New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-25
STOKES ANXIETY FOR HIS HEALTH,

The Prisoner Asks for Summer Gvar1ers
in Another PIace-Dampness of the
TOmbs-The Warden Thinks He win
Live Through Ii-Other AIurdsrers
Getting Fat on Worse Fare.
From the New York Herald.y
In view of the fact that application has
been made by Stokes counsel to the com
missioners of public charities and correc-
ton. together with the subioined certifi-
Gates of several physicians that the Tombs
was so damp that Stokes was declining in
health and rapidly becoming a subject to
bronchitis, the writer called upon Mr.. Mark
Finley, acting warden at the TOmbs. yes
terday, to ascertain, if possible, what the
prospect was of Stokes being accommodate
ed with better apartments than be now Oc-
cupies. Mr.. Finley makes several interest
ing statements, OF which the public should
be informed, as will appear below.
Mi. Finley, it is reported that the
Tombs cells are becoming more and more
unhealthy every year, and that in cOnse-
quence Stokes is suffering from bronchitis,
caused by the dampness of his cell and
that his health is generally speaking. on
the decline. Is there any foundation for
such an assertiOnl"
This is the first l have heard of it. But
as far as the place being unhealthy, that is
the last thing yet. Everybody knows that
the city prison is not large enough, such as
it has been for the last seven years, and the
commissioners of charity and correction for
the past seven years in their annual report
have recommended the Legislature to pro-
vide better accommodation for prisoners,
but as yet without effect. There are l48
cells in the TOmbs, and there are now
about three on an average in each cell.
These are likely to remain so, and even
more crowded. because there is no court to
try them until next September. II there
was court held regularly to try them We
should have plenty of room for them"
"ls there any other cell in which yOu can
put StOkesl'
mo, sir; there is not y cell empty. He
had his choice of cell He first moved into
cell No. ST. He was not satisfied with that,
and he is now in cell No. 70. 1t has been
fixed up by his frends-papered ana car
peted, nice bed, with clean Sheets and eve
rything he asks for
Yes, but that don't take away the damp
ness, nor prevent his becoming sick from
constantly breathing the moist atmO-
sphere
"Well, any stone building will get damp
little in snch wet weather as we are hay
ing. There is a large furnace Immediately
underneath his cell. which is kept going
during the cold weather. 1t is dry enough
then. But this weather is tOO'warIn to keep
a fire going"
But could not change be made for
some CELL the occupant of which has but a
short time to stay in prison
Il tell you, with all earnestness. that
Stokes has as good cell as there is in the
prison. The whole amount of it is. he don't
want to stop there. He is getting too much
of it; he is not used to SO much indoor
life"
Gould he not have a room furnished for
him if he paid for an extra keeper"
Il don't know anything about that; that
is not for me to say. But can say this.
If you show partiality to one prisoner every
other one in the prison will cry for the same
thing. l don't wish to show any partiality
to any bOdy-treat them all alike. Give
them plenty to eat-good soup, with pOta-
toes, meat, and other vegetables, and bread
and coffee to drink"
"Stokes does not live on prison fare, does
he ?"
No; everything he has is of the first
class-as good as any hotel fare
Have other persons ever complained of
the dampness of the cells?"
"Never before, to my knowledge. There
is FOster-everyb body knows about him kill
ing Avery Putman-he is in the same tier
with Stokes, and has been for over q year.
lie has not grown thin; on the contrary, he
is getting fat. There was never q death
from sickness contracted in the TOmbs from
their unhealthy condition. Why, there was
Cornell, who was confined here for four
years and six months, sentenced to be
hanged; he came out hearty and tat. Then
there was Sheppard, charged with setting
fire to his house up town, and burning his
wife; he was sentenced two or three times,
finally the Court Of Appeals ordered his
discharge. He was in for about five years.
He came out great deal stoutGg than he
went in"
What cell was Real confined in 2"
The very same one that Stokes occupies
now. He was in there for over two years,
and the day he was led out to be banged
he weighed twenty pounds more than he
did the day he was tried and sentenced,
That You could see for yourself, for you
were present both at the trial and the exc
cutiOn."