The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-10

Condition of the Female Ineort1tes-In-
ssrestinE Interview with Johnson-Hss
= Rknn In the Unknown Tongues-very
Moderate Value of His Life Tho Gu
Ifnnry Department OF the Prison, tSe.
Two Of reporters yesterday paid heightened visit
% the Tombs this city, for the purpose generally oil
witnessing the working OF the Institution, and particularly
Of seeing and conversng with Albert Hicks aisS John
SOD, imprisoned, awaiting his trial on the charge OIL
murder and piracy arising out OF tue tragic circum
stances Of the sloop Spray. OF the general manage
nens of the prison is scarcely necessary TO
say much Everything was in the most perfect
order The court yard clean, aud the preparations
for panpe the grass plat far advanced Not speck Of
dirt to be SEEM and it was plain at single
glance that the admirable discipline is fully main
famed in every part of the building
THE FEMALE DEPARTMENT
present very fairly stocked with occupants, the
srcat majority OF whom nebriates Of the lowest or.
der Many OF the women imprisoned there have
be regular denzens OF the place, and have
often discharged and recommit:ed tina. the lady
naen has becorne perfectly familiar with their faces
The unfortunate appeared be altogether nsen-
sfbie Of the Disgrace which they have brought upon
themselves by the continuous Indulgence OF their corrupt
sPFeies. The Of them, when hrst brought in by
the police, found To be thoroughly nebriaed that
they have to be confined in separate cells until the return
Ooh5biVnsHhos,
possible 10 release them from such close incarceration
they then sent into largo outer apartment,
opening into yard, where their Imprisonment is cons
deIably amerorated, inasmuch they free TO
"se with one another and 10 pass around the merry
joke long they do not exceed the limits Of decency
and propse,y In some of addiction TO
tobacco the soothing consolation Of pipe y not proh
bnea These female prisoners vary in their ages from
forty fifty TO girls who have not yet completed their
hor, A1,uU 90
and sckiy, while others comparatively bright
and lively could under their circumstances, be ex
pssaed When questioned TO the effect upon themselves
Il their imprisonment Of them readily responded
that they felt rate !" ironically adding that they
subsist on the luscious food the land afford
Tor instance, one said: 1--WE had roast beef and plum
pudding dinner yesterday, and this morning rice
padding and ham and eggs for breakfast" At
this she took q Whit OF her pipe and, cast
ing side glance ut her companions, they all
broke into low monotonous chuckle at the briancy
the satire Nevertheless the food they receive Ia good
and substantial The marks of recent and continuous
dsirs,son we're very plainly dscernole these poor
creatures. Some or them, though the proportion was
very small seemed to have been shedding tears of con
triton ging from the swollen and dscoored appear
Of their eyes and cheeks; but this, we learn is
spaenodic occurrence. Some of the most apparently
penitept have been the most frequently com
pnitted for the offence; and 1t seems
that the vice Of niemperance has set such firm grip
upon them that i. is impossible for them to shake of the
monster Nevertheless, the prison authorities very
seHse in their adminstr Of the law as affects these
fallen women. While in prison they made to know
and feel that the law is made to operate for the punish
nent Of offenders, for their reformation and improve
nert and not for vindictive purposes. Therefore,
though rigid and unbending discipline ia in every in
thoroughly enforced Justice is so sweety mingled
With the heavenly attribute of mercy that the chances
Of reformation where they exis. at ALL are greatly en-
HANGED. There s female under superintendent, whose
DUTY it is to keep continual watch over the prisoners
confined in the open apartment to which We have re-
ferred She appears to be a kind aud benevolent
though. at the time, resolute and determined,
woman-a combn aon of qualities essentially necessary
discharge Of the important and sometimes painful
THE CULINARY DEPARTMENT
the prison arranged the most perfect, and q! the
same time economic principles The food prepared for
prRoners good and wholesome aud each man and
woman is allowed fair and liberal proportion. There
are two large steam boilers In this department, by
which the whole of the cooking is done, while
at the game time they serve the purpose Of heaters
70 the whole prison the winter This arrange
nnent az in most public buildings, is accomplished by
Of branch pipes passing from one part OF the
PRISON TO another and connecting with the boilers On
three days the week. the prisoners get rice beef soup,
coffee bread and for the rest of the week. rice and
coffee and bread, without the establishment Of beef
Those prisoners who, having friends outside Of the prison,
get better description Of food than that permitted by
regulations Of the Tombs allowed TO do so, and
several persons avail themselves Of the privilege to get
while in prison the meals they accustomed to when
n liberty.
INTERVIEW WITH HICKS.
The cell in which Hicks is confined upon the ground
floor, ouy few steps from the desk Of the officer who
has department. of the prison in charge and, unlike
some of the other cells the door covered with
closely wire net which, while allowing free cir
cuaon OF air. and opportunity OF unrestraned CONVEX
satou eecsuay debars the insertion through its inter-
sces anything with which the occupant could do him
self bodily harm. On arriving at the cell, we
found the prisoner sitting upon the edge Of
his bod, enjoying the fumes Of segar, aud
apparently IN deep reelection. He attred in the
came garments in which he was arrested, excepting
coat-namey, heavy brown pants, red shirt and vest
ana well bearded face showed that Il bad been stran
ger to razor for several weeks. His attention being
called by the officer he briskly forward, and
pressed his pleasure the visit with which he had been
favored He said he glad at all times to receive the
calls o, gentlemen because relieved the monotony of
his confinement, and afforded him an opportunity Of
learning WIS. was going on in the outside world, which
he could lot otherwise the fact that he unable
70 read the newspapers of the day. Cline he said,
chung heavy on his hands, but between the segars which
Mr. Barnum had left him when he took plaster cast
ss his face listening 10 the conversation in the cor
rsdor, he managed to make the day wear pleasantly
away" On being questioned as to how he
enjoyed his fare and rest he stated that ne could
complain of Of attention never had better appe
N,e and enjoyed a nights sleep with greater
His wife Visits him nearly every day, and though
he did not often refer to her. or two illusions which
he indicated that he felt deep interest in her vel
fare This especially evident in his reply to some
questions concerning his former mode OF life BE said
had probably passed through adventures Of travel
which few men this other country could beast
haxnr exnerencsd and that they could be emboed