The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-01
PLEA FOR OSBORNE
IN LETTER TO JUROR
n. Y. Lawyer Threatened with
Indictment for Writing
tO Talcsman.
ACTION Anglers JUDGE

WHITE PLAINS. Nov. 3o.-A surprise
was caused to-day when the foreman
OF the Grand Jury which IL investigating
conditions in Sing Sing under Warden
osborne's rule disclosed that a letter
had ocen written to a member Of the
Jury by Joseph bay Lee, a New York
lawyer. protesting that unfairness had
beer shown In not permitting Mr.. Os-
borne to he heard by the jury. Mr.. Lee
added that the jury should demand the
right to make a first hand investigation
OF the prison.
The letter. which was written to Will
lam a.. Murray. was handed to Justice
M~orschauser by Foreman Buchanan. The
Judge said that it was plain that the
letter was a violation of the law. II
was said that Mr.. Lee would be indicted
and brought to White Plains on n bench
warrant. The letter said in part
we all appreciate. of course. that the
trand Jury has an oath To obey, and
must find or refuse 20 lind indictments
on m strength Of tn, evidence before
IL. But there L. "A tremendous feeling in
u community and | believe throughout
the country that whether or not the
District Attorney hooses u let the
Gfahd Jury hear the warden OF Sing
Sing or TO take the Grand Jury for A
personal investigation OF the prison. the
jury Itself should demand that the war
den he heard and should make first hand
Investigations Of the prison itself before
nahding down Indictments in such a
situation as the present one"
Mr.. Lee added that offences such as
those under investigation have been gem
orally cared for by the prison authorities
and not made the subject OF Indictments,
and that under the present regime Of
tenders are tried by the prison couit
win the understanding hat IL prisoners
are properi punished no further action
snail be taken against them. This
morally binds the officers ~ the State
u keep faith with the prisoners unless
they are prepared 70 say that the whole
system Is bad. Mr.. Lee says.
After rading the letter Justice
Morrchaus.x said:
The essence OF the Trims IL that IL
IL Il corrupt attempt TO influence A
Juror. You notice he SAYS some
thing about crimes being committed In
the state prison are being taken care
OF oE a elf-const!tutei body in the
prison. That makes no difference.
~''''N 10 q 'lAllF' U'tntT ~ IL committed
IN a state prison or not. 1t Is tus, az
'nuch oil a crime In a prison as de.
ana no self-constituted body has a RICH:
10 pass upon UGH crimes
When Mr.. Lee was seen tonight he
Explained that the letter WAS written
as the result Of a meeting Of the Mems
club OF the Presbyterian Church o.
iIsisantville. whore ne lives. on Novem-
Der IL. Warden Osborn spoke and
Of unfairness IN n. inquiry
Into prison conditions. stating that he
had not been called before the Grand
Jury TO give his sid. ~ tn. cas-.
As Il result Of tina; speech We asked
what We could do to help him." sad
Lee. and the letter vac the result
~ that discussion. Mr.. Osborn. "a
not know thai the letter was written. |
suppose that others have also written !
q TN" Grand Jury. " We All thought
he proceedings had been UNFAIR
Huntington W. Merchant, Warden
attorney. said last night thai
he. Mr.. Osborne nor George Cor
lon Battle had any knowledge Of Mr..
-ee's intention 70 write the letter.