The sun., 1916-01-12
KIRCHWEY DENIES
WISH TO GET RILEY
Warden and Prison Supcrin-
tcndcnt Testify at Hear
ing Before Governor.
TO APPEAR AGAIN FRIDAY

AlsANY, Jan. 1I--w,rden George w
Kirchwcy of Sing Sing prison for nearly
an hour to-day stood at the aide of
Gov. whitman in the Executive Cham
her and crossed swords with Edgar Y.
Brackett, counsel for John " Riley.
State Superintendent OF Prisons.
with the expectation that Senator
Rrackett would tear the prison ring
to pieces" and say some things that
people have merely spoken OF In soft
whispers. spectators nocked into the
room until the Governor had to appeal
for fresh dir. Then the windows were
thrown wide open and such liberty given
the biting b-cczes that many OF the
spectators had to turn up their coat COL
lars.
senator Rrackett read a statement
prepared by Supt. Riley setting forth the
latter's formal answer to the charges
made against him by the Governor &:
namely. that Superintendent Riley or
dered the transfer OF sixty-six PRISON.
ers from Sing Sing TO Dannemora In
violation of an understanding he had
with the Governor not to do SO until
he had consulted with the Governor and
the warden and that such transfer was
Armed TO embarrass the warden and
Against the best interest Of the depart
ment. Superintendent Riley denied vio-
lsting his agreement.
He insisted that he mean, no harm
to Thomas Mott osborne and II prison.
srs who were concerned in Osborre's =
case were on the list to be transferred,
a. the Governor charged. Warden kirch-
wsy should have called his attention to
the fact and not have rushed 10 the
Governor TO complain about IL.
Consultcd warden, He Says.
Mr.. Riley said he not only consulted
the warden about the transfers before de-
oiding to Issue the .order. but also tele-
phoned TO the District Attorney of West
chester county TO make doubly sure none
Of the prisoners concerned with the for
mer wardens Indictment should he in
terfered with. He pointed out that other
wardens frequently made suggestions to
modify and change lists and ther ideas
were always adopted.
During the reading Of Riley e defence
Warden kirchwey occupied a seat IN "a
far OF corner. AS he concluded read
ing Senator Bracket called upon the
warden to testify. He took DR.. kirch-
wey all over the Riley transfer matter
and then he abruptly stopped To ask the
warden Il he did not want TO see them
get Riley
Warden Kirchwey said he didn't quite
understand, and Senator Bracket ex-
planned that he was using the language
OF Sing Sing and that he thought
kirchwey ought tn be familiar with IL.
Warden kifchwey exclaimed Heaven
forbid never tried to get the super
intendent."
The warden said he di not believe
IL was either disloyal ~ discourteous
hSt to complain to the Governor and
not to his immediate superior. the prison
Superintendent, ahou; the transfer
der. He said H. felt II would not he Of
any use To go first to Riley, that he be-
lieved the superintendent intended to
make good his declaration AZ tn. time
he accepted the Sing Sing wartienship
that the superintendent himself would as
sume AL r-snous hiltv In this matter.
Warden Kirchwey said ne was almost
tempted la hama back his commission
rs warden when Mr. Riley made that
statement to him. hut fol, ne would ul-
t.nately get TO work harmoniously with
him.
"Piilars Of Prison society"
Warden Krchwey insisted that the
transfer order removed from Sing Sing
prison practically AL ot the nclp from
the wardcns house excep. the cooks
These inmates were all on friendly terms
with Warden OSBORNE. and thirty or
forty of the men on the list To- he trans
ferred were the pillars of society at
the prison" Taey also included right
hand men Of the principal keeper and
the Superintendent OF industries. Others
~ere or.ginaturs OF the Mutual Welfare
League and officers of II almost from
the beginning.
Mr.. Bracket had Warden Kirchwey
admit that there we're a great many Of
fcers. members of committees. judiciary
social reform and the Ike. IN the league
He knew of only eight officers whose
names were scratched from the batch
TO he sent 20 pannemora
When he had concluded with Warden
Kirchwey Senator Brackr,t asked until
Monday next In which To file certain
affidavits and prison department records
but the Governor thought Friday wa,
Ome enough, and adjourned the hearing
until that day at noon.
Senator Bracket smiled and insisted
that although 'it is a grotesque pro-
ceedng to have the Governor VINO pre-
fers these charges sit in judgment on
the accused official. "he nevertheless
would appeal TO the Governors sense
Of justice and urge an impartial de-
termination OF the Superintendenta case.
AS soon as the hearing opened at
noon Gov. Whitman asked Supt. Riley
" II were not fact that transfers were
made as "A means OF punishment The
superintendent said such was not the
case, whereupon Gov. Whitman read
letters from Riley to Osborne IN which
the superintendent stated that transfers
should be made 10 Clinton for bad con-
duct. Riley's answer was that these
letters should not be taken alone with
out considering the wardens letters to
him on the same subject.
One other point the Governor brought
out strongly. He read letters which
declared certain prisoners feared trans
fer from Sing Sing because they were
witnesses for Osborne. This fear was
expressed the day before the order for
transfer came, and their names were,
In fact. included. Riley's answer to the
Governors Inference that the transfer
was because OF their interest in the
Osborne case was "How could anybody
know what witnesses Mr.. Osborne in
tended 10 call, especially a man sup
oosel TO be hostile TO Osborne?'