The New York herald., 1869-03-01
QUA CITY PRISONS.


preached, ana philaRthrspisp vondersd and
puzsled their brains to vsrS WEAKNESS But
setu the subject ID not exhausted and viii
not be untl in the tFeatmeat Of shese poor unfor'
tUhaAss broader and Wore enlightened charity
Shows itself than at pssnt unttl there " les e
condemn and moro 70 commend than the general
system Of managemeyit now in vogue reveals-until,
n short . thorough system Of prison reform has
bean introduced ehd snforced-such a. not only the
hAh behesn Of charity to the prisoners themselves
reauires but such a. the public have right TO ask
ana expect and which the genius Of modern civilt-
ration and progress and expansive and discreet
Nberality Of the times az imperattvely de-
mand. We have lately visited our city prisons. We
have not busied ourselves with collecting minute
statistics with which miscellaneous reports Of mis-
sellaneous commissioners ana miscellaneous special
committees abound, and neither have we satisfied
ourselves with glittering generalites wehave looked
into the cells and have talked with the prisoners
ana have examined the extent Of their prison 40
commodations their bedding the food that is given
them, the means for ventilation and the opportu.
mites that are anorded them for exercise and d.
version and mental and moral Improvement.
While In what we write we shall nothing extenu-
ate, we shall ''set down naught In malice" but aim
to give plain pcture-a pen and Ink pre- -Raphaete
sketch II you will-of what we saw and heard. and
which, Il possessing no other merit shall at least
possess the merit Of rrn trntnniness' 1a.ss #
That nondescript mass OF masonry, the Tombs,
and which by stretch OF architectural license is
credited with bearing some smltude TO some
nos Ds Be nearly is years
s IN e Ss =
seems destined to the same perpetui e the hlstori
cal pyramids Its builders, for aught we know, are
piles, but while their names have passed
into oblivion this huge and unseemly
Is imperishabie. The prison, ma as is ' wen Known
covers an entire square, being bounded by
Centre, Franklin. Elm and Leonard streets. The
side fronting Elm street is where the male occu-
pants Of the prison are confined, portion OF that
on Leonard street being occupied by the female
court and near by Is the large court room Of the
Special Sessions and rooms for clerks. The inter-
mediate space Is divided INTO paved yards, portion
and several small buildings used respectively
as the 'Boys Prison" and for washing and
street. Passing through an insignifcantly diminu-
tive and dirty vestibule we entered the ''on1ce,r
which is on the left side OF passage and separated
from the latter by an iron railing. Here the pre-
siding genius OF the place. Alderman Coulter, the
present warden, when not engaged in his duties as
his ONCE with pleasing but dgnlded urbanity. At
large table OF paralleogram shape were seated, as
we entered two or three CLERKS or deputies other
subordinate officials writing. Listlessly l0unging
about were several whose peculiar physfognomles,
itnot for the diamond pins and stylish suits OF
broadcloth and sleek silk chapeaus some sported
ana the fact that others were special deputy serif
would induce supp0siti0n that they belong TO the
class helping to make up our city criminal calen-
dar. Being introduced BY one OF the deputies
to the gatekeeper, weazen looking man OF rather
venerable years. but O very pleasant cOuntenancc,
We returned and let us out without a ticket, none
being furnished us, we were ushered inside the
prson-ths prison over whose threshold have passed
and are daily passing SO many; this prison within
whose conf1nes have brightly burned and then family
ickered and then expired many hopes; this prison
maj ana its most awful penalty Of death
this prison where suffering and sorrow and anguish
make up the great life burden Of the most OF its
prison. The entrance Is by narrow passage and
through skeleton iron door, on the opposite side
owiil you allow Us to pass insn we asked the
Ticket: let's see your ticket" was jerked out in
Eve have none,n we answered; s.were told by
the Deputy Warden that we could look through the
sWho are You ~ was his next polite inquiry.
I'VE have the honor TO represent the NEW YORK
HERALD" frankly and explicitly unbosoming our
"Oh. certainly, certainly, he interrupted; 'pass
the former frigidity Of his face suddenly melted and
the grun tones OF his voice became pleasingy
sOftened and subdued
and one stands where full and comprehensive view
Is had Of the interior Of the prison. There are cells
sSe ef Of You. Above you, on the front and % on the
corridors one ABOVE the other, with rows OF cells
there are las cells-thirty-seven on each moor, or
nineteen on one side and eighteen the other-the
stairs ns on the SIDE OF tax
passage way between the opposing rows Of
cells is about twelve feet wide, which is
end The passage is well lighted. and with the wn-
dows and skynghts open good current OF air
sn Ss al s s SS
perceptble. Turning to the left Is partition run
ming part way across the passage, behind which Is
for writing purposes, such entering the Of
prisoners newly arrived and their descriptive lists
and Keeping record r Of u anses nm and
stove, which, heating the tainted air, seems TO
intensity the almost sickening suirocation Some
newly arrived prisoners had come In Just before
The capacity OF human nature to achieve callous
GOODNESS was shown In the questioning Of these new
So Confessed ' that but few ' redeeminr features
showed themselves Most were ten-day prisoners
those ordered committed for this length OF time
for drunkenness. A more squalid, shaky and mise
rable gang OF prisoners cannot well he imagined.
Cant have bis to eatf" with trembling &C
.swhen the time comes, - answered the of,cial. II
mustn't be interrupted. Your name, birthplace,
agen and he went on with about dozen questions
enlering the answers In q large ledger-like book.
Cant you give me drop to drink ~ implored
you've been here beforer inquired the Official.
ayes; once"
saore than once;' az n he knew the man was
lying. energeticslly continued the oIfcial.
.nor;s than than twice;' The onlciai said, with in
creased energy.
Eyes; three times.n fAM
..And . good many more tines continued the
Of1cial.
"well, yes.n
hut we win not pursue this hubect. Behind us IL
what n called condemned row." that Ia. the cells
occupied by those who have been tried and
sentenced, and Gre waiting the execution
OF their sentences. Real, the murderer or Smedick
the policeman, occupies one OF these cells; and to
those having n fancy to look on criminals of the
higher grade Is special object OF present attraction
He keeps the inner door-a door OF thin iron plate
OF his cell closed, and shows shyness At being
gazed upon like wild animal In q cage by curious
strangers. Two gentlemen from the country who
stated that they had come ON purpose to see him
were much disappointed a. not being able TO
grstify their curiosity Burglars and disciples Of the
Jack sheppard school Of criminals occupy mainly
the remaining cells. Most assume very
reckless air, a. though going TO .Sing singh
with privilege OF nve years for refreshments, az
conductors are said now 70 announce on the trains
was an emincntly funny thing.
$50, Bill, you are going up the rvcr,n we heard