New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-08-20
OUR CITY PRISONS.
ELDRIDGE-SrREET JAIL.

Rumors of the unhealthy condition of several OF our
City Prisons and Of h. excessively severe treatment OF
their inmates having recently reached us, It seemed
proper to investigate their truth, and 20 expose the
wrengdoers if we found that the complaints were well
founded Last week visited Eldridge-st. Jail, IN
which fraudulent debtors debtors charged with
fraud are imprisoned sometimes until their trial, but
sometimes, also, duriog their prosecutors pleasure.
To the passer.by, Edrdge-st. Prison presents re-
spectacle appearance. threestory brick house with
Venetian blinds surrounded by a cupola would never
be supposed by spec ator 20 be prison If sign at
the door did MT announce the fact The lover portion
of the house is occupied by the TAILOR The prison is on
the second foor. Il ia room, or L" IIal"-a' it is
caed-16 feet long b, a fee, wide, aud from 10 TO IL
feet IN hight At each end is barred window. Ranged
along the sides the cells. ten in number OF
which seven "a feet by y contain iron beiste4d
each ard three & feet by 10Y are double-beided
"rooms" The smaller cells flthy, unventilated,
uDh atby dark; aud infested with vernn that,
prisoner said tie occupants frequently have 70 briag
"eut their hunks and sleep tho passage way or Hail.
The" Hal" itself when usheTed nto ir looked
extremely dirty. During our stay, however, a" white
"washioe" operation was commenced aud il nov looks
Kttle more respectable But il is yet far from being
u
some Of whom is being guilty Of the objectionable sin"
ofpoverty.
In this room there are generally from - to 90 persons
confined. On our first visit there were ID, of whom
we're United States were Msrshals and were SheIs
ifsPnsoners.
There great anxiety evincod both by our guide
and BY one prisoner whom we shall call the iailer',
friend when they ascertaned the object of our visit,
that We should be silent on the subject of the United
States and Msrshsls prisoners Bya series ofcrOssques
tions learned thss these placed here by
officer either save himself trouble 10 favor the Jail.
er Who evidently makes money by boarding them In.
deed the guide acknowledged hat the such prison
ers there we're. the advantageous it for the
jsier. AS the room is quite small enough for half
dozen debtors this system, We think should Immediately
be pot a stop To by he authorities
OF tue United States prisoners four we're sailors
charged with mntny The, were proceeding 70 sea on
tasthgthe food they found anglolesome, and refused
TO do duty. They taken board the cut
ter loaded with irons and brought before Magistrate
who demanded bail This. of course, they could no.
= Ney have been imprisoned several weeks and
L. remain here ior trial til he September session
The other prisoner Shoefelt the fjrger Of Land
Warrants
The Msrshal's prisoners were three English saiors
vh have since been brought trl-haoks 70 the exsr
iioDs OF TIE British Consul
Oh the hVe debtors one-the jsilers frieud-has
been ncarcersted three years; ano,her-Mc. Turner
two years and tie oaer three have been confined for
several months One youth is Imprisoned fr aFiirs
arising ont Of sui, for seduction; colored ma for
having been cheated by educated scoundrels Slca a,
least the muattos statement and as he can neither
rssd nor write it may DO true.
The jsuer's friend refused to give any other than
private account Of bis case but Mr.. Turner-sn old
nan fsixty upward-srots the following statement,
md soxiOusy desired it's publication. As couple of
eases viii better illustrate the manner in which the
present statute is perverted than couple Of coumus
explanation would do. We willingly insert it:
CASE OF JOSEPH TURNER
an $50 udorsed note for So 200 for young rend,
W which ireceveo consideration Endorsed i purely
Ssof friendhipi wishing 10 advance the you man IN
ihsd known him sons yssrs, and hence my intsrvs'
= nm lie ultimately allowed the note to Do pro esled