The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-23
CONNECTS DIE OF
 SCALDINC BURNS
tContinued from Page D
Another Cause Given

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 Detective Sergeant Martin Curran announced that he had interviewed other prisoners in the isolation block, particularly Joseph Forte, A, and Morris Spatz, 27, one of whom had been in each of the cells in which the deaths occurred, and had concluded that the four men died of "over- -exertion, exhaustion" and under-nourishment."
 Judge Harry s. McDevitt, presi- dent of common pleas court, who on Saturday at Mills request tried to quiet the striking prisoners, said the men had torn out steam pipes in their cells to use as weapons and had been scalded by escaping steam.
 The dead convicts were Joseph Walters, 28, serving 20 to 50 years for burglary; Harry Osborne p, 10 years for larceny; Frank Comodeca 46, 10 to 20 years for burglary; Jo- seph McQuade, 26, three years for larceny.
 Prison Upset One Week
 The prison had been upset for al- most week by the hunger strike of $50 of the 1,4s1 convicts. The strikers were locked in their cells. Slowly, in groups, they surrendered to their appetites, until Saturday afternoon only six were left, the four dead men and the two live con- victs who, presumably were with them when they died.
 These six, 1t was said, had not touched food since last Wednesday night.
 But, though the strike was brok- en, peace had not been restored to the prison. Sunday night there was bedlam, with convicts screaming and rattling their tin cups and plates on their cell doors. Officials said that the ring leaders" tore up their mattresses and broke the fur niture in their cells. It was said that nearly all the convicts joined in the demonstration. The uproar could be heard beyond the high walls.
 Bodies Examined
 While this was going on, some- thing was happening to the con- victs in the isolation block. Yester- day morning dead wagons were sent to convey the bodies to the morgue where Dr. Crane examined them and said that one was blue and the oth- CT was "as black as Negro" He also found bruises in which blood was congealed. hanging flesh, and nasal congestion" which he said was typical of persons who had been killed by gas, steam, or hot water.
 The strikers complaint had been the monotony and quality of the prison fare. They alleged that their meals were an intending succession of fir de ggieplnamvoncid44Wuhat, Of fried egg plant, hamburger, and macaroni.
 Startling Disclosures
 Coroner Charles H. Hersch said today that an autopsy on the bodies Of the four convicts would bring some star>ing disclosures"
 We have every bit of evidence necessary to get to the bottom of this situation" Hersch said. The convicts were among few hold outs in a hunger strike which at one time involved $50 inmates.
 The coroner described police report that the men were injured fatally while fighting among them selves as false and ridiculous" He said that every outward appearance of the bodies indicated that the prisoners deaths had been caused by beatings they apparently re- ceived or by scalding.
 Asked if his investigation had dis closed any evidence that the men had been beaten or that hot water or live steam had been turned into the confinement cells where their bodies were found yesterday morn- ing, Hersch replied quickly:
 We have every bit of evidence we need"