Year: 1875

THE CHAMPION LIAR"
The statement OF the notorious convict "Jack' Can
ter, embracing allegations Of numerous fraudulent
transactions in the management OF Sing Sing Prison
during many years past and which appeared in the
HERALD Of last Monday, has not occasoned such an
amount of surprise in and around the institution named
those who unacquainted with the antecedents OF
the author might naturally expect Indeed, Canter is
such character that in the vicinity Of Sing
Sing, where he has lived and moved behind
grated doors almost since he arrived
at mans estate, his reputation for veracty is
many degrees below character at ALL Having
in his youth devoted himself wholly to crime which no
appears have followed with unswerving love-sur-
passing, II possible the love OF woman-ho is enabled
to boast with pride that he has spent but
Fourth of July outside of the walls of prison since
he became In somo respects it would
prove difficult task 10 form accurate analysis Of
Canter's disposition Two phases OF his character
always palpable, however-vz that when of prison
he seems to give his whole time and talents to the
scheme of getting back, and when securely in he is
incessantly plotting and planning to get out again
EXTRAORDINARY


Intent upon asccrainng what of the ex-oGncals





say about the matter, a HERALD representative
yesterday spent hours. During the course
OF his saunterings he entered the Office Of ex-
AssembIyman Henry c. Nelson, who has twice
filed the post of Agent and Warden of the prison, his
last term having expired January 1S73 in pursuance
of change In the administration. After pleasant in
terchange of ties the following conversation took
place.


HERALD REroRrER-You probably know q convict
named "Jack" CantcrP


Ex-warden NELSON (smilng)-Yes have known of
him for the past fifteen eighteen years. long before
connected with the prison.


GAS he convict in the prison whileS you were
Agent and Warden what has been your opinion of
! himS'


~ think he is what might correctly be termed
TOTAL DEPRAvITY.


1t s my belief that his brain is badly balanced, and
that there certain subjects which he is abso


"would you object to particularizing any of those
subjects which, in your estimation, seem to have most
control himln


''Not at all His besettng sin his forte is forgery
regarding which, by the way he holds some outlandish
opinions, which he never misses an opportunity of
! paradng


| NOVEL DOCTRINE.


To iliustrate-He argues that person who willing
to suffer the penalty prescribed by law for offence
has right to commit that particular crime, providing
he uncompainingIy takes his punishment therefor. In
this connection he also holds that at the expiration
| of his term of sentence his crime has been fully
atoned for and he is accordingly respect
able member society until convicted for another
offence. In regard to counterfeng money, he insists
that 1t is crime, since passes with the facility
as good money and cannot be detected by person
in a hundred. To give you an idea of the pride
he takes in being considered expert forger and also
of possessing smattering of law will tell you of
occurrence which took place in 1869, while | in
charge of the prison. 1t the occasion of the
Governors annual visit to the prison for the purpose of
| nquring into those cases deserving Of


EXECUTIVE cLEMENoY.


Knowing Canter's disposition suggested TO him that
when his turn came to appear before Governor Hoffman
n
his incarceration, reminding him that Governor
Hoffman was Recorder Of the city and and
Canter tried and sentenced to the term of mprs-
onment which he then serving and that conse-
quenty the Governor was quite familiar with the law in
his On the contrary advised him to base his
appeal for mercy the circumstance of his old age,
condition of his wife and child. One hobby of his
| which he invariably introduced when addressed by
Governor Hoffman, was that he was unjustly
| twice tried for the oIence-a
state of things which, he always asserted,
When Canter called before the Governor
! he ignored my advice and launched forth into
the Governor ON my demonstrating with Canter
| for his obsnacy shortly afterward, he gave to
understand that The satisfaction which he exnerienccd
in reerating his views to the Governor did him more
good than If he had adopted my course and thereby
cured reduction of i've years from his of SEN
tence.


| cAyrERs BUSINESS To JAPAN


About this time Canter stated to me, among other
things that the would pardon him he would
ut once leave the country and go To Japan rs he had
! received liberal offer from the government OF that
country to operate with its principal magnates in tho
| making and circulating of counterfeit money"


"You have doubtless observed that Canter in his
statement charges you among others with irregular
tiles while at the prison. what If anything, do you
wish TO say the subjectY'


81 have read them in the HERALD with surprise but
emanating from the source they do they scarcely
worth the trouble of refutng l would state however,
that when Cantcr speaks of his failing health through
excessive work IN the Office September, 1869, that
thaf vhanh
FICTITIOUS COMMITMENTS,


reducing the terms of sentence Of convics from fifteen
TO twelve months He was for that offence expelled
from the Office which he never allowed to enter
again in a clerical capacity Confinement in dark cell
and other punshmeuts also inflicted upon him for
the same offence"


''Canter also boldly asserts that vouchers ,sere
manipulated during your agency at the prison."


"My answer that is that upon my taking charge OF
the prison, January 26, 1862 the moneys drawn from
the Comptroller for said months all expended by
d. T. Frost, my predecessor, the moneys due the
officers ON the last day of said month"


'He also accuses you OF making profit OF S5 per bar
rel out of a Hour speculation"


"A most ridiculous charge and not worth MOTTO
ing especially when 1t is recolected that $S 25 the
highest price ever paid at the prison for -four Why,
when took charge of the prison January 20 1869
there were supplies enough in the sorehouse including
flour (which had been purchased by my predecessor
last for nearly three months. The revolt which no
audes TO in regard to furnishing the convcts with in
bread occurred in all three of the prisons the


SIMULTANEOUS REVOLT


the of a meeting being held in Albany at the
time, which Governor Hoffman, the three Inspectors
OF State Prisons and the principal officers of each the
said PRISONS together with fair representation of tho
Prison Association, participated. After careful
consideration Of the affair II generally con-
ceded that the action Of the Legislature, which had
Just adjourned in abOlishing all punishment
In existence at the several PRISONS had mainly in
strumenal in bringing obout tho revolt This conclu-
sion my theory al the time, and stated TO the
meeting, since which time have had change
my mind"


'Canter also introduces the chain works your
administration and seems to say that they cover null
utudc OF sins"


CHAIN woRKs2


"To that part of his statement my answer is that my
accounts all file In the ofico of the Comp
troller and be made 10 speak for them
| selves at any time. | would also state here that
t is well known that the irregularity' which Caner
says the cause OF my removal was OF purely per-
sOnal character, short IL accomplished To mako
for another person. charge having ovor boon