New-York tribune., 1871-05-30
LIFE IN LUDLOW-ST. JAIL.
A VOLUNTARY INCARCERATION.

A NOLUNlAhI
WARDEN TRACEY's HoTEL-A PUBLIC PRISON RUN |
,sA PRIVATE BOARDING-HOUsE-MR. IRA |
Cpy,s MpNIT-MOEEY THE KEY TO THE CELL |
nooR-IMpRIsoNMEN FOR DEBT-INNOCENT |
MEN IN PRIsoN-MALICE AS JAlLER-rHE
SQUEEZING sYsTEM-THE MlsEKlEs OF DE-
TAINED wITNESSES-THE AGoNiEo of coN-
FINEMENT.
Some time ago was writing at my desk in The
TRIBUNE Office, when received an intimation that
was wanted in the Library. Repairing thlther,
could scarcely believe my senses when the Worus,
"Mr. have determined to send you to prison"
smote like knell on my ear. Little Tommy, inc
office boy. could have knocked me down WIN a
feather; the more stalwart Johnny WeinhelInef
could at that moment, have rendered my chioren
fatherless and my wife o widow with an ease winch
would have utterly astonished him. " WIN trenp'
ling limbs, hair on end, and staring eyeballs Ior
remainder Of description see any OF the weekly
papers Of last Sunday l was about 10 ouIsV
forth in O cataract of protests and demanos
to know what had done and who were my accusers'
But mems conscia recti and merry twinkle In tne
eye Of the speaker arrested the eloquent flow Oh IN
dignaton which was on the very tip OF my tongue
After laughing heartily at my CONSERVATION Inc
editorial chair proceeded to unfold the meaning Oh
its announcement as follows: q The fact is, MI -.
have reason to suspect that there Is something
and want you to 90 to Ludlow-st and find out for
me whether such be really the think arrange
ments can be quietly effected which will make you
temporarily an inmate of the prison. Have you any
objection to offer to the proposalp had none and
after receiving very full instructions as to the points
to which, when once incarcerated. my attention was
to be mainly given, and arranging various little de-
tails of the plan retired for the purpose OF putting
it in operation.
With self sacrificing devotion to THE TRIBUNE some
what akin to that which led Mr. Samuel Weller to Volun
ary incarceration in the Fleet Prison In order 10 per
form his usual personal service to Mr. Pckwck lrushed
madly intoan indisereton, The friend on whom per-
petraed it was naturally indignant and quickly sougnt
the strong OF the law to right himself and punish me
mot la Mace and Coburn but with Little gentle COT
rectlon In the shape OF prison cell and prison Diet
Could that accommodating gentleman, the sher OH
cer have only known that was as much in search OF
him as he was of me- he might have saved himself many
weary hours OF hanging about the Streets Unfortunate
ly, we did not know one another 1 had perampuaIeo
wallst and ts purleus In the day time, oed about e
entrance Walacks eater and Nblos Gardens at the
time people going In and coming out looked IN az
Jim ces, the Dot and Go One, Boston Props jerry
Thomass and other well-known resorts and had even
sauntered with nonchaant cir through the halls and Dar
room OF the Fifth Avenue HOTEL But could not come
across him. At last however he ran me TO eartni ana
SO tired was Of looking for him that, when ne tapped
tho shoulder, cOulQ almost nave
on the SPOT all perspirIng he was He inquired afec-
tonatey after the state of my health and then sure OF
his man. handed me q roll OF Official papers,
one Of which required 1.-THE sherm OF
the City and County Of NewYork forthwith TO arrest
- and hold him =" to bail in tho sum OF - hundred
dollars" Assuming air first OF surprise, and then OF
great agitation, seized the official documents ana
adayits and hurryng into the nearest doorway read
them through and through while judeious trembling
of the fingers Just enough the papers to rustic
culver Of the nostrls and an occasional uneasy angry
glance chow longed to winkD at my cruel creditor
entirely threw tho wary officer of his guard Poor
fellow he remarked soto e seems quite taken
| aback and upset Look how his hand sbakesp So
took In the officer and the officer took in me- as poor Tom
| Hood would have put 1t. The world and writer's OF
romance educated US to believe that Shers ocers
even II they have souls to DO saved utterly heartess
Here was notable and glorious instance to the con-
trary Why this warm-hearted fellow, after depostng
me safely in the clutches Of the law,
actually took the trouble, Notwithstanding other and
pressing duties demanded his attention, to walk some
distance the Office Of my FRIEND on whose complaint
had been arrested and earnestly pleaded for my release
from prison., at least till Monday that might have an
opportunity seeing my family with view to settling
the case But my creditor declined TO interfere
with the course of the law should never have forgiven
him II he had and the officers weintentioned efforts
we're unrewarded "A that gisters Is not gold :; nor
ia every Sherfs officer brute. 1t seems almost too
hard to work decefully the feelings OF such man,
but when think of the poor prisoner" in whose good
cause hoodwinked him. cannot refrain from applying
TO the act the encOmium-splendide menddr-which
Horace passed on the only OF Priams daughters,
who did not kill her husband while openly ayowing that
she had complied with her fathers brutal commands
TO JAIL.
After had finished the perusal OF the various docu-
ments which the officer handed to me- he told me that
must 90 with him to the Sheris Office Icoud scarcely
control nv alacrity On arrival there, the officials
innuired IL could procure the bail named In the war
rant replied that I could not, and was Immediately
turned over to the custody OF another ocer VINO po-
tey requested favor Of my company as far as LUD
Iow-sr JAIL On way he was profuse and loud In
his praises OF little Tracey" and explained TO me how
could board for SIS week and be as comfortable as
possible" or for $50 week and "liye like fighting
eock.p promised to ponder over his information, and
was in the act Of thanking him. when he suddenly
sonped at the door OF large building rang the bell,
and sad Here are" AS the prsondoor opened for
our admission, unfeeling little gan'in THAT boys
parents ought to send him to reformatory) jeeringy
called out as he waved his hand, "Good-by,
Ross. see yer again some time" The next moment
was in the imposing presence of Mister Warden Tracey
short thicls-set muninfaced, hardootng man, whose
onlvl facial adornmens pair Of coarse, stubbly
whiskers He didn look like coming up to the mark Of
the officers "litte Tracey" and he didn't come up TO IT,
az afterward found out. But Mr.. Tracey has ties.
Mr. Tracey consequently compelled to the vulgar pur-
suit of making money, and condescends to keep prison
boardn ~ house, and-he keeps IL. Taking my from
the officers information about the boarding arrange
meuts | ostentatiousy drew roll Of bills from my
rocket and asked him II there anything to pay.
There was not but the action characterized me "a
probable boarder and led to polite request TO be seated
For over an hour kept waiting in that chair before
they allotted cell preserving stolid and perse-
yerng silence and utterly refusing to make any board
ftar