The New York herald., 1871-01-04
Visit Of Herald Reporter to the
Philadelphia Prison.
His Reception by the superintendent Inspection
Of the Model of the Gallows-The Murderers
Who Have Been Hung Thereon-The
Prison Inspected-Some Of the
Prisoners Interviewed.

| inquired for Mr.. Howard Perkins, Jr., assistant
superintendent OF the prison. The gatekeeper re-
que,ted me to wait few moments until he inquired
II Mr. Perkins was visible. In the meantime took
| a survey OF
over the Office entrance, said to have been In
the colonial days OF Pennsylvania. One can easily
imagine the terrible su1erIngs OF the unhappy
wretch doomed to die by that devllish nstrume Mt.
Made Of hoop iron, 1t Will just contain full grown
man; the hoops are tightened aad r,veted, aud the
criminal Is swung into the air ain ye market place'
TO slowly die from the combined attacks of hunger
and the elements, aud left to be the prey OF the
birds OF the air until nothing remains but ghastly
| skeleton to remind passcrs-by OF the majesty
Of the law. Happily for our progressive age
this method OF execution Is forever abolished
in the United States and England. 1t is oc.
casionay practsed, even at this late day,
| by pirates aud ireebooters in Southern European
| countries. The gatekeeper returned IN o few mo-
ments and informed me that Mr.. Perkins awaited
me in the oilice passed In and was welcomed By
Mr.. Perkins to the hospitaIitcs OF Moyamensng. 1
replied that "hospitalites'' were good, but
came In search OF Information ond would prefer to
dispense With the hospitality generally administered
in That institution. MIR Perkins smilingy replied:
"Oh, that's ii; have seat and will be happy to
give you any information possibly can consistently
| with tile rules OF the prison."
CORRESPONDENTS believe Philadelphia justly
claims TO have graduated some of tine greatest crlmi
nails OF the age. Some OF them are doubtless In your
custody at present. Can you give me little history
| OF some Of their crimes
Mr. PERKIEs-I do not know that our city Is par
ticuiariy proud OF the honor ~ but It Is neverthe
less TACT that this city does take the lead in gradu-
instance. Haaou u 1--WE think he leads the world d.
Probst and Twltchel The murders committed by
these men are probably uneqlaied in the history Of
the United states. Do you see tat bust Just over
the window? That is Pr0bst. The impression was
taken just after his execution and there you see
hlm just as natural as-death. The marx around the
neck was done by the rope. Although he commit
ted horrible crime (murder or the Deering family
he was as different from Hanun as day from night.
Tie gave US no trouble whatever, anl was very re-
pentant. He seemed 10 eei that he had made very
SO lar as tue surrender Of his life could do Hanon
Is ugly cross and morose always finding fault; and
doubt II he has gram OF sympathy IN Pniladei-
phia outside OF MS own family. lie don't seem to
possess the feelings that generally actuate con-
demned mnrderers. He has but month to live,
ye ne don't manifest that feeling and appreciation
OF his situation tnat almost invariably take posses
sion OF the condemned. lie Is, undoubtedly, the
worst man with whom we have ever had to do
CORRESPoNDENr-Tne priest visits him. does he
MI PERxMs-Yes, every day. What takes place
between them i do not know. l only know what
our experiences are
CoRRasroNDgNr-You doubtless have the scalold
OH which murderers are executed.
Mr.. PERKINS-Ies, but 1t Is now taken apart; we
have model which send to sherilfs In different
parts or the State, who, upon beng called on to per-
form the extreme penalty OF the law, lind themselves
noyces IN the art, some OF them never having seen
model In tho lead-coored Dox9" Tne model
was brought down and adjusted. IL Is as fol-
l0wss-"rhe doors are fastened TO two upright posts
at either end. The posts are dovetaiIed TO cross
pieces the ground and cross-bsam on the top.
The doors, winch work by hinges, are supported by
three props The prisoner ascenls the scaffoid with
the priest or minister who alinisters the last con-
solations rcIglon and descends Two OF the props
are removed, ana at gwen signal the sheriff pulls
the remaining prep from the centre The doors fall
apart and the criminal Is launched into eternlty.u
meaoeSi
Mr.. PERKISs-Yes; have quite number; viii
He passed inside the desk railing, unlocked
drawer in til, desk, aud produced from. three
the ropes by which some noted criminals had
met their DEATH lhey were Labelled as ioliows:-
Probst, Jnne s. 1865. The rope by which ProBst
was hung has been cut up to within two inches OF
the moose and given to relic hunters 1t was found
necessary TO Cut the moose, Pr0Dst's neck having
swelled so badly that 1t could not be untiedl Arm-
strong, -, 1858, and numerous others whose
names my curiosity did not incline me to learn.
Mr. PEgKlNs-liere Is PrODsts dream on the night
preceding his execution. 1t was translated by the
German priest and given me:-
PROBSTs DREAM.
In the nightI had good dream, which gave me
great JOY. came into the house where the family
| lived Which | have murdered. | met them all TO
getner; all the eight persons sitting at the tables
and wnen opened the door they all rose from the
| me with the greatest Joy and love, AMI asked me
| where came from and where stayed so long, and
/
| woull give me all want If only would stay with
| them. have seen all the eight persons standing
Its mothers lap, and it recognized me- and 1t smiled
and gave me Its little hand, and then g gos awaSe:
| CoaREsPoNDENr-Mr Perkins, now many con-
| vcts nave you had within the prison since 1t has
been in operation: refer to those actually tried
| and convicted OF crime-not those sent here to
| await trial and who have IN many instances been
| discharged when proved Innocent
MI PERaINs-Me have i,ad 1o,15o convcts in q
| per year.
CoRREsroNpENr-what is the number now con-
| fined within the prison?
Mr.. PERKINS-Ovcr $50.
CoRREsrosDENT-Ha you any murderers await
| Mr. PERKINS-we nave about six in the untried
| department aud four beside Hanlon In the convict
department.
CoRREsPoNDENr-Are those In the convict depart
ment under sentence Of death9
| MI. PERKINs-Yes but Will not be hung. They have
been sentenced In former years, but the Governors
who Were then In oice dld not fix the date OF exc.
cution and 1t Is understood In such cases that the
Ford a negro, was sentenced May 81, 1851 He has
been here nearly twenty years.
CoRREsPoNDENT-ls 1t against the rules OF the
prison 10 allow interviews with those IN the untried
| Department.
Mr. PERKINs--No; you are welcome to interview
Ipassed out OF the onice in company with Mr..
Foote, across the corridor and through two large,
| known my desires 10 Mr. Grub, ke eper OF second
| no0r Tne first man visited was
| kR WHlTESlDE, CELL NO. 1Z
| former constable IN the Seventh ward, sent out
TO arrest negro theI, shot an nnoce Z ma dead,
sonns g M p0' the Tine
| night OF the Slst OF March, 1870. undertook TO
! serve warrant for the arrest OF q man by the
name OF Scott. negro thiel. arrested him at 709
| ST. Mary's street. II was rescued by crowd or
| negro thieves he then ran up Saint Mary's street
towards Eighth. pursued him, and he turned INTO
Cross dYiey and from there into private alley.
| followed him. when crowd OF negro thieves sur.
| rounded me, crying "ihere'5 the White son OF
| - /
danger and tried TO retreat. Cross alley was block
AIDED In every direction. tried 10 get out, but was
| struck III The neck by brick ana tin pan full of
! mud. That staggered me and mechanically threw
| up my hands and discharged the revolver. Harry
Truman a negro thief was shot dead. wish they
! would either discharge me or sentence me; this
I suspense IL killing me. have nearly four years
yet TO serve constable. My counsel think, II ne
would interest himself could secure some action in
| the premises"