Q. You saw no hitting on either side except the time that he made the punch at Young? A. Yes, sir. Q. hand? And you are satisfied that there was no goose at that time in bis A. I couldn't say. Q. Well, was there a tailor's goose in his hand when he made that punch? it ? If he had had a tailor's goose in his hand, you would have seen that you saw a man A. Well, I am not sure whether I would or not. Q. Well, what do you want us to understand with his hand make a punch at Young, and that you don't know whether he had a goose in his hand or not? A. Well, I don't think he did have one at that time. Q. And at that time was there a revolver in Young's hand? A. I cannot recollect whether there was or not. What did Maguire do when he came into the shop? A. A. No, I didn't. Ran down to the further end of the shop. That is all I saw him Was there a revolver used outside before Young came into the Q. Did you hear any? A. I think I heard one or two reports, but I am not sure. Q. (By Ald. LEE.) Are you on the right or left of the door? A. I was on the right of the door? Q. Where is the shop? A. Right down in the lower end of the yard; and I was on the right of the door. Q. (By Mr. PROCTOR.) Mr. Neff, how many men were there in the shop at that time? A. I think about sixty. Q. Well, Maguire came in and ran down to the other end of the room? You saw that? A. Yes, sir. Q. How far was Flaherty from the door when Maguire came in? A. Oh, I should say about fifteen feet Q. And Officer Young came in after Maguire ? A. Yes, sir. Q. And he came in four or five feet from the door? A. Yes, sir. Q. Well, at that time. at the time when he came in― Maguire had reached the other end of the room, or was he going towards the other end? Q. How soon after Young got in the door and stood there was it that Flaherty started for him? Was there any appreciable length of time? Q. Had there been any uproar in the shop previous to Flaherty's making a dash at Young? A. Well, all the trouble started about the time that Maguire came in, but a few minutes before — of course, the trouble was going on at No. 1 shop, and I saw that my men were nervous and looking around, but not doing anything at all. Q. Well, I suppose that as a matter of fact all this thing happened very rapidly? A. Yes, sir. Q. And when you come to sift out what any man did with reference to what anybody else did afterwards, it is very difficult to do it? Q. How long was it after Officer Young came in that the stool came over towards you? A. Oh, it might have been a minute. Q. A. Q. A. Q It was a very short time? Yes, sir. Almost at once? Yes, sir. And I suppose that even before that the machines were being smashed? Q. And I suppose that when you got warning that a stool was coming towards you, from that on you were attending strictly to the business of Mr. Neff? A. Yes, sir. Q. (By Ald. LOMASNEY.) The whole trouble occurred after Maguire came into the shop? A. After he came in; yes, sir. Q. Was there any riot in progress in the shop, when Officer Young got in there? Q. There was a riot in progress? A. Well, I wouldn't say any riot. Q. Well, were the men fighting in the shop using their stools, or anything of that kind, before he came in ? I think about the time he came in. Q. They were then there was a riot in progress? Then was Flaherty taking part in that riot? I didn't see him. Now, we want to get this thing just as it was. Was Flaherty sitting down at his bench when Officer Young came in, or was he in conjunction with the other men creating a riot? A. Q. A. He was sitting in his chair. At the bench? No. He was waiting for a hot iron, I think, or something of that kind. Q. There was no riot in progress when Officer Young got in there? A. No, I think there wasn't. Ald. LEE. I understood him to say that the minute that Maguire came in the riot started. He said the men seemed to be uneaasy, and that the riot commenced in probably a minute after Maguire came in that he had time to go from the door to the further end of the shop and that then the riot commenced, and that when Young reached there they were up in arms. Q. (By Ald. LOMASNEY.) Was that the situation? A. Well, it was about that time. Q. Well, was it before or after Officer Young came in that the riot started? A. It was after. Q. And when he came in there was no riot in the shop, was there? A. No, I don't think there. was. Q. And now, did Flaherty say anything at all? Did you hear any words pass between Flaherty and Young? A. Not between Flaherty and Young, but I heard some words that Flaherty said. Q. Well, what were the words that he said? A. Well, when this trouble was going on at No. 1 shop, of course Flaherty was looking over towards the shop; and whatever was going on, I couldn't tell, as I didn't want to look around; but Flaherty jumped up from his chair and jumped into the middle of the floor, and he said, Oh, the bastards!" That is just what he said; and sat down again. Then, after that, he jumped out there again and made a run for the door and said, "That's a damned shame," and sat down. Q. Well, Young wasn't in the shop at that time? A. No. This is before he came in. Q. I mean, from the time Young came in, was there any words passed between Flaherty and Young before he made this pass at him? 4. I didn't hear him. Q. (By Mr. PROCTOR.) Well, now, was Flaherty looking out the window? A. Oh, yes; he knew what was going on in No. 1 shop. Q. Was this about the time that you heard the shots outside? Q. If he looked out the window, of course, he could see Maguire coming across the yard, and Officer Young coming across the yard if Officer Young did come across it? A. Oh, yes, he saw him. Q. And it was just before Maguire came in that you heard him use that expression that it was a A. Yes, sir. damned shame "? Q. (By Ald. LEE.) And another expression A. Yes, sir. Oh, the bastards ? " The CHAIRMAN. Has any other member of the committee any questions to ask? If not, that is all, Mr. Neff. Q. You are here before this committee, Mr. Felton, to give such evidence as you care to give in relation to the management of the House of Correction here. A. Yes, sir. Q. Now, the Chair wants you to understand that you need not answer any questions which may be put to you which may tend to criminate yourself. Do you understand that? A. Yes, sir. Q. (By Ald. LOMASNEY.) You wrote this letter? (Handing letter to witness.) Is that your writing? A. Yes, sir. Q. Well, now, just state to the committee anything you want to, in your own way. A. Well, the day of the strike-I want to commence that day of the strike I was at work in the block-shop at that time Q. What was the date of that? A. I have forgotten the date just now. What month was it? A. I don't remember now. Q. Q. Well, go ahead. A. Well, the day of the strike I was working in the block-shop Q. (By Ald. LEE.) Well, what year was this? There have been several strikes. A. 1894. Q. This present year? A. Yes, sir. Q. Now, we understand — because there have been several strikes. Now, go on. A. I was sitting at the bench next to the window with a man named Martin, and there was no disturbance in the block-shop until there were three shots fired in the large shop, the No. 1 shop. There was then a movement made in the middle part of the shop, and Mr. Barnet got up and pulled his revolver, and he was trembling so bad that he pointed it at a crowd of men that was doing nothing at all and fired; and the shot hit one of the benches where a man had just jumped away. Now, in relation to myself, I was unjustly punished here some three months ago by a man named Mr. Hazen - not an officer now but he was day officer then. Q. What is his name? Colonel WHITON. - Hazen - H-a-z-e-n. Q. (By Ald. LOMASNEY.) What was the cause of it? sort. Well, state all about the punishment. A. He said I was talking in chapel. I wasn't doing anything of the There was three men to prove right beside me that I didn't do anything at all. I reported him to the colonel for sleeping while on duty and it was not the first time he slept. The deputy had come in and caught him asleep and stood and gazed at him. He was then a day officer. Now he is a night officer. I Q. Where was he asleep? A. In the shops. Q. How long a time did he sleep? A. Well, the colonel has got the days and dates when he was asleep. gave them to him. Q. Well, how long was he asleep the times that you saw him? 4, Well, five and ten minutes at a time, and then he would start to wake, and Mr. Barnet would send a note over to him. He would get on the chair again, after walking up and down. Q. What was the punishment inflicted upon you? A. My bed was out. I have been in trouble with heart disease, and was sleeping in the hospital at that time. Q. How many times was your bed taken out? A. Three times. Twice it was justifiable, and once an injustice. Q. What other punishments were inflicted upon you? A. That was all, sir. Q. Never been in solitary? A. No, sir. Q. How long have you been here? A. Going on six months. Q. How long have you got to stay? A. Well, my full time is out the 9th of June; but if I am given all my days, I will get out the 5th of May. Q. Have you seen any of the officers assault any of the prisoners while you were here? A. No, sir; but heard the noise. I was sleeping in the hospital at the same time that one prisoner by the name of Patrick Sheridan I have known of the officers going in and choking that man until his tongue was out and he was black in the face. Q. (By the CHAIRMAN.) How do you know that that is so when you couldn't see him? A. From the nurses. He was in the hospital at that time. Q. (By Ald. LOMASNEY.) Who were the nurses? Worcester, is one of them. A. Q. And what did the nurse say? A. That he was choking him. Every one on the outside of the hospital could hear the man's cries. Q. How long ago was that? A Five or six months ago. Q. Anything else? A. Yes, sir. Last Sunday night, and for the last six or seven nights before last Sunday, I have not been sleeping, and they changed me from the hospital to the prison. On account of the dampness of the rooms and my not sleeping, I imagined I suppose I had fancies and I imagined I saw a man at the door, and I raised a disturbance and was taken to the hospital. When I was in the cell after the officer had left that fetched me there, I raised my voice kind of loud, and Mr. Clark says, If I had you out here, you rotten bitch, I would choke your wind off.” Q. (Py Ald. LEE.) What is his name? 4. Mr. Clark. I told him the next morning. I said, "I heard all of that last night"; and I went down and told the chaplain Tuesday morning. The chaplain said he would see the witnesses I had and lay the case before the colonel. He said he would see the two men; but he hasn't seen them. Q. (Ald. LOMASNEY.) What was the occurrence that took place about your wanting to come before the committee when we were over here before and not being allowed to do it? A. On account of Mr. Barnet. Q. Did you ask to appear before the committee? A. Yes, sir. Q. Whom did you ask? A. The deputy. Q. What did he say? A. He said he wouldn't let me see them unless they sent for me. I then asked the colonel, and he told me the same thing. Q. How did you know the committee were here? A. I was in the West Wing, and a man came in. Mr. Manley came in, and I spoke up to him and asked him if I could speak to the gentleman that came in. Q. Have you heard many of the prisoners say they wanted 'to appear before the committee? |