New-York tribune., 1921-01-05
Dismissal of
Refornatory's
Chief Is Asked
Prison Commissions Report
Declares Major Brewster
Has Been Unnecessarily
Cruel in His Punishmonts
New Rules Recommended
Weinstock Findings Include
Charge Offenders We're ON
Bread and Water 81 Davs

Removal Of Major Sidney W. Brew
sser as acting superintendent of the
New York City Reformatory at New
Hampton and the discontinuance of un-
necessarily rigorous forms Of punish
ment fer inmates of the institution are
recommended by the State Commission
OF Prisons in a report prepared after
ar investigation Of alleged brutaIit;es
prac.iced on prisoners there.
The commissions report, prepared
Ay Leon c. Weinstock State Commits
sioner of Prisons, made public yester-
day, also recommends that the state
p7omulgate rules to govern discipii-
nary measures at the reformayory; that
only frs. or minor offenders be sent
there rather than TO the penitentiary,
provisions. nov entirely lacking in the
Institution. ee made and put into i'm
mediate effect.
Lawes's Rule Cited
The report, after describing the re-
Rormatory itself and its supposed func-
tions. compared the administration of
Major Brewster with that Of his predc
cessor. Major Lewis T. Lawes, now
Warden at Sing Sing Lawes, the re-
port declared. was humane and pos
sesseG the ability TO get or well with
his men. affecting many reforms even
smong hardened criminals Brewster
ras rot SO successful. It was said.
"lmmediacely after Major Brewster
assumed charge Of the reforma,cry &
cruel system OF isolation IS means
Of punishment was put into effect" the
report declared "An inmate committed
70 an isolation cell was placed upon a
diet OF two slices Of bread twice day
and two cups Of water for period Of
five consecutive days. On the sixth
day the inmate in solitary confinement
received regular rations and then fol-
lowed i've more consecutive days OF the
restricted bread and water diet This
treatment continued for the duration
OF The prescribed number Of days IN
solitary confinement. In some m
stances this course OF treatment would
continue from twenty-eight to thirty
four days.
Punished While Handcuffed
@Tne receipt Of so-caIled contraband
nv an inmate in solitary confinement,
such IS articles Of food from ether
inmates or cigarette, would result
in the imposition OF five addi5iona.
days upon the restricted bread and
water diet"
The commission disagreed with Ma
jor BrtMster's. contention that the
TREATMENT" was not injurious to the
prisoners health. and demanded in
vest cation OF the competency Of Or.
Joseph s. Amster, the reformatory
physician.
4 case was cited IN which a prisoner
IN isolation had to endure his pun
ishment while handcufed, because he
rad. year previously, attem pied 20
escape from a cell.
so committed is Major Brewster TO
the continuation Of this system that
after re had been notified by the Com
missioner os Corrections to discontinue
isolation he violated the order and
continued 20 use this form Of punish
mem" the report Continued.
One keeper. found guilty Of brutal
;ty to prisoners, was discharged from
the reformatory, II declared.
The report criticized Major Brewster
Cor irficcing punishment on all the
prisoners for otfensss committed by
only one, thus making innocent men
suFer.