MURDER IN SINGSING

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1930, Page 7

MURDER IN SINGSING

NO WEAPON : NO CLUE. NEW YORK, December 3. Of the many murders chronicled in history, the death of a 17-years-old convict named Reuben Kaminsky, in New York’s famous prison, Sing-Sing has a unique place. It might be called “The Silent End” murder. In the gathering dusk of yesterday evening 1,730 convicts, including Kaminsky, one of the youngest of them all, stood in line awaiting their return to their cells in the new prison on the hill. Suddenly, without a murmur without a sound, Kaminsky sank to the ground. Not another movement was. visible in that long grey line. Who killed Kaminsky, and why? All the guards were at their places, and the .sergeant in charge, Frederick Vetter, turned his head in the direction of Kaminsky as the lad fell. The sergeant rushed over and found Kaminsky bleeding from five knifewounds, one in tlie cheek, one under the left arm, and three in the chest. He was unconscious, and died soon afterwards in hospital without being able to tell Warden Lawes who had attacked him.

EVERY CONVICT SEARCHED

Meanwhile every convict who had been in the vicinity of the murdered lad was searched but no knife was fouiid. The prison doctors say that Kaminsky was murdered by someone standing in front of him. A complete search of the men and their cells brought to light only one knife, which Mr Lawes declares is to small to have been used.

The prisoners working in the leather factory use knives, and during meals the convicts are supplied with them but they are forbidden in the prison yards and cells. , After an investigation a convict named Jacob Burakoff and three others have been placed in solitaryconfinement pending further inquiry. Burakoff was Kaminsky’s companion in the Brooklyn holdup which brought both of them into gaol. It is stated Burakoff was caught after Kaminsky (had been arrested, and on the mudered lads information; When Kaminsky’s., mother was told of her son’s death she wept and drew from her bag a railway ticket which her son had. just sent her. It enabled her to go to. the prison and claim his body.