The New York herald., 1871-10-21
KINGS COUNTY PENlTENTIARY.

KINGS COUNTY PENITENTIARY.
--------~--->
An Ex-CsDvics Suggests Rsferm NJ that I'm.
stitutien-A Personal Inspection ef shc
Prison InaSgsratsd and tho Result
Thereof.
No rogue e'sr felt the halter draw
WIN so opinion Of the law.
ibis old couplet and truism may be aptly applied
70 the case IN point Of which this column treats.
Complaint having been recently made in writing,
purporting to emanate from reformed Convict
against the treatment OF the inmates Of the Kings
County Penitentiary, special investigation OF the
matter was advised by the Chief OF the City Stan,
and yesterday vis: to the prison In question and
an inspection Of 1t was made by one Of the HERALD
corps 70 investigate the truth falsty Of the con-
tents OF the following communication
New YORK, Oct. g. 1871.
DEAR sIR-Kuowing your powerful influence In
tne news world, would be obliged TO you. not only
% vino IN s mere x'ny, Penan
tiary at present. Mr.. Editor, was, as well as the
So S seryOg hs time S only na fed
clothes q furnished BY the prison oficals AN ask
prisoner that he must be iI-treaied in the above
would ask Of You 70 insert the foregoing State.
ment and oblige' yours truly, .,
nErOnm6O CONNlOls
Thirty Minutes' ride over the Fulton avenue and
Nostrand avenue line Of horse cars brings the visitor
TO the massive blue stone walls OF the Kings
County Penftentiary, which enclose an area Of
about ten acres, bounded by Nostrand and Rogers
avenues an0 Crown and President streets. The ap-
proach TO the main entrance, which is bOrdered by
gravel walks and garden patches are neat and
handsome. and the building proper stands upon
nigh ground. commanding fine view OF the sur
rounding country and receiving good share at all
seasons Of whatever atmosphere is stirring. Ascend
Ing the broad steps leading to the gloomy portals Of
the Penitentlary the summons at the door is an
swered by the doorman, Temmy, as he appears to
be famiary called, and the writer was shown into
the presence Of the Deputy Keeper, Il. 3. Crunmie.
That gentleman courteously received the repre-
sentative OF the HERALD and upon learning
the object OF hts mission at once declared
his readiness to escort him through the
prison. The first visit was however, paid to the
keeper. Mr.. John Cunningham, who is at present
confined to his bed by sickness The keeper desired
his deputy to AFFORD every facility IN promoting
thorough inspection Of the institution and regret.
ted his physical inability TO accompany and explain
the management in detail. A close examination Us
10 the sanitary condition, food. raiment, quarters,
work and discipline was then instituted the result
or which, will be observed from what follows,
such as to most favorably impress the visitor with the
internal arrangements OF the place, cleanliness and
thorough discipline being apparent upon every side
In each department. visited. The first point made
for was the male department OF the prison, which
is under the supervision of @. Casin. Here the ab
sence OF any unpleasant odor, usually met with in
public institutions Of the kind noticeable upon
crossing the threshold into the long corridors from
which the cells open. Three large stoves, well filled
with red cheeriully burning coal, even though the
frost has not yet set in, appeared to give tho lie 10
the accusation that the inmates were allowed to
almost freeze to death in winter. Certainly the
atmosphere was rather warm than otherwise, and
the cells which are paragons Of neatness, could not
fail to receive their share OF the warmth generated
by these tires The cells, which are eight feet in
length and five feet In width, ventilated by
ventIlatOrs In the wall, leading " the roof, and are
amply equipped for comfort &C night The cots,
which are Of canvas, stretched upon iron frame
work, close up against the WALL and each convict Is
provided with three pair OF brown wooiIen blankets
weighing eight pounds each, or twenty -four
rounds in the aggregate. These were strap
human being would Certainly Suppose that
sncn coverings would be ample to keep. warmth In
the body In the coldest Of seasons. The cells
three inches wider than those OF Sing Sing Several
OF these apartments were ornamented by their in
mates with pictures from pictorial papers, ana even
books OF poetry, &c., were noticeable In OF the
cells. Leaving the male wing and crossing through
the assistant keepers ward-the assistants are
twelve in Dumber-tne female division OF the Penl-
tentary was visited Here 100, was noticeable ex-
celient order and remarkable cleanliness, coupled
with divers humble devices indicative Of feminine
tasle and adornmenl. The kitchen was the next
objective point or observation, ana here six stal.
wart, ruddy-Iooking men were found IN convict
garb, preparing the MONDAY meal, which the day
we visited the PRISON consisted OF coaish potatoes
THE DIET DISCIPLINE
Is as 1OowS:-Fur dlnner Sunday three quarters Of
q pound OF fresh beef bean soup and one third OF
pound Of rresn bread; Monday, half pound OF cod
fish, potatoes and one-ihird OF pound Of bread;
a n hpu
SOUP and ono third OF pound OF bread; Wednesday,
en beef senP % Tce and potatoes and har
day same as Monday; Saturday same ~ Wedncs.
day. Fifty pounds Of Deans are used TO every 100
ratons ol bean soup; twelve pounds Of rice and
half bushe OF potatoes 10 every 100 racns Of fresh
beef with rice soupi three bushels OF potatoes with
every 100 rations ON fish days. For supper there
inlo mush, with one,half gallon OF molasses. four
rice, witn one.naf gill OF Is allowed three
days in each week. For breakfast two. thirds OF a
pound OF bread and one quart Of conee Is furnished
HOURS OF LABOR,
The hours OF labor are ten each day. The prison
morning, and at halEpast five they marched out
for M breakfast there Is 's fen Srie lime o aorSed
for reading or smoking until seven O'clock when
work commences. The chief business consists IN
making shoes, an employment ~ which the con.
vicls exhibit n remarkable degree OF proficiency
and an aptitude at learning which cannot fail to
prove most remuDeratye TO tho BAY state Shoe and
Leather Company, who have had the contract for
their labor since the introduction Of this branch OF
economy IN the Penitentiary two years ago. There
are 500 convicts In the prison, OF which $50 or
thercaDOuts are occupied In the shOesh0p, In
Guiding females. The contractors making
great fortune Of the work OF these unfortunates
whose services they pay only about ten cents per
day, while many OF them are very clever wOrkLicn.
There can be nothing more interesting than visit
10 the shoemaking department OF the Kings County
Penitentary, where the twenty five horse power en-
glnes are daily working innumerable patent shoe
turning machines, which are attended by silent
ransgiessOrs OF the law, who turn out as many M
500 pairs OF shoes In single day. Frank Kenney,
the Assistant Keeper In charge OF this Department,
and Ds aid. The stalwar and genial Mike Henry or |
the Atlantic Base Ball Club, and NJ. Newsam and