The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-03
PRISON POETRY.
Specimens of the Latest PEN
itentiary Lore.
A Rogue'S Rhyme Logic on His Arrest
and Incarceration.
AT 7 HE M OY A =.
Gallantry and Heroism of a
Closely Pursued Fugitive.
Humanity Stronger than the Fear
Of Punishment.
A Female Rescued from
Ruin and Death.
BIDDY AND PATRICK.
Touching EffusiOn on Love and
Treachery.
Humanity Stronger than the Fea,
Of Punishment.
A Female Rescued from
Ruin and Death.
BIDDY AND PATRICK.
Touching Effusion on Love and
Treachery.
sThe Woman Tempted Me and
Did Eat"

PHILADELPHIA, August 2, 1873.
Just two weeks ago tonight telegram was re-
ceived at the Central Police Quarters of this city
| urging the immediate presence OF the captain,
along with or two detectives, at station
! house located in the Nineteenth ward. At the
| time the telegram came was engaged in CONVEX
| sation with this officer concerning matter Of
| great Importance, with which the readers OF the
| HERALD have subsequently become familiar, and
| wishing to arrive at some definite conclusion be-
fore midnight l accepted his invitation and went
with him to the ward 70 reach the station house
we were obliged to travel across very dingy and
in more than one respect dangerous quarter Of the
| town, celebrated for its brutal population and
stupendOus election frauds. At almost every
corner OF these lower districts we would meet
groups OF men huddled together, but little higher,
| in social scale, than the thievng, murderous
souls of Alaska street and st. Mary's. Their faces
| were as drunken and rcpulsve and their garments
| presented the same wilderness OF tatters as
those we met in the cellars under ground. wherein
many wrecks OF humanity had at last stumbled
headlong to die. Indeed, the station house, at
| which we finally arrived, was but q stones throw
| from the dreadful neighbOrhOod called "Pluck
Hill, where for so many years the most celebrated
criminal upon the annals of crime
BLACK HARRY HAD BEEN CHAMPION PUGILIsT
and thief. Black Harry is dead now. however, and
the locality is not so dangerous it was but the
same dreadful poverty abounds, and around 1t are
| still enacted tragedies OF most inhuman type.
Understanding as we did thatthis was very I'M
moral quarter, we confidently expected to confront
some reckless criminal, brought in from private
brawl or public riot and were therefore very much
surprised to find simply ''sneak thief" who had
that very afternoon been arrested in the act OF
stealing goods. The telegram had been sent ask
inc the presence q the cautain and n low of hia
men for the purpose Of looking up four OF the
sneak's associates, who had thus far evaded the
police.
the captain detailed to various quarters in
which these men were accustomed to be seen his
few sub0rdinates, and while they were away the
ofIlcer and myself found our amusement in looking
over the goods which were concealed upon the
criminal at the time OF his arrest They consisted
for the most part, Of light linen fabrics, hosiery
and gloves, most Of which were marked with the
owners names, And In all probability had been
stolen from clothes lines. Very carefully wrapped
up in a lady's handkerchief we discovered a sheet
of paper, crumpled, soled and torn, upon which,
in chirography almost impossible to read. We
found very remarkable production.
Robert benson, of No. 1926 Vine street, for such
is his name and address, was no new criminal. as
he himself confessed but had been arraigned once
before and led to the Moya, building correspond
ing to our Tombs, under penalty OF Imprisonment
for nine months. By soG1e accident, however, only
a part OF his time was served, and it was while
serving 1t that the letter referred to penned.
1t was addressed to one who was probably a
friend, and what surprised US most it was written
in metre. The letter is so original that think it
warrantable to reproduce it.
RoGUEs' POETRY.
asked for glass OF lager
Likewise a fshDall, too;
He said he hadn't either,
So asked for an oyster stew.
Says he, you've got no money,
And you want to close my eye,"
And this is the way the eight began,
The tenth day Oh July.
Ipicked up glass bottle,
And slashed 1t at his head;
sent him reeng to the floor
Till thought that he was dead.
The fly cops they surrounded me
Ere had a chance to fly,
And they covered me with nippers
The tenth day OF July.
They took me to the station house,
And there lay all night;
The Alderman came at morning,
And saw my awful plight.
Kate Kearney came at sunrise,
And swore that must die
For the assault upon John Carroll
The tenth day oil July.
Then they took me to the Nova
For the space OF twenty days,
And when they brought me up TO Court
Judge Paxs0n to me says
anime months IN the county prison,
Young man, you will have to lie
For the haminering OF John Carroll
The tenta day OF July.'
When entered In my dungeon
My spirits then did fall,
There was naught but iron ratings
And a great big whitewashed wall
The prospects all around me
Did make me heave a sigh
To think OF how they scooped me up
The tenth day OF July.
To tell the tale of the rats and mice
Running along the door,
Is best made known In the hearty way
madly raved and swOre;
But the whiskey here at the Moya
Aud singing make me dry
So now you have the history OF
The tenth day Of July.
The metrical arrangement Of the above is pre-
cisely like the original now at the Central Police
quarters, and in my copy oft have simply cor
rected the spelling and inserted few points Of
punctuation. This accidental discovery upon NV
part opened new field of literature to me- 80 that
asked the sergeants standing about whether they
had ever found upon other criminals productions
like the above. was informed that such was fire.
quently the case, and that down at the Moya con-
victs quite often gave vent to their feelings by
means of poetcal illusions, OF which were
highly ridiculous and others exceedingly sad. I
tnereupon requested the officers to look over the
old letters carefully guarded under lock and key,
and after receiving their assurance that they
would set out along with the captain, la the di-
rection of the Central Headquarters. Upon arriv-
ing there read the poem aloud, it was written.
and much merriment attended It's rehearsal
ANOTHER CASE OF ABILITY AND CRIaINALITY.
The next morning one OF the gentlemen present
the night before placed Ia my hands roll of
SCRIPT informing me, as he did so, that its author
was dead having met his fate hya series OF CIR.