The sun., 1873-03-01
kns MACK no1B OF xzw FORK.
Len Resiins In the Poisoned Dupaeens, and
the Distriet Attorney Unaware Of their
. Existeuee-A mother Lite saved The Grand
4 Iury's Timely Escape.

Len Rssfins In the Poisoned Dupaeehs, and
the Distrtet Attorney Unaware Of their
Exis,enee-A mother Lite saved The Grand
Jury's Timely Escape.
The cells in the Tombs were not so wet
yesterday as on Wednesday. The soft snow had
soaked through the walls, but the water had
been dried up by the fires and mild weather.
Spurred by the SUNS exposures, the Commits
sioners Of Charities and Correction were early
In the prison Yesterday, and they also sent
inspector to make an investigation. The Grand
Jury also visited the store sycophagus, but 1t
was not until after ~ O'Clock, at which hour
they were discharged. The Grand Jury's visit,
therefore, was unofficial, and will result In no
effort To mitigate the suncrings or decrease the
mortality Of the Inmates.
, In describing tho horrors Of the city prison,
The Sun reporter has been influenced by motives
Of humanity only, and haa neither made nor
meant any reflections upon the commissioners
keepers who have charge OF the Tomhs.
Warden johnson strains every nerve to make
The prison clean aud comfortable as the sur
roundings Will admit, and he Is ably assisted by
his subordinates, from whom he exacts strict
attention to their duties.
No accusation OF neglect can he Justly made
against the Commissioners, for neither they nor
their agents can mako tho Cobtre street pest
house a prison Ut for the confinement OF human
beings. These gentlemen have an erroneous i'm
Condemnation Of themselves, and acting under
This delus'on they were happy yesterday to point
out the wretchod cells DESIGNATED In The suN,
and say, "They are not NO bad as represented" )"
But they neglected to add that Thursday was
stormy, while yesterday was dry and warm; The
mrymen did not view Onc-thrd OF the cells he
foro they became dlsWisted Then, fearing
longer to risk their lives In the vast sepulchre
they quilt It, expressing the opinion that II is un-
ht for use.
Henry Wilson wat arrested on the olst for hav-
Ing stolen goods IA his pOss essiOn. Wilson dis
likes the Tomhs. ono weeks confinement there
convinced him IL was not healthy retreat Hav-
ing a desire to live n few months longer he yes
terday escaped from his keeper while being
taken to court. When his Cell-niates heard OF II
they exclaimed: One life saved, anyhow
Mr.. Allen. chief clerk In the District Attor-
neJ "a ONCE. says there are but twonty-one prts-
oners In the Tomb, %ySo are awaiting trial In the
General Sessions aud that i've Of this number
oners confined In the dungeons. viii the au-
thOritics give the public information about the
remaining 356f Tue SrN will tell them OF two
cases in point as follows: few days ago
Counsellor W. 7. Knitting went into the District
Attorneys Office and said that one Betncsiein
had been prisoner since last september lie
asked to have the case looked into. An ot1cer
who was sent for Bcrnestein returned with the
intelligence that no such man was In the 1umbs.
A second search discovered the prisoner In a
cell on the top tier. lie had been there 50 long
that he had been forgotten even 10y the keepers.
When taken before the court hc was discharged,
rs there was not a shadow Of testimony upon
which to hold him.
Yesterdays SuH mentioned the case Of Fran
cisco Martin. He was committed In August last
for shooting his wife. Mrs. Martin recovered
and went out two months Agc. An examinatlO Ion
of the calendar In the District Attorneys ONCE
was made yesterday, but the name of Francisco
Martin was not found. Indeed. the papers have
never been sent to the District Attorney, and
but for THE SUNS notice the pris oner might
have rottcd In his cell while waiting for trial.
The Tomhs victims are anxious To Know how
many OF their number have been similarly
treated.