New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-08-22
OUR CITY PRISONS.
Nc. IL.
SECOND AND THIRD DISTRICTS.

- be) the terror OF the evidoers 10 the fifrt lac
sewer into which the scoundrelism" Of the Second
District flows, is situated in quiet street uptown,
NV steps distant from the sirhsv. The Third District
Prison 10 near Essex Market
The Third District embraces the Seventh, Tenth,
Eleventh, Thirteenth. Fourteenth and Seventeenth
Wards Of the twenty five thousand three hundred
and siItyfye persons who were committed TO the
three Prisons in this City last year. six thousand five
hundred ard nine were incsrcerated in Essex Market
Jail This fact added TO the statement OF Mr.. Warden
Edmonds in the last annual report Of the Governors Of
the Aims House. that 1.-THE aggregate number Of commit
ments indicates 10 ebb in the tide Of crime, but ad
vsnce far erester than the increase Of population will
ssceount for viii show that the moral and santory
SSon Of this and the other Jais is question 10 which
the public are deeply interested We, therefore subon
some facts relative to the present state Of the Prisons Of
tbe Second and Third Districts TO the accuracy Of every
ore Of which, the Jaors ready 10 bear testimony
Fssex Market JAIL (Outside measure) is 80 feet long
by % ieet wide and about 30 feet in hight IL contains
ID cells in two tiers. Each cell is4 feet by eight and
Al feet high contains wooden bunk two feet 10 width
On which there lie bag OF straw, and is lighted aud
tsted by slit 20 inches long and inches wide The
atmosphere Of these cells leach Of which the aier
kpovledped 10 be two small for one person. is poisoned
By the eiuva arising from pipe which intended to
carry Of the night SOIL but which In consequence Of the
absence of sewer Ii allowed 70 remain until the state
Of the pit into which ii is discharged will admit Of its
removal When this putrd pit il agiated BY the rain or
by the water used in cleansing the pipes aud floor Of tho
prison. the surrounding atmosphere is instantly polluted
and inhaled by the prisoners Against this subtle poison
no constitution is proof IL killed DR. Scofed. IL has
injured the health Of several
The prisoners shut up in these cells at sunset and
ere not permitted emerge into the ball 10 walk
the corridor until O'Clock 4. NJ. The corridor is %
feet vide The Hail 10 % feet by TO- but considerable
portion of this small space is occupied by the stairs
III faI f..to II
M3P.M
The Hall il lighted by a window in the roof which
acts also as ventilatOr, but which ia badly
structed that every rainy day the prison deluged
In winter the suerDgs Of those ncarcerated in the
cells are said 10 be greatas the walls damp and
provision IL made for dspelDg the GOODNESS Of the at
nosphere The Hall is warmed by small stove which
however, has effect upon the air in the cells Last
winter prisoners ears were frozen as he slept on bis
bunk.
The cells Of the prison are white washed week
The aors to do everything in their power to keep
The prison clean aud TO couuteract the evils inevitable
IN Overcrowded jail
On every Sunday there is divine service by the Rev
ereDd Mr. Lestrade pastor Of the Presbyterian Church
In Orchard street whose attention to the prisoners
entities him TO their gratitude and TO the thanks OF the
people 1t is said that the City Missionaries seldom
seen here.
There is no separate apartment for females or tor the
young. Women uDusty charged with ofenses aud
awaiting acqua, girls Of from II TO 10 years Of age,
and hardened drunken barots lodged in the ne
cells at night and forced TO listen TO the obscene
songs lcenous language Of the ruans Of the other
sex who frequently the nocturnal companions of
boys That the lessons taught ia this school for scOun
drels listened 10 and acted is stated in rather
startling language by gentleman whose evidence rs
titled 10 be- carefully considered; Mr. Edmonds War.
den of the Tombs OF course what applies the prison
for the first district applies to those for the second and
third
sIbe great evil Of this estsbsbmen'he want of room
e. ttaattn ~
Yemeoied. II true that this subject has been fhe chief
burden Of communication from this Department for several
years past but, whs the experience OF every year
tnuts b. demonstrate more aud more orciby the
sfy of reform in ths particular. II would bs d.oli ton
OF duty not 20 present to your consideration tbs rs
and paramount want of ths rstsbi,hment Startling
pie o tbs eff cts Of promiscuou intercourse bet
youthful d.iu and old offenders j. FURNISHED in the
bref career Of OF unfortunate beiogs nov ii hn
th.s. wallis waiting the fiat OF the Law igoon
death SOue five or sir years since when bat
lively boy. he committed 10 tins prison fr
tHing nisdeu ana then for he 81 aa Introduced
into cesy Of thieves vagaeJnds His has
been rapid one and Dos, standing the brink Of e
grave he says IN the words of bitter truth Only
for fh- scqusinsDces made here should have
"coue a. thus Ii Is extreme case indeed aud
thst would not be referred 90 now bit mt HRasmbe cd
obsoRcs hare ben dragged dozen by such iacopstUyas
soessfiops 10 hs deepest d,Ths If iafamy VIII proper
rgsid for their tender years might have restored to
fulltss ard honor "
Fourth Am Req Governors iouse for 1852
The electors Of New-York guilty of that mans
death he bad been acquitted by jury, and chen
cause, responsible for its effects At present,
Ne make murderer-and then kill him in time. We
hope that the people will yet determine 20 these
And other schools for law breakers; and by removing
them render the services Of hangman unnecessary.
10 viii be observed that have said nothing of the
ssmber of persons usually confined in Essex Market
Prison.
"Do you consider that one of these cells is large
"epOrgh for one prisoner u Il do not" " Do You
",huk that this jail is large enough for 10 prisoners
81 do not"
Such were two Of the questions asked of the jaor-
and such was bis reply The reader is requested TO con.
tsst them with the following facts:
"From so to 90 persons are very eQseaty from rs 10
% persons confined IN this jail IL ny
no been of that from six esh.
p.ors At time were locked 40 In each OF the cells
that thr scarcely fghdiHg for he poor sreton
e. Who had take their sitting the buuk
Being provided With bu two doors which shut during the
night prevent all ventilation, IL may really DO Considered
thar the IN the cells b. Of the most uaus
eus and poisonous nature PRS generally con
fHed here tor from tso to five days seldom longer than
Eve weeks"
Such the language used endorsed by the keeper
of Essex Market jail The proper authorities it is ssid
have eften been informed of these facts aud pettioned
20 appropriate for the erection of prison least
fur times larger than the present moral pest house
Hitherto however their efforts have been Intellectual
With two exceptions. the assertions We have advanced
relative b. the Essex Market prison. apply also to the
jail oftbe secono District These exceptions are-the
absence Of and the performance Of divine ser
vice. small library, Cor the OF the prisoners is at
nched to the Second District Jail, and is wanting ia that
OF the Third
We will now briefly reenumerate the grievances con-
pain by the inmates and keepers ofour Second and
Third District priscps:-
l. Tley are az least one-foGrth too small
~. H.. =.