New-York tribune., 1915-02-27
SAYS BEATING IS
BETTER THAN CELL
II Is Far Less Damaging
to RefOrmatory Boys,
Doctor Believes.
ALSO MILDER THAN
STAND UP' DRILL
Contradictions Are Feature oil
Hearing on Hart's Island
Cruelty Charges.

Katharine b. Davis, Commissioner OF
Correction, held yesterday, with the as
sistance OF her jury OF two, another OF
the occasional hearings in the nvestl-
cation which she is conducting into the
charges of insubordlnation and neglect
Of duty against Martin J. Moore, over
seer Of the Hart's Island Reformatory.
The most exciting event Of the day was
an accusation by the Commissioner
that the newspapermen had made of
with a package Of her best pencils. Be
fore drastic action could be taken she
discovered the pencils tucked away IN
her desk.
In regard 70 the statement made on
Tuesday that Ralph Simons, one OF the
witnesses against Moore, had been
fixed" by the prosecution, Arthur Z.
Johnson and John Schaudel, detectives
in the drug squad, described Simons
arrest and conviction as cocaine hend.
II was impossible, they said, that ne
was sent to Hart's Island as stool
pigeon, because he pleaded long and
hard before the Court Of Special Ses-
sions against being committed.
Relative 10 the alleged "frame-up' OF
Moore, James r. McGarvey, a keeper at
the reformatory, testified that John
nelly, a nOSDlldl uFiBti a. iAeA = 80
and. had expressed his determination TO
drive the overseer out Of Office, saying,
Moore is so crooked that he couldn't
lie straight in bed
Kelly urged, the keeper asserted, that
McGarvey report any irregularlty ne
might find to Edward Bray, Protestant
chaplain. saying that him and Miss
Davis was as close together as two
twins" Mr.. Bray, Kelly said, according
to McGarvey's testimony, was disgust
ed with Moore and was endeavoring 70
frame him up.
McGarveys testimony was totally
contradicted later by Kelly himself.
Captain Dillon. drill master, insisted
that Kelly dispensed whiskey. Kelly
said he did not. william James, an IN
mate, asserted that Austin P. O'Nelll
keeper. struck him over the head with
heavy KEY. O'Neill testified that ne
had never done anything of the kind
A half dozen inmates described
cruelty which had been visited upon
them by Moore and his keepers. Harry
Tronsky, a former inmate, the RABBI
and several others gave personal OF
written testimony that the overseer
was kindness itself.
Among THESE IsSt was " imam
Fbling. the reformatory doctor, VINO
pointed out that, while he had never
seen any cruelty, he believed a good
beating was far milder and less per,
manently damaging than the dark cell
and the "stand-up," countenanced by
the department.
During the afternoon it was alleged
that the overseer had ignored verbaI
instructions of the Commissioner and
sent to the farm at Northampton two
bows afflicted with contagious DIS
ease. imperilling the health of others
It was also stated that Moore placed
Edward Weiss, a runaway from the
farm, who had been sent back TO the
reformatory. In position Of trust and
honor as captain of the mess hall
which. il was claimed, was contrary 70
the instructions given the overseer by
Miss Davis.
Before time for the samovsr and
Japanese tea set, in the corner, TO be
brought into action, thus Disappointing
for a third time the hopes Of the, spec,
tators, the hearing was adjourned until
to-day.