New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-07
The Prison Superintendent
Gives Lie to Warden and
Repudiates Reforms.
SHIFTS BLAME IN
TRANSFER TROUBLE
Lays Doubling Up System at
Sing Sing to Obstinacy Of
Subordinate.
[By Telegraph " Ths r1bun, J

Albany, July 6.--John B. Riley, Su-
perintendent Of Prisons, gave the lie
to Thomas Mott Osborne, warden OF
Sing Sing, to-day.
"The statement made by Mr.. Osborne
in a speech at Ardsley on Saturday,
said Mr.. Riley. that when he took
charge nt Sing Sing keepers brought In
drugs and whiskey and they could be
bought by any OF the prisoners is un-
true. 1t is gross slander upon a
body Of men who are, upon the whole
honest, capable and efficient officers"
With the head of the prisons Of the
state calling the warden Of the state
prison for the metropolitan district a
teller of untruths, it is thought that
Governor Whitman will soon have to
act in the interests Of efficiency. As
Mr.. Riley's statement was issued aftor
conference with the Governor, few
doubt where tn, Chief Executives sym
pathies lie. Steps looking toward War
den Osborno's removal are momentarily
expected.
No sparks flew from Mr.. Osborne
when he was told of the statement.
Although the Prison Superintendent
implied throughout his statement that
the present warden Of Sing Sing had
been taking credit for reforms estab-
lished before his time and had been
continuing the "barbarous practice" of
putting two prisoners in a single cell,
Mr.. Osborne decided TO read the whole
attack carefully before making any re-
ply.
There's 10 friction on my side" he
declared. Further than that | an
make no statement for publication un-
Ill | read what the dispatch from AL
bany contains in to-morrow's papers.
Then, II it warrants IT, | may prepare a
statement for the press"
That Warden Osborne is willing to
fight for his "boys," even to the extent
of risking his own position, is brought
out clearly by Mr. Riley himself in his
description Of the differences arising
from the transfer Of prisoners ordered
by himself.
"He Warden Osborne)," says Mr..
Riley, Uniformed me that if | persisted
in arranging for the transfers he would
resign"
Superintendent Riley's statement is
a. follows:
"The statement made by Mr.. Osborne
in a speech at Ardsley on Saturday.
that when he took charge at Sing Sing
keepers brought in drugs and whiskey
and they could be bought by any Of
the prisoners. is untrue. II is a gross
slander on a body Of men who are, upon
the whole, honest, capable and efficient
officers. II il we're true Mr.. Osborne
should have discharged the guilty off,
GERS and reported conditions TO me.
He has done neither. More than a
year before he took charge | made a
thorough investigation and found sew
eral officers were guilty of such prac-
tices. They were Immediately dis
charged. Prisoners addicted TO the use
Of drugs were transferred 10 Clinton
and Auburn. Dr. Farr, the prison
physician, will verify my assertion.
"Mr. Osborne's intimation that ne
was not consulted in selecting men for
transfer is unfounded. All transfers
made prior TO the last two were from
lists submitted by him. He was re-
peatedly urged TO submit names for
these. but failed 10 do so. He was
urged to cooperate with my repreSen-
tatiy.s in making the last two drafts.
but refused. After orders for these
transfers were issued he suggested
changes, which were made, substan-
TALLY as requested.
About 10 per cent Of all eonvicts
come from the 1st and 9th Judicial Dis
triets and are. under the statute, SEN
fenced TO confinement in Sing Sing.
When the population exceeds ,450 il
becomes necessary to double up or, in
other words, to house two prisoners in
one cell. When Mr. Osborne took
charge on December !, only one in
mate was confined in each cell. Early
in January, finding that nearly two
hundred men were doubled up, imme-
diately instructed Warden Osborne TO
submit tentative list from which trans
fer. could be made. All the criminal
courts in greater New York being in
session, the population Increased rap
idly until more than FIVE hundred men
were doubled up on February 1. In the
meantime | had repeatedly called War
den Osborne's attention TO these dis
graceful conditions and insisted upon
his complying with my Instructions to
submit lists from which transfers
could be made. Such lists as | was
able TO obtain did not equal the new
arrivals. and on May there were l,74l
inmates confined at Sing Sing, making
il necessary to double up 674 inmates.
Finding it impossible to have my in
structions obeyed, | warned him that in
the event of his failure to send lists
for transfer, | would be obliged to send
men from my Office to prepare them.
These conditions continued, and on
June II. wrote Warden Osborne. call
ing his attention to my repeated de-
msnds and warnings and advised him
that Messrs. Baker and Farnsworth, Of
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