New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-09-01

ses 10 generally made Judge, and imposes tho ne in &C
cordance with his views Of the length Of tho prisoners
purse and for the benefit Of the bar Tho prosecuting
attorney is VIM. Gardner Traceys clerk, licensed law
yer with partner outside into whose hands he gives
many cases
the prisoner refuses to nay, the boarders threaten
him with osracism and Mr. Tracey keeps him locked In
his cell till he does pay Is discharged. BY frequent
encouragement of these unseemly trials In which no
takes prominent part Mr. Tracey makes the boaraers
bar pay him WE'LL At low estimate the net receipts OF
the closet average less than s2s per diem or
E,l2s per annum.
THE wARDEN's LEGAL PRACTICES
TALLER Tracey also an income from other
Many persons arrested for debt have no cou
Of their own and many who are arrested seem 10
feel IL ds race and endeavor to keep the knowedee
OF 1t from their frieLds while others are strangers III
the CITY, and have friends Il such cases. II the prS
onefs have or can obtain money Traceys satellites
strongly recommend them to approach him Tor sdvoe
He, Of course, SYSTEMATICALLY symPathlzes WIZ 'neh
misfortune, informs them that he will introduce nen
lawyer who Understands the law respecting sucn caoe
better than any other, and who will soon get tne u'
charged.
Tho prisoner generally asks the amount OF money
will cost Tracey well-assumed innocence lniorih'
him that he does not know, but that the lawyer WIN
form him. II the prisoner consents TO see TINS at'orhey
Tracey visits lawyer with whom he Is In collision. and
tells him that he has "brd to be pucked Tracey IN
forms his legal partner to the financial resources OF
the client so that he may know how much TO charge
him After this lawyer has felt his new clients financial
puse and has fully Informed himself Of the nature OF
the disease he abors earnestly to effect But he
always takes good Of himself. His patients are
always Obliged to pay his bills for he will not give the
discharge to Tracey until his dabt has been hqudated
by the prisoner. II the latter, says he
10 unable to pay the charges when
the discharge has been obtained Tracey comes to the
lawyers rescue and informs the that the dis
charge Ii In his possession and that the amount due
be paid the prisoner cannot leave the jail Tracey
says is his faut-he IL innocent as lamb ana
entirely disnterested. but the lawconvenient plea-
will not permit him to release prisoner until the dis
charge in hs possession. OF course the lawyer Will
give up the discharge papers until he has received
the balance duo him. The "shyster" always secures
Of money before he undertakes case.
Men have been known to remain in jail two or three
weeks after they been discharged by the courts IN
consequence of inability to procure this balance Every
method brought into requston by prisoners to lQui-
date this cxtorton II married. their wives must sacr
fee their jewery borrow Of their friends and, where
very POOR pawn the clothes from their backs; IN
fact they the most extreme measures to
satisfy Traceys lawyer and get their husbands out OF
Tracey's II the discharged but not released prs
oner has watch ring. other personal property or
sufficient value the lawyers demand THIS Is
deposited with Tracey hours security or is taken
in payment Of his claim. Traceys share OF this partner
ship Is worth at least y, 900 year.
PAwNBRoKER AND PROFESSIONAL STRAW BAIL
Tracey too runs pawn-shop in the jail and although
he has sign up, he lie always ready to loan money on
or buy watches, diamonds, and jewelry Of all kinds
His three years experience In this business OF accommo
dating prisoners with money to enable them to pay
for board cigars liquor, or to pay attorneys their
feos has made great adept in that line OF bust
ness as any of the loan brokers on the Bowery.
1t often occurs that prisoners desire to obtain Donds
men to put bail for them at the Shers Office In 0rder
to procure their release while the suit against them is
hn o1lpvra nOfhi
cuehng slip through his fingers, is always ready and
able to furnish any of bail for consideration.
He has professional bondsmen" at his beck and call
The usual price charged Is cent on the amount OF
bail demanded; but Tracey will not take case that Will
pay least $780, $50 for himself and $50 for the two
boudsmen. Sometimes, when the bail is very heavy,
$4,000 he charges according to the risk ten
per cent such amounts generally than the pris
oner can pay II the risk great, and the prisoner Is
able to the per cent should 1t amount to
Thousands dollars, Tracey takes the risk and II any
trouble afterwad he ia generally able to settle II
by paying small part Of the large sum he has re-
ceived either to the plaintiff or his attorney He has
to make 81 900 In week by obtaining bail
The profit he derives from this business cannot DO
less than $4,000 per annum.
Judging from the facts and figures given above, Mr..
Traceys gross income Warden Of LudOwst Jail can
not be less than $4,000 year. Hse1penses for keepers
cerks night watchmen, and feeding the prisoners can
not well exceed $4,000 year. Theremust then be $4,000
to divide between himself and Controller Connolly He
boasts that one term of his office three years. is worth
100000 TO him. and that he don't for the Sheriff"
because he has Dick Connolly as his hacker" AS yet
he has never had make deduction on his bills against
the county, as Controller Connolly gives orders to have
them maid promptly Whether he has made any charges
against the County and alb the amount actually
due to him, is only known o himself and the
gentleman whose facile fingers pull the
.triugs Of the City and County PURGE.
Mr. Tracey itcrate. uncouth, and brutal he is, lie
Tar fic plu
Of the Ward, In which he formerly kept corner
LIQUOR frequently appears in reports pub
lshed and vile newspapers Of balls receptions
given to welknown Democratic politicians. He has pur
chased large Of realesate isnce he has been
Warden OF Ludlow-st. Jail, and likes to boast Of his
wealth Of the clubs to which he belongs.
MERCHANTS INDIGNATION WITH THE LAW.
TO ne Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: / have been constant reader of your
valuable paper for than 20 years. and often
articles in Of ncalculable benefit but in case ip
INV opinion have you undertaken anything that will do
more good than your expose Of Ludow-s Jail VENT
late the whole thing II will surprise the public Get At
the law or called the slwel Act which deprves
Of his liberty for debt 1t strikes at one Of the
fundamental principles Of our Government. Many a
man lie ruined by the caprice spite Of his creditor
he does not pay soon as he promised, either
from misfortune otherwise. As the law now stands,
man arrested under pretense Of fraud the creditor
generally stretching his conscience, and s made an
article Of trade. As he is In the hands Of a
deputy the situation circumstances considered
and " 1t found that he has any money friends they,
the deputy jaier and shyster lawyer put their heads
together TO see how much be wrung from him.
man is often kept there for months who has neither
money or friends 20 bis ball. when his Is
tried fraud is proved he get no redress The