The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-12
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNE)


many sop to Edward ]. Flynn, the
Bronx leader. It was part of the
division of patronage spoils. The
Commissioner of Correction, who
lives at 1749 Grand Concourse, Is
an old Tammany man and was the
former bill drafting commissioner.
When the Daily Worker obtained
Shahian's affidavit it Immediately
informed Commissioner Cahill of the
grave charges.
"See me some time next week." the
Commissioner said indifferently. "I'u1
rather busy"
But this is murder" the reporter
insisted.
well, if you can't wait, see Mr.,
Fishman, my deputy commissioner.
Cahill's indifference was not shared
by Mr.. Ffshman, who is well-known
penologist.
IF there is anything wrong on the
Island" Fishman said, I'VE want to
know it as quick as anyone"
Mr.. Fishman instructed Warden
Henry o. Schleth, in charge of Cor
rection Hospital, to submit such pub
lie records as were called for
Warden Schleth brought in Dr.
George Gordon, chief Of the hos
pitfalls medical staff, young physi-
clan, who became rather nervous
when informed that the records
wanted we're those of James Mat
thews.
The tragic story Of the Negroes last
agonizing days were in the file room
of the prison hospital. An examina-
ton of the Matthews papers and the
record of Mark Shahian showed that
the dates and other data checked.
Shahians story that he himself had
been struck with a blackjack by a
keeper and his teeth knocked out
were supported by the official hos
pital records. Only the records stated
that "the prisoner had gotten into
an alteration with several inmates
and they had struck him."
Wanted to Be Quiet
Shahian informed the reported that
when he was taken to the dentist on
Harris Island and told him that the
keeper had struck him with a black
jack the dentist had advised him TO
say he had fallen down"
"You will be here for some time,
Shahian quoted the dentist, land if
you say keeper hit you it will &C
hard with you"
ION Tuesday morning" Shahian
explained, II was sent to Correction
Hospital where Dr. Gordon examined
me. He asked me how I got this
way and 1 told him the keeper hit
me with a blackjack. DIR. Gordon
waved his hands irritably and said:
Cut it out. Cut that out. That
won't help you any.
For two hours the reporter studied
the pile of records regarding Cor
rection Hospital deaths in 1882 with
DR.. Gordon across the table from
him drumming nervously on the desk
with his fingers.
I'D like to photograph some OF
these public records, "the reporter
told Warden Schleth.
IF you get permission from Mr.
Fishman," Schleth said, Il see nc
objection. There's nothing peculiar
about this case, is there, Doctor?"
mo. No" DR.. Gordon said quick
ly. Nothing peculiar"
A telephone call to Deputy Com
missioner FiShman brought approval
to photograph the records.
Warden Schleth shook his head
II won't submit these records with
out written permission" he said sud-
denly. my department. has nothing
to fear but If it is murder and in
wolves another department I'm not
going to take the responsibility OF a
scandal.
II don't understand Mr.. Fishmans
granting you permission. Right now
you may have little trouble getting
access to the records. Too near cleo
ton, you know"
Photographer Is Barred
Warden Schleth, who has been in
prison work for "a years knew his
politics, for on the following day
when the reporter and photograph
er appeared at Correction Hospital
a,9ess to the documents were denied
despite the deputy commissioners APP
proval the day before.
I'm sorry" the Warden smiled.
But you can't look at any more
records. That's straight from COM
missioner Cahill. I talked with him
about it,"
On the wardens desk were two
bottles containing dope which he
said had been Stolen from the
medical department"
I'D rather it was stolen than have
some Of my guards snuggle it in"
he said frankly. Some of them are