New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-19
Probe of Girls
PrisOnOrdered
By Gov. Smith
Executive Wants to Know if
Bedford Reformatory In
mates Got Severe Punish
ment, as Was Testified
PromisesSummaryAction
If Statements Are Borne Out
He Says He Will Put a
Stop to the Practices

Governor Smith telegraphed John s.
Kennedy, member of the State Com
mission on Prisons, yesterday to in
vestigate personally conditions at the
State Reformatory for Women at Bed
ford, N. Y. He issued these instruc-
tions on reading of testimony taken
in trial at White Plains that dis
cipline sometimes was enforced by
throwing q bucket of water over a
prisoner when she was hacdcnffed to
her cell door,
"1f such things as the punishment
described in the newspaper reports
have been going on" said Governor
Smith, 81 want to know it and | will
have them stopped
At the trial at White Plains, in
which Ruth Carter, former inmate o.
the reformatory, is defendant, many
attendants of the institution we're sum
moned to the County Court House yes
terday and two prisoners took advan
tage of the situation to escape from
the reformatory. They arc Rosett..
Parker and Frances Putnam TheN
broke away from group which was
marching across the grounds of the
institution and have not been found
although the police of Westches ter
County communities and the state
troopers we're warned at once to watch
for them.
Conflicting Testimony
Julia A. Minogue, first deputy matron
at the reformatory, was the prime pal
witness yesterday against Ruth Carter
who is accused of assaulting an attend
ant at the institution. Although Helen
A. Cobb, superintendent OF the re-
formatory, admitted the preceding day
that the cold water cure and manacliny
to the door of cell had been resorted
to in about fifteen cases in the last
three years, Miss Minogue declared
that, SO far as she knew, nothing Of tht
kind had occurred
The Carter girl, Miss Minogue said
was insolent, disobedient and disorder
~ and always was making trouble. Dis
ciplnaly confinement, such as was
about to be imposed when the alleged
assault took place. frequently was
necessary in the case Of the defendant
she said.
If ever get out of this cell III stor
talking and act" Ruth Carter had said
the last time the punishment was i'm.
posed, Miss Minogue testified, adding
that the talking" which the prisoner
had been doing consisted Of threats
against the life of one Of the matrons
Counsel for both sides summed ur
their cases and Ruth Carter, slim
pale, domure looking young woman in
fur trimmed suit and hat of brow
velvet, heard herself described alter
natoly as "a frail girl who had beea
nstitutionally ruined and young
hell cat"
Her eyes never wavered from the
stare she had fixed on the men in tn.
jury box. Neither the pleas offered il
her behalf by Humphrey T. Lynch, hen
attorney, nor the denunciatons of the
Assistant District Attorney could pierce
her calmness.
Asks Jury to Look at Her
Mr.. Lynch repeatedly asked the Jury
to look at the girl and to let her ap
pearance speak for itself. He sale
that there was reasonable doubt thai
the assault had actually been com.
mitted by Ruth Carter, and that il
the jury were convinced OF the fact OF