New-York tribune., 1919-06-23
Belden Held at Dannemora
as a Dangerous Criminal
Long After His Sentence
to Prison Had Expired
Others Seeking Release
Justice Kellogg Is Looking
Into Case of Brooklyn
Man in Same Institution

teen years beyond his prison term in
the Dannemora State Hospital for the
Criminal Insane, James Belden, for
merly of New York City, is to be
given his freedom through the efforts
of Louis Greenspan, lawyer, Of ia
maica. Greenspan appeared before
Supreme Court Justice Kellogg, in
Plattsburg, on Saturday to argue
writ of habeas corpus he had obtained
for Belden. He said yesterday that
Justice Kellogg, at the conclusion of
a thorough examination of the pris-
oner, signed an order for his release.
Greenspan also took up the case of
Philip Bishop, of 800 Myrtle Avenue,
Brooklyn, who. he asserts, is also be-
ing illegally detained in Dannemora,
and that of another inmate, whose
name, he said, he is not at liberty to
divulge. In the latter case the prison
is eligible for parole, and Justice
Kellogg promised to bring the mat
ter to the attention Of the State Parole
Board.
In Bishops case, Justice Kellogg,
according to the Jamaica lawyer,
heard the prisoners own description
of his confinement for the past three
years behind double-barred doors,
with only twenty minutes Of fresh air
each day, and declared he would per-
sonally visit the Dannemora institu-
tion and investigate the conditions de-
scribed by Bishop. He adjourned
final disposition of Bishops case un-
til July 18.
Greenspan returned to Jamaica yes
terday and found awaiting him a mes
sage from the Committee on Prison
Survey, of which Adolph Lewisohn, of
Manhattan, is chairman, arranging for
a conference later this week regarding
the charges Greenspan filed with Gov
ernor Smith against DR.. John r. Ross,
superintendent of the Dannemora State
Hospital, in which he alleged that two
prisoners were beaten to death by
guards and that all the prisoners are
under-fed and ill-treated. These
charges were referred to the Commit
tee on Prison Survey by the Governor.
Greenspan made them after observing
ing the release Of his own brother,
Larphy Greenspan, whom he proved to
be sane and had discharged.
"Bishop and Belden both made pleas
to Justice Kellogg" Greenspan said last
night. "Belden told him he was con-
victed of a crime in New York City
and sentenced to two and one-half
years imprisonment in 1903, and that
as soon as his term expired he was
pronounced insane and sent to Dan
nemora, where he has been confined
in madhouse for almost fourteen
years. On three occasions he has tried
to get out on writs Of habeas corpus.
drawing up the papers himself, but each
time his plea was refused. Belden has
no money or friends, but I agreed to
take up his case when he convinced me
that he is sane. 1t is evident that he
also convinced Justice Kellogg of this,
for the Justice ordered his discharge
as soon as arrangements can be made
for place to which he may go.
"Belden will be taken in charge by
Army, who was in the court at Platts-
burg on Saturday. Mr.. Cowan prom
ised to bring him back to New York
this week, find him employment and
place to live and try to locate his
brother. Belden thinks his brother is
a wealthy civil engineer, but he stopped
communicating with him years ago,
when he lost all hope Of ever getting
out of Dannemora.
Bishop also made a strong plea to
Justice Kellogg. He told him he has
been kept in close confinement for three
years, with his food pushed into his
cell on a plate like a dog. He is
taken out for only twenty minutes a
day, and, even then, he is either in a
straitjacket or his hands are manacled
behind his back. 1t is claimed by DR..
Ross that this man is a dangerous
maniac. claim he is sane and harm
less, and believe that after Justice
Kellogg personally investigates Bishops
story he also will be convinced and will
set him at liberty when he calls the
case again on July 49,"