New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-04
BY JOHN J. LEARI, JR.

While the testimony taken by the
State Prison Commission at Clinton
Prison. on which the full board will be
asked on Tuesday to recommend the
dismissal of Principal Keeper Thomas
F. Coultrey has not been made public
the evidence submitted by Frank Tan
nenbaum to back up his charges OF oru-
tality is accessible.
In presenting this testimony Tan
nenbaum took no account Of stories
that he did not believe susceptible o.
complete proof. Tales well known 20
those in touch with prison affairs, OF
prisoners murdered in Clinton, he ig-
nored-not necessarily because ne dis
believed them, but because proof would
be extremely difficult TO obtain.
81 make no charges" he says, that
cannot be easily substantiated. A
thorough investigation among prison
ers assured that they would not be
punished for testifying would undoubt-
edly reveal more than ! dare charge.
As it is. the men are aware they will
be punished and the shrewder or more
timid ones profess TO know nothing
Commissioner Richard VI. Hurd, one
Of the few persons prominent IN the
cleaning up of Sing Sing under Thomas
Mott Osborne, TO support Governor
Whitman when the formdr warden
took the stump against the Governor,
says: :.
Clinton are afraid to tell the Commls-
sion or any one else all that they know
lest they pay bitterly. In consequence
only those who are reckless Will tes-
tify. The others say nothing.
Transferred Prisoners Talk
To the list Of those who tell OF vic
ious conditions in Clinton may be
added those prisoners who are fortu-
nate enough to have been transferred
10 some other institution. One of these
is James Martin, cripple now IN sing
Sing.
land was asked for match. ] passed
it in, and a keeper saw me. lie run
me over into the p. rs office ana
said. 4 want this man sent 10 the
cooler The deputy said, All right
] said. Don't ! get a trial here " GU
get nothing here he said.
"On the way to the cooler the
keeper threw me down two stairs,
and, as ] was trying TO get up, yelled
Get on your feet or I'll crack your
skull and grabbed me BY the collar.
| refused TO go. and he hit me over
the head with a club, at the same
g., nj
while | was changing my clothes
before going into the cooler the Off
Ger saws TO me, What do you think
YOU are around here says: No
body. but | don't want 10 be kicked
and cuffcd around He said. i think
YOU are one Of those fresh guys and
he hit me and knocked me into some
flower pots.
Higher Officer Taunts Him
"In the cooler hollered for a doc
tor. and was taken down 20 the con-
demned cells. When | got down there
one OF the higher officers said; Now
we want to hear how loud you can
holler,' and as he said this he punched
me in the mouth, knocking four teeth
out. I was beaten for five minutes,
and as fell 10 my knees J was being
hit all the time | was falling. Finally
went unconscious, and when ] woke
up | had a pair Of handouts on me. |
was left that way for eight hours
was dry and asked for drink.
AS | asked for water one OF the
higher officers came in. He pointed
TO sewer and said, "That is all the
water you will get"
Later. when it came time to take
him out Of the cooler" Martin says
that the officer who knocked his teeth
out told him that if he would keep
quiet he would ask the principal keep
or to let him out.
az said | would. and that ] did not