New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-20
LUDLOW-ST. JAIL, AGAIN.
THE POOR PRISONERS SPEAK.
WARDEN TRACEY CONDEMNED ON ALL SIDES
WHAT Is SHERIFF. BRENNAN ABOurf

|
| WHAT is SHERIFF. BRENNAN ABOUTf
| 1t was very natural that Mr.. Warden
Tracey of Ludowst Jail should feel grevousy worried
over TIE TRIBUsE's exposure of his mismanageme
of the public prison nrusted his charge. 1t
hans natural that he should do his best to extenuate
matters But Mr. Tracey has had the hardwood 10 deny
altogether the charges Of corruption and maladmnis
traton brought against him. Unfortunately Tor hi nc
one outside Of his own circle Of friends believes hlm
Some Of the letters which are constantly reacnng t
Office from prisoners under Mr. Traceys care will serve
to enghten the few who will only be convinced out OF
the mouth of many witnesses The signatures are OF
course withheld from publication, the poor fellows
would have hard time of 1t from Mr.. Tracey; could he
trace the writers
To tho Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR read your article in reference to this hotel and
feel so grateful that has put forth the matter
In such excellent language that cannot help sending
this IN acknowledgment have been an inmate OF THIS
Jail for months and although the writer Of article
obtained some considerable information by his short
experience and has given some truths, he has not nsi
up the damnable tricks and impostures praetced
in Mr.. Tracey,s hotel Were writer and with my
place OF those your paper OF to-day entirely In the
shade When leave this place shall try to have my
ideas put into readable matter by some abe %rser
Yours truly, PksoSEh
TO the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: All the prisoners are delighted at your expose OF
this concern. All reporters from THE TRIBUNE viii here
after be excluded, II possible. am here for debt t
time, IL acceptable. Yours, respectfully,
County Jail, No. 10 Ludtosc-st., June 8, 1871.
TO tho Bdttor OF The Tribune.
SIR: VIII you send one of your reporters here when
convenienti You have begun good work. You will
do well to proceed with It, Your voluntary prisoner did
not learn all there is worth knowing about this estab
lshment. BY calling soon your reporter will O6ge me.
1t unnecessary to make himself KNOWN YOURS uay'
Ludlow'sL JAZZ June ., lo7L
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR VIII you permit IN the interests Of those VINO
now are those who may hereafter become prisoners
in this institution few remarks relative to the Warden
thereof-Mr John NJ. Tracey. Over this "DebtorsJan,"
where unfortunately, owing TO the axity Of laws many
highly honorable and good men are and have been long
confined It will be conceded none but men OF education
and gentlemany bearing, should be placed In charge.
It must be kept mind, that this is not prison for
felons but for those who only charged with fraud
not conyicedand for witnesses &c. detained In cases
to be brought before the Federal Courts As these are
mostly persons belonging the mercantile and business
classes of the community It is reasonable to conclude
that they should be entitled to respectful treatment
while held in this House OF Detention" That they do
not receive considerable treatment at the hands Of
Warden Tracey ptfuy true, nearly every one who
has come under his rule can testify.
To commence with, we charge him with keeping
regular barroom or drnn gplace In the JAIL contrary
to law Here prisoners urged to drink and are daily
made drunk Quarres and fights at times the results
and then ALL both drunken men and sober gentlemen,
are driven to and locked In their cells because Of the
error committed by perhaps man. in the excessive
use OF Traceys fighting whisky, Nightly, the jail made
hdeous by the basphemous howlings and quarreis OF
men under the influence Of liquor sold in the jail
Secondly we charge him with the grossest Partially
in the treatment Of prisoners To prisoner who VIII
pay him from si6 $50 per week, according to the
atio firnt he
e. as too frequently happens the mans money gives out
and he can longer pay charges he s as rule thrust
upon the upper tier into the very worst coils In the
prison. =
Those who board with Warden Tracey are unlocked
and have the range Of the entire prison and grounds
from 7 o. IN. until II p. m. Those VINO
ara unable to pay his prices are only unlocked
from o'clock a. M, until o'clock, and have only
the privilege OF walking about the upper portion OF the
prison. they permitted to wakin the YARD
ard catch breath Of fresh air, as are the paying
prisoners To this rule there are however, exceptions
II a common prisoner spends money freely for whisky,
billiards &C., he permitted to remain unlocked to the
last minute otherwise he is locked up above stated
Again, we charge him with making rules for the con-
duct OF prisoners and giving them notice thereof II
any gentleman ignoranty violates one OF these
unknown rules he s at thrust into his cell kept
TSes Of Warden Tac is that the ordinary
prisoners shall not talk with those VINO are connned 10
broken by gentleman who was unaware Of any resric
ton of the kind and he placed in his CELL and
Again Tracey has a rule that no visitors shall be per-
nitted TO their friends on Sunday. Ana ye9
on Sundays and all hours other days until II P M,
while those who do not board have their friends see
O'clock D. M To this rule, however, the same exception
exists as his ends may sse S
he may by paying the Price set 70 sae sen s to- q.
ANY AZ e %an he come keeper asks at once
!" How much is it worth 70 you II / let him np
Finally we charge that Tracey has not the gentlemany
onates requisite in keeper Of rstcass institution,
this evidently intended 60 DE py the snerln Inc
little daughter with her mother, recently visit
to her father, finished and highly respectable gentle
parents and was talking with another person Mr. Tracey
overheard her remark, My papa is the best man IN
loving little heart Your father Is old fraud" The
little girl continuing her prattle he again commanded
self &C., Sc And this was said by Warden Tracey to
little girl years old, the daughter OF wealthy
nrisoners OPENLY to their faces, "G-d id thieves"
and order them to their cells And this abuse must be
submitted to by gentlemen who are as much superior TO
him as it is possible for good man to be removed from
bad man. ,,.. ,,r .o,.. =, .ba .bor,cor,nrs q,
Warden Tracey II such a manItaken from low rum,
sSp bs od grant that but few men be its
The above statements can be suDstantiated Dy hund
reds OF S soa anp for the good Of and thy
convenience OF their friends by one who has been an In
mate Of this prison for several months ana Knows but
too well whereof he speaks.
Ludlorst jail.
70 the EDITOR Of The Tribune.
SIR: Unfortunately for myself, am one of the
poorest Of the poor prisoners confined in this base,
and in consequence of the laws delay and the inso
ence of Office" have not the remotest idea when my
prosecutors will permit to breathe the free air again.
/ have been here three long weary months, and you
will readily understand that am deeply interested In
the management of this establishment. The eject Of
TIE TRIBUNE articles life In Ludlow-st JAIL" are
already noticed with great pleasure by the whole Of the
unhappy inmates. 1t was remarkable with what avidty
that TRIBUNE was bought and read. But the joke Of
the thing your reporter "playing it on them the