The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-02
RILEY CHANGES 'FRONT.':
OSBORNE OUT ON'LEAVE'
Sing Sing Has Happy New Year Day, With Music
Movies and Feasting-Kirchwey Wins Cheers
When He Addresses Prisoners.

OssiNING, n. Y. Jan. 1.-Sing Sine
prison had q happy New Year to-day
II started In tho mornins, when somehow
the news got about that after all Thomas
Mott Osborne had won his point and
was only on leave Of absence until his
trial. and not summary dismissed.
Then Dean Kirchwey. calling himself
acting warden. praised Mr.. Osborne te
| the skies. amid tie cheers Of $500 con.
victs. Other fllers in were music by
the convict band. . big dinner. q vaude-
| Vile show and movies in tho evening.
The big news OF the day undoubtedly
was Superintendent OF Prisons John b
Rley's change of front on the question
Of Mr.. Osborne's status. II wa con.
tained In q letter from Supt. Riley ad-
dressed to Thomas Mott Osborne, ESQ.
Sing Sing prison." The letter read a.
follows:
referring to your application for
leave OF absence, dated December 20,
which has been handed to mo by Gov.
Whitman, I beg leave TO advise you that
your request Is hereby granted.
Il AVE this day appointed Georre W.
Kirchwey agent and warden Of Sing Sing
prison"
Considered . victory.
All Mr.. Osborne's friends considered
that a great victory. for II was just what
he applied for when he went to Albany.
Superintendent Riley had announced
that he had appointed Dean kirchwey
as permanent warden and that Mr.. Os-
borne was out for good and all. but
apparently Gov. Whitman iidn't think
so and told Superintendent, Riley what
he thought.
There was moro encouragement for
Mr.. Osborne's friends in Dean Kirch-
wey's address to the convicts In the
mess hall. delivered after zach md every
one Of the 1900 had stuffed himself full
OF vermicelli soup. roast pork, potatoes,
carrots, apple pie. fruit. nuts n coffee
with rea cream and sugar. The speech
made a great hit with the msmbers of
the Mutual Welfare League. who cheered
the new warden to the echo.
Some people think there are two
wardens here said Dean Kirchwey.
''but this much II sure-I may be your
warden. but Thomas Mott Osborne is my
warden" When the cheers had died
down he continued:
II shall run h prison along the same
lines as Mr.. Osborne ran II. and whom
the right time oomAs I shall be only
too glad to resign. I am only acting
warden here.
II hope you will give me the same sup
port you nave given Warden Osborne
and I hope the loyalty will improve 20
that II will be impossible for such things
to happen again a c%onvicts leaving here
and going up to White Plains TO testify
against their warden. Still. you know.
II II a tradition that every warden Of
Sing Sing must be Indicted some time"
visits Death House.
There were more cheers at that. and
with his fingers In his ears Warden
Klrchwey left the mess hall for a visit
to the death house. He Is a prOfessed
opponent Of the death penalty, but he
walked through the cells shaking hands
with the condemned men and wishing
them a Imply new year
Then. to the excellent music Of The
convict band. called for Mr.. Osborne
tom Browns Band" the convicts
marched to the chapel. where the Noun
Vernon friends OF The Mutual Welfare
League gave a concert of solos. duets
and r~ecitations.
After a little rest in their cells the
convicts went to supper. which was
hardly OF such variety as the New Years
dinner, but which still served TO fortify
them for the movies that followed. and
after that, as Pepys would say. 80 to
bed"
Before they went to bed. however. Mr..