prison.
feels that he is being framed" by the
politicians Addressing 1900 Columbia
students In their gymnasium he maze
the charge that strong efforts arc oeins
made to get something" on him. Be-
fore he left Sing Sing he told the con-
victs he expected to be removed from
office by John B. Riley. superintendent
Of prisons, but predicted he soon would
be back at his post.
Osborne told the students his version
Of his fight at the Ossining railroad
Riley's staff. which ended In Osborne
forcibly recapturing prison papers which
Mcdonald had removed from Sing sing
prison.
Incident the other to Governor Whit
man. answering criticism Of the osborne
administration Of affairs in Sing Sing;
take. and which Osborne later for
warded to Riley. were orders showing
the disposition Of prisoners. by which
Riley INTENDED to prove that as many
mitted to enter the death house in
body to sing to the condemned men.
contrary to prison laws.
Attacks Opponents.
Osborne. IN his speech and In his let
ters vigorously attacked his opponents.
II am trying to do my best work In
ha andling q delicate and important Job
and should not be stuck In the back. !"
he said. Il appeal to the people Of New
York, I mean the decent people. to COM
pei the politicians to let me alone. The
politicians don't want reform. for rea-
sons Of their own. They don't want me-
They want a warden more pliable. and
less honest
Osborne was interrupted several min
utes by applause when he referred to
the politicians In caustic terms. and
when ne spoke of his opposition to cap
His version Of the trouble with Nc
Donald. as outlined in the letter to
Riley. follows
Mcdonald arrived at Sing Sing on
the evening before Becker was exc
cuted. He had plenty OF opportunity to
/ see Osborne that night. but did not at
! tempt to do so. Next morning, when
| Osborne was in bed. worn out with an
sll-nkht vigil. Mcdonald demanded
| admittance. Osborne received him and
the main prison for interviews"
Papers From Convicts.
Then the letter goes on:
| Mcdonald went to the principal
keepers office. where. without notifying
Dorner. the acting principal keeper. or
any other officer. he got from two con-
| victs working in the office a mass Of
| papers from the files. Bundling these
into newspaper he stepped into the
| taxicab at the door of the prison, hand
the office to a prisoner who was work
ing at the telephone exchange
"of course. l knew this undignined
and unofficial proceeding could no,
possibly be with your sanction. SO a,
ton I followed him to the raiiwa,
station. where I was fortunate enough
to find him and secure the papers
AS SUPERINTENDENT Of prisons. I as
sumo that you have the right tc
OF the prison to Albany OF course
60 not for a moment question tha
right.
Il will see that they are placed II
your hands upon your return to Al
bany Monday morning. but am sure
ly right / npresumins you had no in
tention of these or any other paper
being smuggled out Of the prison
without the knowledge OF the war
den"
Osborne made the plain impl,catio,
in his speech that Mcdonald was sen
on that particular day because ever,
one supposed he (Osborne) would b,
away from the prison at the time o
Becker's execution. according to hi
custom. because OF his aversion t
capital punishment
Letter To Whitman.
Osborne's letter to Whitman de
clines responsibility for "newspape
reports Of what l am alleged to hav,
said at a private gathering at which
reporters were not present"-this II
reference to the charge that he ha.
said uncomplimentary things about thu
prison officers. He reiterates hi