The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-04-15
City Prison, its Officers, &c.

"City Prison and Bridewell," it's keeper, deputy
Keepers me discipline, &C. during the past year, and
as very little OF what has been said written has
been true, or even founded TRUTH 80 lar as it
Intended to prejudice the public mind towards the
officers pointed at in their official capacities beg
leave to solicit the use of column Of vour valuable
and widely circulated paper to "show them up" as
they are without the slightest prejudice or the small
est shade of Partially, for heaven knows cherish
neither. What state may be implicitly relied up
on, as speak Shy the card, from personal obser-
walton OF several months, and fearlessly challenge
the mlnuest investigation to reiute single
tOn-personay have nothing to gain or lose by
censure or applause.
First then, for the keeper, Col. VIM. Jones, than
whom more honorable, high minded, kind hearted
man does not live; he is too well known in this CON-
munlty to render any comments upon his character
necessary; suffice it to say If he at a 1t is on
the side OF charity and kind feeling He has seen
much OF the world, its clouds and its sunshine and
is familiar with the alurements and temptations
which beset the pathway OF the young and unwary
in city like this, and while such he looks
with an eye OF pity and compassion, the harden
ed and depraved may not calculate upon exciting
similar emotions, or receiving the slightest eny be-
yond what is consistent with due regard to their
safe keeping" Such man is, and ever will be es-
teemed In private and In public lite.
Mr. Holman, his assistant, Is a man OF different
cast And why not? He Is enc whose whole life,
since boyhood, has been spent among felons, de-
bauchees and bawds alude to his career a po-
lice Office That he has been an efficien: one,
body doubts; and he is as familiar with criminals,
their whereabouts, their associations, their reck
lessness and desperation in emergencies, as with his
household goods. This very knowledge has had
| tendency to harden his feelings, and deaden his
svmpathles towards every one suspected OF crime.
The main fault of his character is not observing
marked distinction Between the Suspected or the
new criminal, and the VIGOROUSLY depraved. ! be-
lieye he Is not wanting naturally IN kindly feelings
and proper sensibity; but his habits OF life have, 10
great extent, blunted them and he looks upon the
incarcerated with a callous heart, and eye that
says. 'fast bind fast find "Ths is all very well,
MIR, Carpenter" to a certain extent, and no more.
Mr. Holman s idea of discipline is mighty hard one
for those who require none to keep them within the
call at the "couit door" | am free to admit, how
ever, that 1t his plan were fully adopted, though
| some might die. none would escape; his error Gf
| amy is the reverse of the Colonel's, it leans
towards undue severity, and too rigid watchful-
ness.
Of the gate keeper, it is unnecessary to say much
his duty is very simple, and he performs it very WELL
/ believe, In the main, though from long habi. OF
treating female vlslters generally with indifference
or nOnchaance, he frequently loses sight of the
prompt courtesy and attention due to ladies' This
however it is mostly to be attributed to his
| duties in the eighth ward. as secretary to the ward
club, the whole responsibility of which falls on his
shoulders 1t is said, with what truth do not pre-
tend to vouch that Chesterfield formed no part of
his youthful studies. This probably no fault of
his; il he ''dOn't know how to make wagon" he
does know how to make comb, and can spin yarn
to the edlfication OF some folks, perhaps. OF his
keen-eyed vigilance there can be no doubt.
The female prison is under the charge Of three de-
putty Keepers two for the day and one for the night
First, Mac, the relative OF the gallant hero of
Lake Champlain-as amiable, Ieasant. good-heart-
ed ellew as ever broke crust or pledged in the
wine cup; he will walk farther, spend more breath
and time to accommodate frall unfortunate, than
any man within my ken; an earnest appeal or mo-
dest request from woman, however degraded or
abandoned she be- SINKS into his heart directly, and
he is off in tangent on his pilgrimage Of charity !
God bless thee for 1t, Mac; no matter though you
m " freq m ha bpue-
VIOLENT act, or performed thankless Office for
unworthy and an ungrateful object, you are mere
than repaid when you bring glad iidlngs of great
joy" to one whose heart throbs with grateful emo
ton; their prayers you sure to receive But with
all, Mr.. Mac g mildness and uniformp acidity he
can be and has been reused to desperate means,
when desperate characters required 1t for their sub
jugaton; at such times he is very lion and hard
to cope wthal, though past the summer of life.
Would there were more OF such frame" Next
comes Palmer, quiet, affable. gentemany person,
with smile; he Is always at his post and performs
the duties of his station with equanimity that is
rarely met with; he is in fine, marvellous proper
m an" tor the Office he fills But what shall / say
Of "COPPER" " the guardian Of the night" he is a
lusus natura," and still wthal good hearted,
clever fellow, and vigilant discipinarian. He
has his own peculiar way OF saying and doing every
thing, and if that Is not the most smooth, polished
refined, he at least lay claim to originality
will pit him against the world for telling story
about nothing, or rifle, coat or a hat II you
pleaSe-Or the Time ne gets through Will nave
at least six biographies of men, twelve of women,
and twenty four OF dogs Che great dogs by the
way,) and it is rare indeed that an unfortunate or
abandoned creature comes under his charge, but he
soon ascertans her BIRTH parentage educ ation ha
bits, and associations, and he incorporates them in
his memory; he is fond of his fun and his Joke Gin
his own way, mind you:) and though oath impli
cation, or expression of vulgarity horr6es him. ne
manages to execute the duties of his station, with
out scarcely having the equilibrium of his tenn
per ruffled believe his heart is in the right
place" and that's saying enough of him.
now come to the grourd floor OF the "mae- pri.
son." where you find Harry jenkins and Jim Dus.
tan, the former always with smile on his face and
twinkle in his eye, ever ready and prompt TO &C.
ton to the feelings, he adds the manners of gentle
men, one who combines the sIauitU in modo, and
the tortiter in genuine specimen OF a good
fellow; his heart and his hand go together; when
duty calls; he's always thar-quantpm suff Good
bye, Harry God bless thee, boy Jim ID. alias old
Barnes, is of your busting, rafting chaps al
ways rejoiced to greet friend and good cigar
Speaks the Sclavonlan and domestic Spanish with
great luencv, and orders his guards" on duty in
anglicsed Latin Phoebus what jargon! He
superntends the shipments for Blackwe's Island,
Bellevue, &c, with a system and aacrlty truly ad
mrable, and he gives his instructions TO Captain
George, OF the "Black Maria" Ito whom he con-
descends to speak English) with form, and cere-
mony and an emphasis, worthy OF an experienced
military commander. James don't allow prisoner |
to escape from his gle eye, not he thus far he las
been marvelously successful officer; besides this
ne terror TO the turbulent and obstre porous who
frequently fall TO his CHARGE he shows mercy 10
such, while to the quiet ana submissive, he endea-
to II with equal and exact jus ice he
is a faithful man. and that spraise enough come |
to the first corridor, where the criminals of |
"hieh degree" are secured, under the watchu eye |
OF Mr.. Pierce (now " Librarian" also) whose duty |
it not the most arduous, certainly the respon-
slble OF any within the walls. Mr. p. is man of |
strong and active frame, an open, pleasant counte-
nance, and vsiant, well as civil officer with
all the responsibilities of his station. don't think
he. than the other dPn1tea - uuch
instruction, and certainly not an overseer from the
front office he is admirably qualified to preside on
that forum, and be proud to say ''alone did IT,
The second corridor is under the charge of that o
ly-hearted soul, Joseph Carlisle; whose joyous
laugh reverberating through the lofty edifice,
cites hearty response from the most lonely, desc.
late and detected who hear it to look at him TO
laugh-his love of nnoceR fun and frdlic is so ear
nest and hearty. that II is contagOns and he makes