The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-06
THE CITY PRISON.
Disease FOstered by the Laws
Delay.
The Dilapidatsd "rombs" and the Prospective
Demise Of Its Overcrowded Prisoners
Three Men in Cell Built to Contain
One 0ccupant-Wretched State
Of Affairs Generally.


Despite the unceaslng vigilance and the most un.
rcmittng attention on the part OF the officials OF
the City Prison to maintain that miserable and
rapidly decayng Institution In q state OF cleanli-
NESS the fact that 1t Is positive disgrace to the
metropolis. and, moreover, very dangerous con-
Germ. stands forth In glazing c0l0rs. Like an old
rotten threedecker anchored at its last station
bright. well polished and apparently sound-the
T0mbs has had It's day, and although strict dscI-
line may have some effect in deceivng the passing
visitor 1t Is last settling In the mud. And, by the
tway. the establishment Is built in q swamp, and OF
course. a. the institution Sinks OF which there Is
absolute proof, the
HI DEATHLY DAMPNEsS
knay render the prison untenantabIe. But this is
not the worst OF It, Originally each cell on the sew
eral tiers constructed solely for occupant
and even with that commendable object In view the
architect by no means extravaganza In the way
room for the space set apart for prisoner either
Rlready condemned or awaiting trial Is very eco
nOmtcaliy arranged. As the population OF the city
judgments It quite natural to expect an increase
IN the records OF crime. Yet this prison was built
~ time WHEN the number OF people residing In
S , YORK was probably not one-ourh OF what lt is
taxable iorm and determined action DO not
speedily adopted the consequences VIII be
Already all the tiers are crowde,, not BY one
prisonor IN eacn CELL but In some Instances by OK
acuy treble the number which the cages were In
ended TO contain. visit 10 tho institution yester-
lay a. once developed condition OF AFFAIRS abso-
sutely dsgrecefuL In over dozen OF the cells no
ever than thirty-slx wretched human beings were
Auddled together, with but one bed whereon to
me suit "Dirds Of q leatner;n but when il Is con-
Idered thar many OF the persons incarcerated are
ind wltnaL have not yet been proven guilty OF the
%9rges preferred Il Is somewhat serious TO lodge
s na
M TERRIBLE 0yERCROwDING
vni I, most unquestionably engender disease, and
OF promptly remedied. When rain falls heavily
nree or tour feet OF found In the vaults
I'm dooaing will DE. In fact the building is far
rom healthy as 1t STANDS, and 1t viii not DC at ali
Sd Their Lawful Victims 0s bsese oacs
sk 10 au arIes way IA the aomos VIII BE- difficult
idorts OF Warden Stacom 10 Keep tho
FouNDERING OLD HULK
e ms,er,,s nc certaiiy does wonders with misera-
~ WateriiiS-inuSt prove unaVallin1 against the
ire ana sweeping consequences OF The system OF
amm al prisoners iIl-met and nl-condlloned
no narrow pens, not one OF which was designed
more than single occupant. Not many days
50 two cases Of smallpox were found among the
lsoaers, VINO IN The ordinary course OF procedure,
ere thrust Ia among some other persons confined
Que q tue tiers and had 1t not been Tor tho
Phjectule TO what extent the cpiaemlc might
I'VE reached. Immediate steps were, OF course,
ouer quarters, and the necessary dlslnlectants
ere quickly brought into requlsitlon. Al the
uoticss to tho scrupulous cleanliness rlgidly en-.
|iced, oal excellent discipline cannot long with
iie:nlcs. Had The cells been originally built Tor
rec persons arrangements would have been made
Icorunsy out slnce they were constructed Tor
person u seems somewhat paIadoxical that
Tried human beings should be sandwichcd to-
a aSo wltous mercy nasty ysls 70 the prison
the persons incarceratcd, and IL would appear
20 INC sa1e ines neglect Lee Of some s ocas many
~ ue-al!cu. Excepting The lower tier. Which Is
lehy set apart Tor the temporary accommodation
RAvINa INEBRIATEs
q such Ike. there arc hardly available over sew
~ cells, into which are placed men condemned
murder, convicted felons about TO be transferred
tho rcnenuary. petty thieves and large num-
oil Defsotis awaiting trai, 10 the number OF l75
rsons IL Is sald that this month presents the
-gest caeudar that has been known Tor the last
rec years. Nearly lis persons are OIL present
dtg1co together awaiting tho convenience or those
lose duty 1t Is to bring them before The Court for
al disposal. In response 10 Inquiries made by
epres ntallyc OF the HERALD yesterday many OF
prisoncrs seemed 10 regard their bringing forth
trial hopeless affair altogether, although some
them earnestly pleaded their innocence Await.
the action Of the Grand jury" seemed TO be
nea rcspS I, n shso ns ,cs ana o same
ckcd In Liio Tombs LOT night or two the tndi-
iual mcmoers that compose u would probably
preciate The woeful results 0i indifference TO the
. OF their fellow beings. Half the prisoners now
carcerated should long since have been dis.
Btoad uclng lett TO lnger III overcrowded cells.
case Tor instance, OF one John Purcell, indicted
t.ce OF OBTAINING a man In durance vile. Had
man been tiled, convicted NnQ passed his time
serviiudc, lie would have beci freeman eighteen
pu,hs ago. IL Is well to call the attention Of the
strict Attorney 10 the
ALARMiNG CONDITION OF THE roMps,
to lt5 manage ment, which is excellent, but 10
Aevera cases now pending his pondcrOus
MON. Since prisoner must oe either guilty
innocent. II is the duty OF the District Attorney 10
least end his wcll-rcmuneraled excrtions to-
rds too final disposal OF those imprisoned
the lombs at present anxiousy awaiting
IL: yad the sccuscd been brought before
lge bcuford in tile regular course OF
bceeding their fate, pro or con, would
q since have Oecn determined. Lcthargy. indlf-
cncc or carelessness on the part Oh the properly
lstltucd authorities VIII certainly not reject any
dit on those whose paramount duty 1t Is to re-
We the community OF such OF It's members as are
IL crimuai point or view Objectionable. Besides,
must he borne In mind that the Tombs was built
the tcn,po airy accommodation OF certain cases,
Iailutc on the part OF the gentlemen entrusted
Ill grave and serious trusts viii asSuredly result
serious consequences. IL Is pain that the TOmbs
buld DOT oe overcr0wded through negligence and
pubic will earnestly look forward to the removal
those causes which IN any way tend to engender
ease. tw
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