The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-26
TALLY-HO! THE GRINDER.
A Returned Prisoner on the Judges and
Commissioners Convicts with
Political Influence Get Out
Some Spicy Revelations.
A New Use for Patent Clothes Pins-Ap.
plying Them TO the Ears Of Re-
fractOry Prisoners.

In our prisons should always ne the great incentive
OF those having authority over them, and where a
word OF kindness friendly act can accomplish
anytime 10 make the criminal better, to awaken IN
his caoused heart a longing to change his mode Of
life, to rise ont of the miie OF sin and above the
stain that attaches to the convcts garb it should
be uttered or cheerfully rendered, instead Of
HARsBNEss AND CRUELTY.
How often have Incidents been quoted to show
that even the most hardened criminal is capable OF
receiving advice ana acting upon it when 1t is ten
dered by one whose manner shows that he or she
feels for the misortunes OF this class of persons.
The most thoroughly informed, who nave made
prison discipline a study, cOncede that gentle at
fcntions and kindness can do more with most
offenders than brusqueness and cruelty, but rarely
In this city Is this theory carried into everyday
practice. On the contrary we too often hear of
brutalties at Sing Sing, the school ship Mercury
and Randall's Island that indicate aXity OF disci-
pline and an utter disregard of
WHAT Is DUE FROM A KEEPER
to the helpless victims IN his custody.
The revelations made In the case Of young Dunn,
who killed keeper in the House of Refuge for long
continued cruelties, and the religious
INTOLERANCE OF POPE JONES,
have called the attention Of the public to our
reformatory institutions which many believe de-
grade and harden the inmates in vice rather
than Inducing them to reform.
Rnmors Of Irregularities, OF expressions and Of
Insults to the deenceless criminals in other inst
tutions have been rife at times, and many believe
that careful inspection OF them would show that
great reforms are needed; that the same brutal.
ties would be shown to prevail more or less in the
su,ss,>. II1 Esyr,TrSrIAEy AND woR1norsE crT''-
on Blackwell's Island go =. ..:ss
With view OF ascertaining any facts on the
subject u reporter OF the HERALD was deputed to
go to the Island, and without divulging his motive,
learn the actual condition of the prisoners, their
treatment, &c., from them This is a task of great
difficulty, owing to the damaging revelations made
in the trial OF Dunn, which has put the keepers Of
the prisons on their good behavior, and the fact
that the Commissioners OF Charities and Correction
arc
AFRAID TO ALLOW VISITORS TO CONVERSE
with inmates, and carefully prevent all intercourse
Nevertheless the reporter paid several visits to the
Island incognito and made inspection ofthe Work
house. but was cautiously Swallowed by the keepers,
30 that there was but little opportunity to ascertain
from the inmates their treatment. He, however,
was informed by one woman who has been there for
some weeks Of some
EXPRESSIONS IN THE FEMALE DEPARTMENT
that should be remedied.
care you treated well hereP" asked the reporter.
have led before got into the embraces of Black
Maria,'"
''Do you get enough to eatf"
sswhist there is the head man, Mr. Kean, watch
ing us; wait till he passes," said the woman as she
disappeared in cell.
After the warden had passed, casting suspicious
chances at the reporter, and being treasured by the
circumstance that gentleman dressed In style
with hands cncased in tight-fttng kids, and with
out any note book pencil could not be reporter
the woman came out and said to a lady who was
taken by the reporter specially to throw OH susp-
cion and gain an entrance to the woman's ward
''There is usually enough to eat, SIGH as 1t s but
arrah mushal fat STUFF 1t is. 1t isn't nt for a
pig, except the bread"
"what is the usual fare-breakfast for instances"
"Bread, which is good and cooked on the Island,
and coffee. The coffee is horrible" and putting her
hand to her stomach, "whn attempt to swallow 1t
1T COMES RIGHT UP AGAIN.
Sometimes they give us niger molasses, to
render the meal eatable."
'What do You have for dinnerH'
"A chunk of bread and SOUP"
''What Is the soup made orr
'The devil and the cooks Only knows. 1t looks
ike corn meal, water and onions boiled together
into hodge-po:ge."
"Do you get any meat with itY"
"Somctmes little rump beef boiled into scraps
It's what they flavor the soup wid."
"what do you receive for suppers'
"Bread and the black coffee, we calls
TAR DROPS
Sometimes they gives us some mush BESIDES just
Tor a change, ye see, chi"
''What do you do with the sickf'
"They're taken out and sent to the hospital.
They are all fetched down from the wards to the
a ~ cd md vnft
can scarcely walk that far.n
"But II a woman is so sick she can't get up to 90
TO the doctors roo H. whit thenY-
"Begorrah, there is no hip for her; she must get
mp. Thems the rules. and must be obeyed.
THEY'LL FIX HER IF SHE DoNT.r
s'How fix herS'
"Force her ont Of bed or punish her."
s'who are those women locked in the cells7-
'sThm's women sint from here to work as ser.
wants ut Billvue and other institutions who dou't
like 1t, and refuse to work. They lock 'em up as
punishment, all In one Gill;"
"And IL they still refuses"
'Then they 20 to
THE DARK GILL,
ana are put on bread and water till they do"
''Show us the dark CELL"
The woman led the way to whitewashed CELL
into which the reporter entered; but the atmo-
sphere, even with the door open, was so oppressive
that he could remain but an instant. Ten hours con-
nnement, with the light and air excluded, would
kill or cure the most refractory The only air
obtained Is by Sax inch nue, running up through
she walls.
GLOW long do they keep them in that vile densn
"Ihe time Is forty-egit hours but Mr.. Costello,
who has charge OF this department, is humane, and
racintly don't keep lem In 1t at night.n
Here the keeper was seen approaching, and the
woman lodged into her cell again.
Proceeding to the chapel, o number OF female
prisoners were found sewing. One Of them con.
nred the statements OF the bad fare, and said tnat
no knives nor forks were given 10 them that the
ing
THE RELIGIOUS CARE OF THE PRISONERS,
she said that there were Protestant and Catholic
services every Sunday, and that the Catholics were