The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-30
THROUGH THE TOMDS.
THE MIRROR or THE CITY'S CRIME.
Tales Of Murder, Manslaughter and Sui
cide-The Murderers in Their Cells
Tho Condemned Real-An Innocent
'"Accessory"-A Negro the Vic
lin of Revenge-Ihe Fa-
nous Mcfarland.

There are eight men now lying in the Tombs
under the charge OF murder. One has been con-
vcted sentenced and has had his execution stayed.
The others remain 10 be tried. The case OF McFar-
hand OF the greatest interest aud that OF Jackson,
the deputy sheriff who shot Douglas, is Of some lu-
portance TO the public test or how far Judicial
frmness can Withstand political influence. The
rest are principally cases Of murder OF which rum
was the stimulating cause. II is wen 10 make
record In while or the current history OF TIE
Tembs. 1t Is a remarkable institution perhaps one
OF the most remarkable In the country. Newgate,
In London has older, gloomier ana more exciting
traditions ani has far more suggestive associations
FOR the fancy OF tile writer and novelist, bat It Is
scarcely idenuned with me English metropolis 60
that extent mat the Tombs Is with the city OF New
York. The latter appears TO crystaiZe al the crime
OF The community and act rs q barometer which
tells the moral condition OF the population.
Committed Tor examination 70 the Tombsp Is
familiar decision We read every day in the pro.
ceedings OF the police courts. Committed for days
and weeks and months for larceny burglary, muir
der and q thousand different deeds contrary TO law
and civilization. In the social history OF New York
this odd looking PRISON PLAYS foremost part Its
police court discoses all The lights and shadows IN
the comedy and In the tragedy OF life. It's cells
speak OF human misery, foay and deepest degrada-
nop It's history tells OF the serious ana awful end
70 which men have come who gratlned passion IN
she blood of their Fellow mcn
To any one VINO chooses 10 moraze or to be scnti.
mental and philosophical thore is great deal OF food
In the history OF the rombs. In fact there an ex
hanstless supply OF what might be termed moral
lessons, ending In the sanitary saving admoniuon,
'.Cease 10 do evil, learn TO do weo People however
with that turn OF mind which seeks ''sermous In
stones books in running orooss'i and something in
sfructiye IN everything are not commonly met win
around the Tombs; nevertheless there are few
places where human nature be 50 easily,
cneaply and proftably studied.
A reporter OF the HERALD visited the Tombs yes-
terday for the purpose OF taking look at the eight
men charged With murder and asking them few
words respectively to the nature Of their alleged
sHences. The class of people who principally
sought admission were evidently acquainted with
she old, grim. gray building They looked nowise
alarmed or bewldered In presence or the gloomy
corridor reaching back into the darkness, ana tue
high iron railing with its massive lock and bolt, and
tha big parSpet opposite, inside OF which
man OF serious jaier-ke physiognomy frowned
nquiring glances enough TO make the
hlood OF a half guilty picEpocket run cold.
These awaiting people, DESTROYS OF seeing
their friends within were chiefly poor shabby
dressed women, probably wives or sisters OF PRISON
inside, TO whom tney were carrying al the luxu-
Eies Their scanty means could afford There was an
easY indifference about them rs they Went IN and
cane OUT which showed plainly enough they were
used TO the thing and that the Tomos 10 them
part ana parcel or their very miserable existence
Nj Coulter having been elected police justice, and
yesterday being tue day selected by nun 10 tender
his resignation as warden u the prison. his genial
md familiar faie was missed rom its customary
presence tn the Office. Mr. John Stacom appeared
In his place 8nd Mr. FINLEY as usual hied the ample
CHAIR inside the rallied or space BY The big table
where the a1a.rs OF the prison ere discussed ana
attended TO. only representative OF the press or
come sueh potent ana popular character can pass
INTO The prison alter two O'Clock. -Four hours are
allowed The general public, which seems reasonable
Anne elougB~ but never proves suthcienuy long for
the entire run u visitors. Ia that wing Of the build
Ing where those CHARGED with murder are confined
there is great deal Of apparent cleanliness MAIN
ts,Eed. Ihe grorad floor ana corridors are swept
several times d"s current q III SEEMS az
heating would appear 10 be wei and sltlsf' "tofhy
managed. The prisoners, however, complain 4, at
dampness peryadeS the massive walls IN spite OF ,
The furnace nre and that no matter how hot the
atmosphere the dank dungeon smell asserts IN
supremacy However, taken on the whole, inm-.ir.
6slaii man. There is ~. 80 "n,Sa sosaa
s1 aS only sSSls s1 81 5aasoD 81 S to Sss
Wv srt,-l - lln toerable equanimity.
- ,.sY or An ALLEGED Wise SLAYER.
..f.B Bailey who ATTENDS 70 TINS wing OF the prison,
On discovering the business OF the reporter, kindly
hung open the hrst iron door on the second ter OF
ike to have tslk with me reporter Of the HERALD
yoa can. He just wants 10 see yoa Tor few min
Sss and ss you can te P you IKE war sng ' S
Spouse from within, and presently trap opening 10
the door fell down ana round, hauidlottc lace,
covered win light scrubby hair made It's appear
Auce ut tie opeDing.
:silow aye do, Woods i" inquired The visitor.
.Flnely, thank youn was the reply. 1--WE been
iust attn, my dinner aud declare don't know
when enjoyed II 80 Yen.n Woods, as ne SAID THIS,
and laughed az the thought OF ms nourishing
appetite. 40 900. ., ,o-o 100 ,voo,ss,
'.SorTa know know Tut they say Tvs ior muir
dhern
Murder y
"Yls muraher-murltern me wife,
Tel me the story, Woods, Just 90 you know
Indeed, will sir. IT'S simple aisy story tnat
II came to tins country about thirty years ago.
another, at whatever turned ny. Fifteen years ago
got married to woman lion near my own part OF
the country. We lived on tue ROCKS between tor-
neth and F0rty-1rst streets pear Eleventh avenue.
The ATTN Of last July ] was down at the gashouse,
foot OF Forty-sccon1 street. rolling OUT some tar 10
Hoop lying at the pier. After done the job, ana
rolled out over two hundred barrels OF tar started
TO 60 home to breakfast. THIS was half-Dast seven
IN the morning. on my way ! met woman,
q friend OF my wifes, who came up and
Bad. "Mr. Woods says sne, '.Pye bad news 10 tell
you You'll fjDo your " iCe dead afore you when GU
20 home.r AT FIRST thought the woman wanted 20
fnghten me. but saw che was In earnest ana sure
enough, when got 70 the do,r oi my house police.
numbering your wife, "for what ~ says /. ''For
numbering yoar wife - says he. u know nothing Of
II, says ], aud with That was handGn6ed ana taken
away, and my orother-in-law also was handcurcd
and brought of. left my vie that morDlng lying
nsieep In bed, AMI two hours after, when came
back, as first toud you, ] heard sue was dead 1
was brought 70 Jefferson Market aud committed
here, and that's al I know ABOUT L. heard NY
vie was Killed by blows Of club but VINO killed her
''You don't seem TO be much troubled by the
no, thank Cod steep wen and ate hearty and.
70 ten you the Truth, the thing don't enter my MUD
nor disturb u1e In the lasler
"You are not frightened AZ night py ghostsq,
'On, the dlvll DIT; sleep as sound ~ trout
and never TANK VI such inng-.n And heIe Gods
laughed, ana seemed 10 feel uakpy II no charge