New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-09
Resolution to Gust Keeper
and Ease Treatment
Is Rejected
OSBORNE ADVOCATE
INTRODUCED CHARGES
Punishment at DannemOra
Warranted, Carter and
Officials Agree

From STAFF Correspondent Of The Tribune
Albany, Feb. 8.-The State Prison
Conn ission rejected to-day resolu-
tion recommending to James NJ. Carter
State Superintendent of Prisons, that
Thomas f.. Coultry, principal keeper
of Clinton Prison, at Dannemora, be
ousted and that the system of treating
convicts at Clinton be eased up gen.
orally.
The proposal was defeated by three
to two vote, President Henry Solomon
and Mrs. Sarah l.. Davenport, two oil
the seven members, being absent.
Commissioner Richard NJ. Hurd, q
prison student of the Osborne school,
sponsored the resolution and was sup
ported by Frank L. Wade, yice-presi-
dent of the body. 1t s understood
that their decision is particularly
gratifying to Superintendent Carter,
who suggested that an investigation
of conditions at Dannemora be con-
Quoted last December to sift charges
of mistreatment, cruelty and brutality
conveyed to the commissioners and to
himself by Frank Tannenbaum.
Called Treatment Brutal
The |. W. W. agitator sent long
typewriter communication to Super
intendent Carter last fall, citing more
than a dozen instances of alleged
brutal treatment of convicts, hang
ings by the wrist, tortures in the
Cooler and beatings by prison OIL
GERS.
Word reached the Prison Depart
ment also through the commissioner
that, after a visit of Thomas Mott
Osborne to Clinton. before last De-
cember, eonyicts who had talked TO
the former Sing Sing warden had been
punished and deprived Of privileges
earned by good behavior.
The commission went to Dannemora
and held an investigation last Deem
Der s and Q. About forty convicts
were examined. as well as DR.. j. Is.
Ransom, the prison physician. Warden
John 3. Trombly, Principal Keeper
Coultry and other prison officers. VIII
nesses denied that they had been pun
ished for talking to Osborne.
Conditions Warranted Penalties
Er. Ransom, Trombly and the prin-
cipal keeper swore that there had been
no brutality or punishment that was
too serious DR.. Ransom testified that
he had treated no one because of too
severe punishment in the last year.
The officials generally supported Mr..
Carriers contention that the character
Of the prisoners sent to Dannemora
warranted the administration and DIS
cipline inforced there.
The record shows, however, that con-
victs were "chalked in the cooler" for
a day on bread and water for punish,
ment, that the convicts felt weak
after this confinement, that the rations
were not considered NEARLY enough,
but the alleged brutalities in the last
wear and half were scarcely SUP
stantiated.
Superintendent Carter pointed out as
significant the case of Charles O'Nell
whose punishment record almost fllied
"a closely typewriter page. rms
showed that O'Neil was examined on
December s. The next day, while the
commission was interrogating other
convicts, there was rumpus IN when
O'Neil was the leading figure.
He insisted on taking his case before
the commission, and the record SHOWS
that so fragrant was his offence, as tes'
tilted by his fellow-convicts, that the
commission, sitting as jury, sentenced
him to the cooler and recommended MS
transfer thereafter to Auburn.
Facilities Inadequate
One disclosure Of the official record
of the commissions investigation al
Dannemora is the lack of adequate Ia
cilities for observing tubercular anc
suspected insane prisoners.
When the commission met TO discuss
it's conclusions about conditions al
Clinton. which the record does not
show were drawn up, the question arose
as to making an investigation at sing
Sing. Superintendent Carter asserted
that there are conditions there OF
which | am not unmindful, and which
will have to be taken care Of
He suggested, however. that qule'
INVESTIGATION there would be best.
II is considered likely that the prison
commission will go to Sing sing soon
as body or quietly" as individuals
and make an investigation TO deter
mine whether the Mutual welfare
Ieaque should be continued; whether
the industrial and educational plans
can be improved; whether discipline
IL roo.oi;ty arc rood and whether