The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-22
VISIT TO THE ToMBs.

Drink and Bad Company the Pathway 60
the GaiIows-The Pistol, knife and Stiietto
Freely Used.
The Tombs OF New York has become as familiar
to the people OF America as the Bastie OF Paris to
the people OF France. There the contrast ends.
once IN the living tomb OF the Bastiie the victim
might exclaIm with Sternes Starring, 81 can't get out
Icant get OUT" for the grave was the only release
to the poor victim OF some petty tyrants hate whom
q tetfre ds cactet swept from his path.
How different In the Tombs Though human laws
ana the good OF society demand the punishment Of
criminals, It Is divine to temper justice with mercy
ana Kindness and this, 1t s believed is done there.
The prisoners are treated kindly allowed to partake
Of the sympathy OF their friends, and even OF moro
substantial favors.
The exterior Of the Tombs is massive gloomy and
imposing. Its INTERIOR though watered with bitter
tears Of remorse and regret, is Clean orderly and
charged with various crimes, from simple drunken
ness up to the high crime OF murder.
THE MEMS PRISON.
The keys turned harshly In the bolt and an iron
door swung slowly back on the hinges, admitting to
the mems prison. The gates Of Dantes Inferno never
grated more harshy upon its victims than these
have upon many hardened criminals. They were
the barriers that closed them In from the frenzied
excitement Of rude enjoyments and bacchanalian
aurements.
This wing Of the prison Is divided into three tiers
rising above each other. flight Of metal stairs
leads to the second tier, where the pr isoners for
murder confined. The cells are about eight feet
by ten, with grated iron door In front.
JOHN REAL.
John Real, who is charged with the murder Of
onlcer Smedick in First avenue, last July Is smart
and rather intelligent looking young man. He states
that he Is twenty eight years Of age He Is OF me-
dunn height, rather good looking and sports very
nobby mustache. John was we'll dressed too, and
keeps his cell scrupuousy clean and neat. He
has converted old newspapers into covers
and carpets and thus tries to shut or the
baroness Of bare walls and moor. Some pic
lures, including Madonna hang on the walls,
while several books lay upon kind Of Shelf He
also had sharing his captivity bull pup called Spot
Spot appeared as little pleased with prison life as
door. ''Spot Is great comfort to me-" says the pr-
soner, In reply to some remark Of mine; che plays
with me and keeps me from thinking, and you know
that is great relief"
He talked freely about the murder OF Smediok,
says the public mas heard only only side Of the quss
ton and that he shot him in sef-defence; that he
had prosecuted the prisoner and boosted that IL no
ever got chance he would kill him REAL. He even
went SO far as to try and get him discharged from
several employments. He says that Smedick swore
false against him before, when he charged him with
attempting to ire at him. How It was he was with
party In Cooks saloon; one Of the party reported
smedick raped for other Officers. and Real left
the back way and gave himself up at the station
He was walking up First avenue last July some
what under the influence OF drink; when he ap-
preached deceased he drew his club az II to strike
he shot deceased. Real appears TO be young man
who was gwen to sociable company. THOUGH there
is nothing bad in his appearance, he Is evidently i'm
pulsive and one who would resent an injury.
GEORGE REINHARDT.
% Of ar Of
trude Pfeiffer In the murder OF her husband jacob
Pfelfer. The prisoner IL an old man, Of mild ap-
tothario He speaks little no Enqlish, and all we
could get out him was an expression, me no kin
no man."
John Carson occupies cell 81. He Is charged with
q street, es ON the ss Of john
attributes all to whiskey. He says he did not XIII
her; that on the day Of her death he sad rsturned
the room closed He called in neighbor and
opened the door; does not recollect what happened
afterwards. He was very drunk at the time HIS
wife was seldom sober and had pawned her clothes
at the time. Some little time before $500 was stolen
troubles drink brought her to her grave ana hersn
Carson Is not . hardened looking man. He is evil
Drunkenness and is naturally passionate. lie Is
about forty years OF age, wears large, full whisken
and ID not bad looking
PATRICK KERRIGAN.
In cell No. a. we found Patrick Kerrigan, charged
with killing Eliza Tracv, at No. IA Mulberry street.
rick's lawful wife nc eschewed all ceremonies and
lived with her such for two years. They OCCASION
s en-, y and a
rels win come to blows, and the far Eliza came 10
her death on the 25th OF October Patrick was drunk
occurred. She was also drunk when she died. and
burned herself to death, in Patricks belief He d
look, who evidently imbl0ed hugely In his day.
DONATE MAGAIDo.
charged with the murder OF John Ryland on the 4th
OF July. He and deceased quarrelled on the DAY
mentioned After prisoner sS r followed s' de-
stanty Magaldo Is OF strong wiry bulld, dark COM
plexion and hair, with heavy mustache
Cell No. 81 Is occupied ~ Patrick Riely charged
with killing his wife the 18th Of last November
Ms ss nov e aS you Glorious air. as happy
lord for | am innocent" 40 you did not kill your
wlfesn "sorra BIT sir: THIS is how Y happened
went home Saturday night q little tight my.
on the noor. | went to bed and she went
stretched on the DOOR so took and puts her inc
bed, and in the morning when Mrs Rice brought IN
Patrick would be admitted to bail II he could find
sufcient ball. there may be some truth In his state
ment.
Cell 50 is occupied by John Siebert, charged with
killing Jacob Stellwagen on the 18th OF August.
He lived In Fourteenth street. between avenues B
and @: Stewagen kept saloon was In there: recol-
iects something about quarrel, but was so drunk
that he cannot say how 1t happened. lie is rather
smart looking young man, with curled hair and
Is good locking. Whiskey and company keeping
brought him into trouble.
ROBERT TrIMAN.
Robert Tilman, fine looking specimen negro, oc-
cuples cell a. charged with killing another coloIei
man named william Carney. Timan was enjoying
a drink with few colored gentlemen In a saloon IN
Thirty-hird street. when he asked deceased 10 drink
Deceased refused which riled rman. Aquarrel en-
sued and Tilman left the saloon. Carney followed
and attempted TO stab him with knife. when TiI-
man drew his revolver and shot him. This, at least,
Is the substance OF Tman's story.
JEREMIAH HARRINGTON.
jeremiah Harrington occupies cell Al, charged with
the murder OF Mary Ann Robinson. He is an OLD
offender well known at the Tombs. lie was arrested
ON the 3ist July. charged with the murder OF Ann
CallaQhan and by some bubble OF law got out on
the 18th OF August, while he Is charged with murder