The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-24
A MUSEUM OF CRIME.


Capaain Ssurdan's ColIsssioa, sf CrinI.aI In
,pfUmenns 4phososrapfs, Co,snrerfsisSns and
-B~rwiars' Pooss aud AEarderers' Weapons. o
There Is wonderful ana indescribabe fascination
connected with every scene and impIement assoct
ated with the taking OF human Life. Every person.
however sensitive cultivated, or famiiisr with
bloody tragedies sstrangefy attracted to localities
celebrated for casualties 10 our fellow creatures.
The delicate lady who snrfnks at q spider fingers
long In rapt Contemplation Of the battle field, and
the most hardened villain win thrill ut the sight Of
some unfamiliar engine Of death like the guli0tine
or gibbet Governments and societies storelu up the
trophies Of victories and imagine that the benencent
enects which may have resulted nom their use give
those trophies their peculiar INTEREST," but strip from
them thor associations with blood and agony
ana death, ana the banners ana cannons 30
highly priced would longer attract crowds of the
curious nor figure In the notebooks OF tourists The
ancient battle fields rank I'm history according TO the
number of their victims, and to-day GRANTS battle
In the Wilderness looms up In the public mind Above
Getty sburg and vicksburg and AppomattOx; not on
account OF being an engagement decisive OF great
questions to mankind. but simply because Of the
awful slaughter aat deluged the knobs ana tckets
In casualties of lesser magnitude tins idea u moro
strfknxty Illustrated. Thousands VISIT the scene OF
any great calamity, Ike the burning OF the $500
ladies ind children in the church OF the Coapania
at Santiago In 1882 even the comparatively Dsig
nicant localities Of railroad and steamboat acct.
DENTS. Who has not turned aside from his
legitimate route to visit the spot OF some
murder, and how many would attend. the
almost daily exhibitions OF our foolhardy rope
walkers aud gymnasts were It not for the fearful
rIsk Of human lie Involved In the performance and
the certainty thai on some occasion. or later
there VIII be IAN and manged mass OF humanity
WltneSSo0f
structbe element which demands for its gratiflca-
III 1s III Of our fellow and
annals Of New York alone been carefully preserved,
aud could they to-day be placed exhibition, would
than even the famous Biological Gardens Of London.
II any one DOUBTS this let MIN attach TO any imple
IN 1 Broadwy caro- stating that sacS mpiem s
was used BY such man in killing his wife, and rs
long as that card remain, there the street VIII be
the police There are several small collections OF
burglars to0Is ana murderous weapons in the pos
only one Worthy Of notice IS thst or CAPTAIN Jourdan
OF the sixth police precinct. gasssss. az ,si,f
CAPTAIN JOURDAN's MUSEUM
comprises 8 list OF neariyi two hundred pistols
plates, co. used Dy nosed criminals ana Collected By
Of the city they are On exhibition at the SIKH pre-
ctnct station house. and conveniently displayed
stating the GATE and manner In Whchit was employ
ed, together with the names Of the principal actors
IL WOulQ e4Leuu uOtCe D6yOuQ reasonable llmlt8
TO give minute description Of each weapon, and
passing BY great number Of knives, pistols, sung.
shots. brass knuckes false keys, &c.. associated
some OF tho moro important objects Of interest.
Commencing with aa face 4 n
t.5nel3is1 THE PHOTOGRAPHS, d.
cards, &c, we find the following curious circular In
the form Of card used by Stephen II. Branch in
1853, In Ms harangue upon prison life, ana giving
sort Of epttOne Of State Prison experience After an
Introductory relating to the musical features Of the
exhibition, the card states that 'My lecture will
open with eolored convict barber, with dull shears
and razor clipping and tearing my hair and whis-
kers from my head and face; the examination
OF my person for scars to detect NE II
I, escape from prison; my bath; my cell; my
march In the chain gan2fOr breakfast of bread anu
watef-from the prison to mess hall; my march
from mess hall 70 the quarry, with Q lash at my
heels; my drilling holes In the rocks IN the quarry;
my march TO the mess hall for dtnaer-of soup and
lean, grizzly meaf-and my return to the quarry;
and return to prison, with my bucket for my nights
rep0se on my IRON cot have engaged person as
overseor, and there win be three convtcts In the
chain gang at my lecture, recently discharged from
Blackwefls Island, who win keep so-caled time in
the ROgues' March before the audience The chain
gang at my lecture will consist Of ten persons, tn
Guiding myself all clad In full prison costume.
This unique document has Stephens signature at
the bottom end his seal IN the upper right hand
corner.
Next TO this IL Q lady's card OF invitation to
s0ir6a. which terminated In the bloody drama Of
1858, and. hich ID brought wildly to mind BY tLs
bit Of passeb0ard:--
.usfh MIN Cunningham ff0W