The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-12

l SING SING STATE PRIsoN-A GLIMPSE AT Gel
EDWARDS, Hon. c. F. MITCHELL, AND OTHERS
| The number OF convicts in he immense prison al
| Sing Sing, on Saturday, was SOS, OF which 73o
| were males, and SO females. OF these IA. includ-
| ing Toppan, the murderer, are confined tor lie.
| Toppan, whose sentence commuted TO lmpr'
sonmen for life, because of alleged insanity at the
time of committing the brutal murder of his wife,
! is now engaged at making shoes in the same room
| with Col. Monroe Edwards. He has never evinced
any signs OF mental alienation since his entrance to
| the prison; and evidence of his stupid reck-
| lessness, he remarked, while officer Smith was
pointing out the prison. at the time he was taken up,
that he " could hardly tell the difference between
Sing Sing and Swing Swing"
Colonel Edwards is busily engaged in stitching
the upper parts OF prison boots and has improved in
physical appearance, being round and plump as
fat sea-dog; and the story about his hair coming
out red is untrue, as presents as gossya black as
ever, with the exception of sprnkling of silver
grey among IT,
He still endeavors to create belief in his i'm
mense wealth, and few days since drew up
power of attorney In favor of man named Willis,
| of New Orleans investing in him all authority to
transfer and dispose of all his lands, tenements,
slaves, &c. at the south and elsewhere, amounting
in value to sSOO,OOO This letter placed in the
hands of Col. Lockwood, the polite and gentleman.
ly clerk of the prison. and in it Edwards speaks of
the political aspect of the country and remarks that
from all the information that he was able to obtain
| up to the LIST of December, he was "under the i'm
preston that this State had gone for the wings '-
This behind-the-age opinion shows the almost utter
exclusion from the world that follows an incarcera-
| ton in this tomb oflife.
The perfect equality that reigns throughout
this immense building among the convicts'
was made sirikingly apparent when the hour
for dinner arrived, and the Colonel took his
position between two large strapping buck
negroes. At the word forward, with the lock step all
in close contact, he, with some fifty others, incud
ing murderers, robbers, thieves, burglars and pick.
pockets, marched onward to his gloomy cell to finish
a repast of brown bread, cold water and salt junk
What transition from the luxury of the Astor and
the Carlton, and what reflection to induce men of
talents address and education TO avoid sacrificing
| their liberty in the commission OF crime.
The next prominent person that met our eye was
the Honorable Charles F. Mitchell, who has thus
been transferred from the high and dgnied position
of member of the Legislative Hall OF the nation
to the superintendent OF the basement hall of this
immense prison. He looked more downcast and
gloomy than we ever saw him before. Contrary to
Edwards, he appears to mourn his fate and pine
away under the reflection.
Then came the tall, and now gaunt figure Of the
cunning and shrewd counterfeiter, Otis Allen, who
has been the means of sending several once honest
and vlruous young men to the same place OF infa-
my. Allen is employed in carpet weaving which
was his regular occupation before he took to fraud
and rascality 70 obtain livelihood.
The celebrated John M Case, convicted some
few years since for extensive forgeries on the Kin
derhook and other banks, who is employed in the
coopers shop, intimated to of the keepers that
he was " well acquainted with Edwards in bust
ness way" and upon his attendance in the chapel
on the first Sunday after Edwards arrived. he point
ed out the seat that he occupied during the service
1t is evident from this that Edwards has been for
years in the same business that has length brought
him to the same prison with Case, his old associate
George Somes, well known in this city for his
swindng and forging propensities lies sick in the
Hospital, but when able to work is kept at the shoe
| makers seat in me same room with Edwards. Top
| pan, &c.
Mat Baron, in the Coopers shop, Charles stearns
the forger OF Kentucky bank money, is COW occupi
| ed in forging brass and iron implements to benefit
the State at large.
|
principal the prize fight that resulted in the death
of Mccoy, is busy picking wool, and looks in excel
lent health, although not in prime spirits. He ex-
pressed an urgent hope that pardon might soon fol-
low his sentence as even week residence has be-
come uncomfortable His wife visits him every few
days and is active and industrious in making influ
ence to obtain his repreive.
We passed through the various shops where the
convicts are principally employed. viz The smith
and lock shop, the hatters the shoe Makers the
| brass founders and workers, the tool makers, the
weavers and the coopersthe manufactures in the last
Of which, that branch OF mechanics in this city and
elsewhere in the state may be happy to know ex-
pres by contract the 18th instant, and cannot be
relet, the recent enactment of our Legislature has
closed all future contracting for prison work. In
| addition to which, no person sentenced, who has
not been taught mechanical business can be learn
ed trade IN the prison, after the several contracts
| expire.
The coopers' contract, on which from $50 to 200
men are employed, at 20 cents per day, is now held
by Henry r. Hubbell, of Troy.
That for boots and shoes, by Robert Wiltse, Of
Sing Sing, former agent, and now an applicant tor
His contract expires on the LIST OF October, 1913 :
Samuel Knower, Of this city, also holds contract
for the employ OF 30 men, at IS cents per day,
which expires on the 18th Of August 1913
J& p Hayden, of this city, hold a contract
for the services of 40 men, at 7h cents per day for
the manufacture OF harness and saddlery, which ex-
pires on the 18th of October, 1913.
Hubbel 81 Rikeman employ 80 men, at 81 cents
per day. in the locksmith business Their contract
expires the 22d of April, 1874, and not before.
John Humphreys, Of this city, employs from 40 to
GO men per day, under contract, at 40 cents, in the
manufacture of Wilton carpets and rugs, which ex-
pres not until the 7th OF Oct. 1916.
The Messrs. McMasters have the services of 30
men at 40 cents per day, and 80 cents and in
the manufacture of planes, &c Their contract ex
plres on the first of January, 1874.
On their expiration, as before stated, no more
can be obtained, and the tine of the convicts will
be more occupied in the quarrying and preparing the
Sing Sing marble for market
OF the 90 female convicts, some dozen are occu-
pied in cocoonery and silk mandatory the
premises and the superintendent has several acres