Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1916-01-06
WHITMAN ASKS
RILEY, OSBORNE
FOE, TO RESIGN
Governors Request Follows SUI
perintendent's Transfer of
Prisoners from Sing Sing.

ALBANY, Jan. 6.-Governor Whit
man today demanded the resignati on
of John i. Riley, State superinten-
dent of prisons. The demand was
contained in a letter to Superinten-
dent Riley, who is either in New York
or making an inspection of Sing Sing
prison.
The reason for the demand, as
stated in the letter is that Riley had
recently ordered a draft of sixty-slA,
prisoners transferred from Sing Sing
to Dannemora prison. This order this
governor held to be in violation of the
understanding which DIR. George W.
Kirchwey accepted the wardenship Of
Sing Sing after Thomas Mott Os-
borne, under indictment for alleged
misconduct. had relinquished his
duties as head of the prison.
Most of the transferred convicts,
the letter points out, have been or arc
prominently connected with the Mu
tnal Welfare League of the prison,
which was organized by Mr.. Osborne.
Such transfers to Dannemora have
for years been regarded as punish
ment, and after citing the fact. the
governors letter says:
This order is so clearly a violation
of our understanding and of the
terms under which DIR. kirchwey
went to Sing Sing that ] deem it my
duty to ask for your immediate
resignation"
The governors letter follows:
"I have just been apprised of an
order made by you directing the
transfer from Sing Sing to the State
prison at Dannemora of sixty-six con-
victs. Some of these, as has been
customary. are transferred as tuber-
cular patients. Most of them, it ap-
pears, have been or are at present
prominently connected with the Mu-
tual Welfare League of the prison
and are regarded by the warden as
trustworthy and necessary, under
the present conditions, for the proper
administration of the affairs of the
prison. The warden was not consult
ed at all in this matter.
"It was distinctly understood when
DIR. Kirchwey went to Sing Sing,
which he did at our earnest solicita-
tion, that he should be given an op-
portunity Thoroughly to familiarize
himself with the conditions, and, SO
far as practicable should have free
hand.
"You know, as well as I, that a
transfer from Sing Sing to Danne-
mora, except in cases of tubercular
patients, is regarded as punishment,
and has been for years.
"Your drastic and precipitate ac-
ton, without conference either with
the warden or with the governor, it
seems to me. can be inspired by but
one motive, and it's effect, as you
must know, if carried out, must be
to break down the administration and
render the new warden's position in
tolerable.
81 have felt and still feel that in
your enfeebled condition of health
you may not altogether realize the
full effect of your official action on
this and on other occasions.
"But this order is so clearly vio-
lation of our understanding and of
the terms under which DR.. KirchWey
went to Sing Sing, as well as, it
seem to me, of your official obliga-
tion The T." ple of this State. shat
deem it my duty to ask for Your
Immediate resignation.
OSSINING, n. Y. Jan. 6.-John B.
Riley, State superintendent of pris-
ons, who is inspecting Sing Sing
prison here today, said that he had
not received from Governor Whitman
letter requesting his resignation.
"Some of the newspaper boys have
just told me the governor wants me
TO resign" said Mr.. Riley, "but as
have heard nothing officially along
this line. ! cannot comment upon
the matter now"