The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-07
Prison Superintendent Now
Facing Removal by Whit
man at Once.
KIRCHWEY AND ORR
MENTIONED FOR JOB
Osborne Elated Over Ap-
parpnt Endorsement of =
His Reform Methods.

ooy whitman asked Superintendent
Of Prisons John B. Riley for his i'm
mediate resignation yesterday because
sup,. Riley ordered the transfer from
Sing Sing prison to Dannemora Of sixty
ak prisoners, mostly officers or in
huential members OF the Mutual We'll
fare League or employed in the war
dens Office without consulting the Gov
ernor or Warden George w. kirchwey.
Supt. Riley refused to resign and
thought he could adjust matters with
Gov Whitman. but the Governor is ex-
pected TO insist that Supt. Riley must
80.
Tt Gov. whitman's letter to Supt
Riley does not bring the iatters resigna-
ton. the Governor has 1t In his power
10 remove him Immediately without
the approval OF the Senate. He Is ex-
pec,ed TO do this and to appoln, as
supi Riley's successor either Dean
kirchwey. whom the Governor forced
supt Riley to name as warden of Sing
indicted. or william A. Orr. Gov. Whit.
mans private secretary.
1t WAS Warden kirchvey's trip to
Albany yesterday to object to the draft
order that brought 1t TO the Governors
sttention and caused him to ask Supt.
Riley to resign.
GOV. Whitman's letter. calling Supt
Kleys action In ordering such a draft
drastic and precipitate and evidently
Inspired by tho motive Of breaking down
Warden kirchwey's administration and
continuance OF Mr.. Osborne reforms
and forcing his resignation. Is taken
By Warden kirchwey, Thomas Mott
osborne and friends of prison reform,
as an Endorsement of the Mutual We'll
fare League. of Mr. Osborne's work
s-d Of prison reform In general
Riiry Informed At Prison.
Supt Riley. WHO was Informed tina,
his resignation had been requested
While he was inspecting Sing Sing prison
yesterday noon. denied that he intended
an attack on the Mutual Welfare League
and said that. on the contrary. he was
particularly anxious to avoid such a
thing He gave instructions. he said.
that no league officers should be trans.
ierred and II any were on the list II
H'INA nave Dttn an ONtTSlkll OF mis-
take,
The draft list that precipltated Gov.
Wnitman's action arrived AT the prison
Wednesday afternoon. 4 quick inspection
showed Dean kirchwey that among the
tMty-sN names listed for transfer "a
Clinton PRISON, at Dannemora. wher.
usually are sent only tuberculous or
unruiy prisoners. were those OF all the
MItua. Welfare League officers. all Its
Influential members and the entire force
o. trustees attached to the warden's Of
nee As Dean kirchwey expressed II
Il would have thrown the entire ma
,hnefy OF the prison. the league and
he office out of joint TO have them re-
moved.
Dean kirchwey came at once to New
''lR, consulted with unnamed "advis-
ets and decided TO go to Albany on a
Midnight train. lie telephoned Gov
whitman late Wednesday night and
made an appointment for yesterday
morning. In two hour conference
p'in klrchwey, reminding Gov. Whit.
man or the understanding when he was
appointed that he should not be ham.
p.red In working out Sing Sing prob.
leIns. said that he must refuse to obe,
Supt Rlley's order drafting the sixty.
sA men and several other orders also
''ov' Whitman then decided to ask foi
sup. Rlleys resignation Immediately
Slpt, Riley had left Albany OF
Wednesday and spent that night in New
iork' Intending to inspect Sing sins
yesterday He reached there IN tn,
morning and found that Dean Kirchwey
Va IN Albany. A few minutes later h,
Was 'old by newspaper men that he hat
pe'h asked To resign. Supt. Rile,
seemed only mildly surprised and sal,
ne 'elt sure he could explain everythin
70 Gov. Whitman. Meantime the new.
Nad reached every Granny of the prison
ana when Riley passed through the war
ueN outer office to leave there wer,
III concealed smiles of delight on tn,
'A.es of the TRUSTEES who work there.
M'sund-rstsndinx, Says Riley.
1t has been known for some time tina
sup, Riley ami Mr. Osborne were un
,H"ndly with each other and there hav.
h'cn many outbreaks between them
sun Riley was most prompt in order
s MY. bsbornes removal when tn,
N'NlnnHstrr county Grand Jury indicte,
,,h, and was decidedly loath 10 appoin
M Dshorne's friend Dean Kirchwe,
- WARDEN in his place. In the prison h,
mas been considered AN enemy Of prisoi
''''',n generally and OF the Mutual Wei
''r' League in particular.
mink II IL all misurlersts nd 4,
o. me part of Gov. Whitman" he SAY
'h'' p" had returned TO New York g
u'' mink ne understands the situation
positively have no intention of resign
'.. nI' will visit GOV. Whitman !,
'tuy tomorrow. and ] think "A shOr
Exclamation will set everything straight
rannot account for IT, My rela
IONS With the Governor have been en-
'r'F satisfactory so far as ] know
nav" been told by newspaper men tina
u" Governor Nnds fault with certai
" hN"rs OF men from Sing Sing I
Nb'on prison. hardly believe that
- adequate reason for slSing for m
Yes ghdion, ! have had no ntlmatiO
o. ~" Governors dissatisfaction in iha
regard
several weeks ago" Supt, Riley Wen
on while Mr.. Osborne was warden.
'"'N"d him that draft would be neces
say aud asked him for list. lie fur
-hed me with one and the draft VIA
""phred last week. I told Mr., Kirchwe
N" time that he might expect 4
'N'r L occurred TO me that there m!gt
~ o'h'"rs Of the League on the drai
en' ! took extra precautions TO avoi
drA'lng them, ! wroie Mr.. Kirchwe
Continued on Seventh Page.