New-York tribune., 1873-03-03
THE AMATEUR CoNvICTs STORY.

THE AMATEUR CONVICTS STORY.
Well, the cause of my compulsory sojourn op
the island is somewh OF mystery 70 me 10 this mo-
ment But have stumbled into Of those hidden
pitfalls that lie in path through life, and the expe
rience could not well have been purchased at cheaper
rate.
am stranger in this city. Last August arrived
here To spend a short vacation and taken IN hand
by two young men, who undertook the hOsptlble duty
of showing me the elephant" as they termed it, We
visited the Central Park and theaer and closed with
a champagne supper in fashionable restaurant mp
town. The next morning I awoke in a cell In jefferson
Market NV feelings indescrDablel After several
vain attempts 10 collect scattered senses. began
vigorous kicking my cell door, aud was rewarded by
yOey Of oaths and mpreca0ns from some unfortunate
felow-prisoner in a neighborng cell. whose besotted
slumbers had evidently disturbed. Pretty was
ushered Of the court up stairs Irrey-
erent may this resembed In It's Interior
fittings miniature church, but the congregation assem-
bed were the reverse OF church members Prostitutes
we're flirting with their admirers, or dashing around
restlessly their greasy. spangled silks There was
Door wretch who had evidently become total wreck
on his pilgrimage 10 the shrine Of Baccnus, and was
aoundering in the maelstrom Of delrium tremens. He
possessed the hallueinaon that he had departed hs
world and undergoing spiritual process of purin-
cation preparatory entering heaven. His exnorta-
tons 70 around him most earnest aud inces
but while MS eccentrictes were ZfaclOuEtJ
ated by some and his appeals listened TO with pity rhey
we're roughly repealed By others with an OATH
FARcEs IN THE LOWER COURTS.
The court az length opened and congregation
grew thin. Ny name called in due course, and
expected hear the charge that was entered against
me- But was simply ushered 10 the clerks desk and
quested 10 sign printed legal document, by which
agreed TO postpOnement OF my trial. felt 20 com
petey be wdered my situation that believe would
glv my lpa
Market blocks for execution II had been requested
was escorted down stairs 20 cell, where There was
huge dirty mattress filed with straw aud bed-bngs.
lay there three days. aud during that time was Afforded
an opportunity OF collecting my reason. which had so
ruthlessly banlshed and also Of studying the various
species Of animated nature which infested the place
Ny pockets had been riHed or purse and papers,
and I found that I could not commu-
nicate with friends without the prepayment or
81 20 the messenger Another brute in bare feet and
shirt sleeves who acted keeper finding that had no
money with which 20 Dribe him, treated series
Of prosecutions Finding my hands tied, resolved TO
wait patiently until they should be looseneI in The pro
cess OF law.
On the third day was hustled into line with select
party OF criminals preparatory 70 beng transferred IN
the BLACK Maria" the Tombs. Up 10 tas time had
no idea OF the charge standing against me- and had no
means OF ascertainng it, but -coulectured that IL
must be something more serious than iDtoxicatiou.
we were packed into a hiSh wooden pen in the court
room and when those who had been committed for trial
from the other districts OF the city added 70 our
number the aggregate sweled 20 g. The weather
was intensely hot and this number being rs closely
hacked as sardines a box, breathing became almost
impossible But the moment the crank Of that judi
ciary machine, the Special Sessions began 10
turn we were ground out with alarming eX-
pedition. There three Police Justices on the
bench aud really it seemed from the rapidlty Win
which they disposed OF the culprits summoned before
them as il they expected sudden death that saturday
afternoon while eternal salvation depended the
disposal OF batch OF unfortunate wretches some
were dismissed at sight no what the charge
against them II nobody appeared 10 prosecute, while
others received their sentences with similar expedition,
The consequence that many who admitted their
guilt in the box. before trial, an3 being professional
criminals expected heavy sentences, were discharged,
and thus enabled pursue their OF crime. on
the other hand noticed that Others whose conscences
had led them expect dismissal. received the full
penalties The strangest feature OF the proceedings
that those who Immediately pleaded guilty 70
the charge against them, and thus saved the
delay OF examination received the lghtest sentences,
and subsequently learned from habual criminals that
the universal among the brotherhood of thieves lie
to plead guilty always whether guilty not for in that
case they punished invariably by only two or three
mouths OF incarceration for petty larceny while IL they
plead guilty, they certain TO receive nve OF
six months. There Is Q lawyer in this city, well and
favorably known ell thieves, and recognized their
champion who seems. az any time. by simply ap
pearing in behalf OF criminal. have his client dis
missed or a charge OF burglary highway robbery
dueed 20 petty larceny which the accused 70
plead guilty fee OF from $50 to 800 Is necessary To
purchase this privilege and the thieves who know this
generally 20 for high stakes 70 enable them. captured
70 pay this out OF the proceeds OF their booty.
SOMETHING LIKE INDECENT HASTE.
f~fal NJ
was length called noticed that the Justices gave
themselves scarcely sufficient time TO look at The
Clerk excitedly asked Guilty, or rot guiltyp
inquired "0f what chargep The policeman who
had arrested testified 70 having Olsen
tangled me from lamppost and conveyed
me 20 the ssation-house. I was about 10
address the bench elfdefense. when the words six
months rowled out from one OF the magisteriai
mouths. was tapped the shoulder by o policeman.
put 20 right about and escorted TO she rombs sur
roupded by the shadows OF despair and death. i was
Immediately placed In q cell with young man xho on
Ri~ka