New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-07-17

9S A Visit to the Parish Prison.
On Monday being oppressed by the intoleable heat
and dullness Of the city, concluded to seek relief
by visiting the special retreat Of that ancient class of
the community known as the Can't-getAways. We
often hear of the CAM etAways, but as we never
encounter them about town, at least find any
body who will admit he is member Of the Club, the
only members that we can make sure Of being such
are those whose daily ORGANIZATIONS and sghtsee-
ing are limited by the four walls Of the Parish Prison.
We awaited ou1self Of the company of Captain Moy-
nan, who had occasion to pay a visit there. 7z
Entering the chief yard of the prison, where the
most distinguished Of the prisoners are confined,
things presented pleasant and cheerful if not gay
aspect. Some of the boarders were walking to and
fro in the shade; others were Longing about read
ing, smoking and chatting and others were sleeping
on the mattresses in their cells, or killing time with
some kind Of trifng work. In general they looked
clean, comfortable and weLfed Although their diet
is plentiful and good it is quite evident upon ming
ling among and conversing with the prisoners, that
their good cheer and corpulency are owing to kind
of food that does not figure in the monthly bills, Or
appear On the dinner tables-in other words, hope
z"sweet, beautiful hope.n
when courage DROPS and comforts fail, @
And sore Affections press the mind,
@ Sweet Hope prolongs her pleasing tale,
TIL all the world again looks kind -
The decaey is INDUCED in by all the prisoners, but
owing to a peculiar dispensation OF nature, those
whose situations most desperate partake OF it in
the largest quantities. whilst others who are suffering
only temporary confinement for petty otenses, seem
to take in homeopathic ninitesimals Those prison
4 ers who nope and keep aloof from che crowd, one
4 would suppose to be the doomed whilst those who
appear sociable smiling and chatty, would naturally
seem to have nothing very serious hanging over their
heads The REVERSE however is the curious as it
may appear
We found James Costello at dinner, with several
prisoners disposng of the edibles with all the
gusto Of healthy, hungry man. In the prison, he
has become stout and handsome; has a kind, smiling
face and fine head Of hair; is altogether the hand
soonest prisoner in the whole crowd and no one can
visit him and converse with him, and think Of the
circumstances under which he killed Dunn-being
drunk at the time and melted to the deed by worse
men-without granting him hearty pardon He
says his heart is in the right place, and that he in
4 duges in hopes of a pardon. And we are confident
that if Governor Wickies heart is as benevolent as
his countenance, the young mans hopes will not de-
ceive him. To those of readers who may not be
familiar with Costellos case, would say, that he
has been sentenced to death for murder, and day
some weeks past-fixed for his execution but that
4 he has been respited to January next. W.
Patrick Kennedy fne-looking young Irshman-
4 sentenced to death for murder committed during a
drunken spree, but awaiting retrial, which his
counseors were so fortunate as to gain-was taking
an afternoon nap, looking comfortable and pleasant.
Melvin. an old man with gray whiskers-s entencedto
the penitentiary for life for murder, but awaiting
new trial-was knocking about the yard in the
greatest apparent good spirits. Other prisoners,
awaiting trial for murder appeared to partake Of the
general indifference to the future.
:. Adam Scott-accused of poisoning Levi Smelser-
appeared genteel and gay. His cell is well stocked
with books and other time-killing implements. He
took politely to task for our report of his manner
!, and appearance in court, a few weeks ago. He
thought it unkind, and calculated to prejudice him
with the public, and assererated, distinctly that he
was 9 Scotchman and not an Hislman. He express
!, ed some vexation at not obtaining speedy trial
which he is confident will acquit him he asserts that
there is conspiracy against him which the trial vii
disclose. He has improved his looks by shaving of
his moustaches AS we did not visit the female de
partment of the prison, we have nothing to report
concerning Mrs. smelser.
VIM. Fl. Wilder was moving about, perfect pic
5 ture of gentility and gaiety Richards, the one
phys note for 81 800, looked remarkably cute ant
COOL sitting astride stairbaustrade with pipe III
his mouth Chauncy P. Van Setback, the young MAJ
who robbed his employer in New York and turned W
here looked perfectly cool and contented although
owing to the absence Of friends here he stood sadl.
in need of barherizng and clean linen. Heis await
ing a requistion.
;, The melancholy young lawyer-we forget his nam
Tho 1rapt oh v itch hp han of
young lady in the Pontalba Buildings-who ble'
. divers and sundry individuals upon representation
that he was about to marry fashionable and wealth.
lady-and who was finally sent to prison vagrant
for splitting into that lady's carriage-was leann!
3 against wall in the dress of levee laborer, bu
with the fine blue eyes and hair and whiskers Of
German Duke. He spends most of his timein writin
for himself and his fcllowprisoners at which, it
: said he displays talents Of no mean order.
r The debtors room contained only two persons
!, George Shropshire who is accused of forger
E in Kentucky, and good looking youth who we wer
informed, was boarding there at the expense of hi
J. father whose authority he doesn't acknowledge i
It any other place, This apartment has the Injuries
bedsteads, and SO mnch of view Of the tiles al,
chimney tops across the street may be had hroug
an iron net, with an iron grating outside. The hosp
tai department had three inmates who appeared to
= doing well. .a...
Z We were Informed that Mrs. Rohfretsch, who w;
" sentenced to the penitentary for life for arsolse
e ting fire to the Live Oak cotfee,house, Poydrf
street-nlopes and cries all the time. She is very Of
and homely, and that with her perfect misery, draw
n largely upon the sympathies of all who see her.
= In the second yard of the prison. we found seal
l. looking crowd-al foreigners-who were serving oil
short terms in default paying fines for drunkenness
1t ETC. On upper gallery the negroes were sittin
We and rolling about shrtless, like so many "varmints
le but enjoying themselves highly for where there
no work, that is the negro's paradise.
a. We were altogether pleased with the cleanliness
coolness and good order that regned Throughout IL
prison. as well as the apparent comfort and got
er cheer Of the prisoners. And when came out, az
thought of the weary weeks, months, and even yea
Id that those men support with such apparent che
within those cherries wells, the city, which hefo
had seemed dull and dreary, now seemed like We
paradise. A great deal can be and learned wit
= in the walls of a prison.
,e There were only twentythree deaths in Wheelil
during June.