Daniel Hogan

Daniel Hogan, 21, was a prisoner at Trenton State Prison in New Jersey who was to be a key witness against guards in a suit brought by the family of 34-year-old R. Merrill Speller, who died at the Vroom readjustment unit. In December 1973, before he could testify, Hogan was scalded to death at the prison. In May 1974 the Mercer County grand jury refused to indict the guards responsible, absolving them of criminal neglect and charging them only with failure to use good judgement, noting their dismissal. Reconstructed from The Black Panther, January 19 and May 25, 1974.