The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-01-28
Correspondence Pittsburgh LEADER
THE AsSASSINS' HOME.
An Hour I'm the New York TomDs-
A Crowd Of Jolly Murderers-
Crtuutunln KtIIfDg Time.

A Crowd OF JOIy "urooFoHS
Criminals Killing Time.
New YORK, January IL, 1873.
I dropped into the Tombs or city
prison yesterday afternoon, and after a
visit of an hour came away a wiser and
sadder man. In the first place the
prison is 40 overcrowded with criminals
of every class that the atmosphere is
positively tainted, and the only wonder
is that disease does not perform what
the courts seem unable to do, empty
the cells of their occupants. But by a
liberal and frequent application Of
whitewash, and constant scruhblngs,
Warden Eulley manages to keep his
three hundred odd prisoners in tolera'
bic good health, but it is hard work, as
be and the physician confessed.
The scene in the main or male prison
was very striking, even to one like my
SELF, who had frequently visited prisons.
The corridors are so narrow and the
tiers so many, one above the other, that
the daylight is only feeble. Indeed, the
clerk who keeps the registry on the
ground floor does most OF his work by
lamplight, so you may gain some idea
OF the gloominess of the interior When
| entered the prison it was in the mids!
OF a gang of prisoners VINO bad just
iust come from trial, all securely hands
cuffed in couples, and all rejoicing in
sentences, long and short, to the penl-
Tertiary or State prison. So close was
our brief compaDionship, that had not
the warden been then present / would
certainly stood in some danger OF con-
tinuing with them for examination.
Following the warden up stairs to the
first gallery / found myself witness OF a
most singular scene. 1t was then four
o'clock, and as / looked down at the
deputy sherff's busy al work releasing
their prisoners from the handcuffs, my
attention was attracted to group Of
three well-dressed men, who stood just
be hind the receiving clerk, One OF them
WAS bareheaded, and wore handker-
chief loosely tied around his neck, and
he was busily engaged in discussing an
excellent dinner, which stood on little
table before him. A cup Of coffee, q
boiled bit Of fish and pile OF toast
with other appetising dishes, formed the
repast The leisurely diner was
EDWARD s. STOKES,
who is now under sentence OF death for
the murder of Jim Fisk. His COM
panions we're his brother, a fne-looking
Young man, and one Of the counsel who
defended him at the late trial. Stokes
seemed quite cool and collected, though
he betrayed an air of utter dlstaln for
the rough-looking men near him. They
were quite eager to catch glimpse o.
Stokes face, and we could read in their
faces a morbid curiosity to look upon
the features OF one who had so recently
been doomed to the galIows. Scarcely
had | realized the fact that Stokes was
before me when the warden began
pointing out in very cleverly concealed
manner the notabilities OF the place.
Cautiously rubbing his nose with his
forefinger, the warden whispered, That
Young man on the other side, sir-the
one in shirt sleeves-is Sharkey. He's
the chap people say accidentally killed
aman." Hooked at Sharkey carefully,
expecting to fud him at least careworn
AMI anxious. Judge Of my astOnish-
ment when he smiled in an otf.hand
way as he caught the warden's eye, the
next minute carefully lighting cigar
and continuing his stride along the
gallery.
He seems to take it very eoolly," l
remarked. is that his usual way
"Oh, yes" responded the warden.
None of EN- seem 10 care much. See
that fellow sitting in the chair on the
bridge" he continued, that's King
who shot O'Neill in the lawyers Office
down town because he gave evidence
against him"
turned around and found King to