New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-04
Transferred Inmates Tell
Of Clinton's Brutalities
Evidence of Vicious Msrue Collected by Frank annen-
baum Forms Basis of Demand for Removal OF
Principal Keeper Thomas F. Coulrey

think il was in him 10 treat me as ne
had declares Martin.
"'Orders is orders he replied, ana
! have 10 obey them. II you want 70
know anything more about II ask the
dep
Warden Dismisses Story
"When I came out saw the warden
about nv teeth. He smiled at me-
You need not tell a man Of my stand
ing he said, that they did such
things to a man in your condltloh'
You did it falling downstairs. .,
Another who had his teeth knocked
out was an aged convict. victim OF
tuberculosis. Charles Pap O'Neil.
Martin declares this occurred when
O'Neil protested against being put IN
he cooler" unjustly. After the as
sault. Martin declares, O'Neil was
taken TO a condemned eel! and hung
up by the wrists.
O'Neil is no longer in Clinton. AT
the December inquiry he was witness
and the next day, while the commits
sion was still in session, became IN
volved in a quarrel with some or the
guards whom he had accused. This Of
fence was considered by the commits
sion. and it was finally agreed 20 sehG
him TO the COOLER" for a few days ana
then transfer him TO Auburn. Reports
from that prison say that. although
ONeil was rated a most troublesome
man IN Clinton, he has had no serious
trouble at Auburn. 90.
Again. Martin tells of being sent with
2 one-legged man TO shovel snow, though
there were several hundred able-bodled
men in the place available for this
work. This man broke his wooden leg
and hoped back to the guard room;
There an officer remarked. "Its too bad
you did not break your neck
Saw Guards Beating Man
Joseph Mulligan, Clinton 12,4OS. now
in Sing Sing, also contributes story
to the record.
Hearing screams from the east
hall" he swears. 81 looked IN and saw
a fellow named Greenburg with one OF
the higher officers and several OF the
guards beating him with clubs ana
kicking him with their feet as he lay
on the floor. while another higher Of
fetal stood by laughing. mat was III
May. 1916
"'You fellows are no better than
dogs. TINS OllClhl sara. anu NOA dit
ing 20 be treated like dogs
"Sing Sing is no picnic, but It is Ike
leaving hell Cor heaven 10 come here
from Clinton
Again Mulligan says he saw hand.
cuifed man being beaten by several oil
the guards, aided by one of the higher
officers.
'In June. believe it vas" he testi-
fed, 81 was on my way to the bake
shop, when | saw another fellow being
beaten up. This time IT was IN front
of the guard room. He had been hand
cufred. and one of the higher officers
and several Of the screws keepers
were heating him numerically. while
they were at it the warden's daughter
came along. but they paid no attention
TO that. and kept right on
The beating over, the prisoner was
conveyed in cuffs TO the cooler
knocked Down for Laughing
Santo Latronie, another prisoner,
tells how serious 1t was for prisoner
past sixty to laugh at guard. .
"The old man was coming out OF
the mess hail. he swears, and
higher officer told him 70 put his cap
to his breast. He laughed, and the
officer hit him on the head with a
club. knocking him down. Then the
officer kicked him and dragged HIM
away TO the cooler
Another time a prisoner by the
name Of McManus had "A fight IN the
mess hall and was sent 10 his cell.
When every one was locked up an
officer went to his cell, called up the
screws and. opening the cell, hit him
over the head with the butt Of his
revolver. Then all hands took turns
at kicking him about and hitting him
with clubs. When they finished they
took him away. whether to the cooler
or the hospital ! do not know. Later
heard he was taken to the insane
aeviup, -