Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-07
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

OF the "roughs,'' Is the "Blue Muzzel." This
Institution IL for the reception and safe keeping of
al offenders az sinst the United States laws with
~ In the District, who unable to give bail to
appear at court, and for the punishment OF such
a. convicted by the Criminal Court Of such
offences a. do not involve the administration of
the Penitentiary penalty. The County Jail is
under the control Of the Marshal Of the District Of
Columbia, who Is responsible for the safe keep
Ing Of the prisoners. The present Marshal (Col
William SeldPn) has taken the precautioi to
strengthen the Jail guard, by the appointment Of
several steady stalwart men to positions in that
y capacity, who are well known TO community
a capable and reliable in any emergency that
= may arise The necessity for this precautlon
must be obvious 10 every one acquainted with the
condition Of the city for two years past. Murders
riots, assassinatiOB, incend iarism, burglary and
D'uor offences have crowded the prison with
desperate characters; some Of them belonging to
organized gangs which have even gone so far as
TO threaten TO attack the prison in order to rescue
Their companions th'refrom To this add the fact
that the prison Is not and for years past has not
been, considered secure, without the Observance
OF the strictest vigilance The Marshal has wisely
guarded against the rush Of crowds of visitors,
who were led to the prison by vicious curiosity
10 scrutinize their appearance, and criticize the
plans and arrangements Of the guards such per-
sons being an annoyance. The regulation pro-
yides that those only having business at the iaiI
and the immediate connections Of the prisoners,
shall be permitted to enter the ward. The corps
at the Jail consists Of the following persons:
P h King, jailor; j A MeGowan, Frank
Riley, +. Wilson, Samuel Laird, John Goddard,
~ Sanderson, Thos. Z. Robinson, Rob't Waters,
assistants.
Each day is divided into watches and the
force into corresponding guards, but the entire
force Is always on duty. When il is said that
the Jail is empty, il only implies that those w no
were in prison up to the adjournment of the pre-
Nious grand jury are gone from the prison for
in fact the jail Is never empty. Notwithstanding
the business dispatched by the Criminal Court
al its late term and during the present term be-
tween the sittings of which terms the interval
was very short the number of prisoners in the
all - nina .Ifo
some OF them are awaiting sentence for high
crimes of which they have been convicted.
Barrett, alias .'sqnirley," convicted at the
present term Of the Inui der of Mr. Reeve Lewis
when we last spoke OF him was becoming more
reconciled TO his fate. At first he was PERFECTLY
wild with agony; now he has queted down re-
maTkably, and is receiving religious instruction
daily frcm his spiritual adviser, Rev Fath-t
O'Toole, and the Sisters of Mercy, who have at
tended him since his conviction. Although he
has no hope of escape from the scaffold. and
there IL degree Of solemnity about him at times
produced probably by contemplation Of the awful
end Of his eTratic life now speedily approaching
II is evident that his contfition is not such a.
might be expected Of man - his condition
The moments Of sOlemnity frequently broken
In upon by others indicative Of desire to Danish
Williams, the companion OF Barrett in that
awful affair, Is also awaiting his sentence He
appears to be more steady in his department than
Barrett. Though apparently perfectly satisfied
in his own case. he was convicted of manslauch b.
ter,l which will probably consign him to the
penitentIary for the full term, ne is deeply con-
cerned for Barrett and has been ever since his
,- conviction. His behavior in the prison is very
ID respectful and subordinate to the rules
81 Aug. Heissler, recently convicted Of the man.
7 slaughter Of MaTcellus Stops, Is in excellent
- health, and being posted in the policy Of pris-
oner, having been ia that capacity on other occas
ions, he conducts himself so as to merit treat
ment as kind as the rules will permit. He has
notion still TO try and get new trial, although
he withdrew the motion when LA; made Some
OF his friends are much in favor Of the motion,
while others, who look to the possibility Of the
sward Of hempen cravat as the result, are as
Geo. Johnson, the companion Of Heissler on he
occasion of the Stops murder, who is also in
dicted with him, for highway robbery on the
same night, has been cOOly awaiting the result
Of his trial, and is in good health
Swyper Johnson, who was arrested as party
TO the murder Of Stops, but was taken as a wit
ness for the Government in that case, does not
seem TO be exceedingly affected by his position
He takes everything coolly and behaves with
pyopriety
O'Brien, the man w no was convicted Of 60 beas
uallty,' and was sentenced to four wears In the
county Jail, il here beginning his term. He is ap-
parently quiet and an intelligent man. but he
says he Is a slave to rum. And he insists that the
immoderate use of that is the only beastality of
which be is guilty.
Jno. Nugent, the man arrested for the murder
of a Young woman near the Water Works and A
few feet from the boundary line Of Maryand and
the District Of Columbia was here, but has been
delivered up to the authorities of Maryland 70 be
tried in that State, where the offence was com
united.
Alexander alias faster Egglss,on is here, serv
Ing the terms for which he was sentenced after
conviction in several riot cases amounting In
the aggregate 10 three years and three months
The peculiar disposition Of faster, to be turbu-
lent and misc hieVous, frequently manfests itself
even in the prison. and conseq uenty he is strict
ly watched, and he il frequently undergoing the
prison punishment.
Mike Kelly, recently arrested under a bench
warrant for d riot at the Park, is here awaiting
trial
Van Loman johnson, convicted of assault |
iuO nd A iStu inO fTne
fenced to two years in jail is very quiet and
behaves with pr0priety. lie is in good health
and il not much affected by the prison air and
diet
Charley Hurdle was sentenced to a term In the
jail, for Iiot His time has nearly expired, about
three months aud two weeks remaining 10 him
He - apparently IN good health, and is none the
worse. physically, for his long Incarceration.
WIN Wilson, II we are not mistaken, was the
States evidence Ia the iDcendiaTy Case which
consigned Cunning ham to the Peuitentiary. He
was convicted Of riot al the same Court aud
sentenced 10 a term in Jail, Of which he has yet
The mos, careful attention Is paid to the diet
OF the prisoners. Though the friends Of some
send them their meals regularly, every dish is
Inspected, and nothing that has a tendency 10
create sickness OF any description Is allowed TO
20 to them
the jailOr and his assistants deserve common
dltiOn for their daily efforts in preserving the
cleanliness Of the prison. In a prison such as
that, il must be very difficult matter to keep
And the industry and patience OF the guaIds are
frequently tested in the protection OF their pris-
OEeTs against diseases which will certainly fol-
low the relaxation Of the rule relative to the
cleanliness Of the Jail With the present force
the prison Is perfectly safe. Discreet men, wig
liant, fearful, and strong, and proper guards
over prisoners, and such are those now In the
service. Responsible for the safety of the pTix-
Ouers, Marshal Seldrn has done well to enirust
- them to such guardians, under his own hrm
watchful, and vet ph'laathropic supervision
The order and deCO.um Of the prisoners Is the
Te~flt OF the hrmnssS Of the officers In enforcipy
the regulations. The prisoners kept in snlI-
J-ctOn,and no privileges are allow ed them which
Is in the ightest conflict with the Marshall,
regulations.
HGSDsoME PREsrST We examined yes.er-
day, al tine State Department, very handsome
SILVER teaset. consisting of SIX pieces, which has
been manufactured at the order Of President
Buchanan as present for Capt Thomas ;. Scott