New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-11
POLICE PRISON DEFICITS.

TIE DEATHS or HARRIS AND DUNN IN THE JET
PERSON MARKET PRIsoN-A GOOD PRISON IN
HARLEM ALMOST UNCSED-TuE PRISONS EXAM
MED BY SINCLAIR ToUsEY.
Coroner Woltman held an inquest yester-
day in the cases OF George A. Harris, alias Tommy
Dodd," and John Dunn, who died recently from the
effects II is supposed OF bad air in Jefferson Market
Prison The Coroner had impaneed an exceptionally
good jury investigate these cases. aud yesterday they
viewed the &c at the prison. besides hearing evil
dence physicians regarding the nature OF the diseases
OF which the prisoners died The following verdict was
rendered In relation to the death OF George A Har
ris We the jury, having been duly impaneled and
sworn DO after mature delberaton and full inyestga
ton, find that said Harris came 10 his death on
Jnly G. 1874 from pneumonia, supcrnduced by
his confinement 10 cell Of vitated atmosphere
in Jefferson Market Prison and we fnd that John Dunn
came TO bis death on July 3D. 1874 from uremia super.
induced by alcoholism and exposure, and We further
more find that the ventilation OF Jefferson Market Prison
should be reformed the prison is too small for the
numhs- prisoners confined and the ventilation is
perfect"
The cells have already been described in THE TRIBUNE
They are ventilated only by two small bueye windows
the long corridor, the corridor Itself being usually
well packed with prisoners. The ar was 30 sIins that
some Of the prisoners declared 1t would be impossible
for them to live there two days.
The police magistrates of Harlem are not troubled
the fact that excepting the station-house there if
prison in the Fifth District officially recognized as such
by the Commissioners OF Charities anu Correction, VINO
have given orders that until further notice prisoners
shall taken to the Fourth District Court IN Fysev-
enth-st The result is that there not many ar
usual the Twelfth Precinct policemen many OF
whom to duty every morning from Washington
flights and other distant localities not liking the idea or
escortng their prisoners three miles down town to lock
them up especially they required to do 80 at their
own expense. The people Of Harlem had been
long time without district prison fit TO be used The
foundation OF the projected Courthouse building IN
one hundred-and-twenty elehthst, with which Henry
w. Genet prominently Identified Is being changed
for school house. and old District Courthouse in
Fourthaye., near One-hundredand-twenty- nnth-st.,
long since condemned unsafe was abandoned in con-
sequence Of the fatal boiler explosion in FOurthave.
last year. After much difficulty IN procuring suitable
building for the purpose arrangements were made last
Fail by which the city agreed to lease part OF the large
market building in One-hundrcdandtwenty-hl th-st.
between Third and FOurtaves., condition that the
owners should make the necessary alterations. THIS
has been done at an outlay nearly $4,000 ana the
suit achieved is the most commodious and the best
arranged district court-TOoms and prison in the city.
Court ROOM GOx9O is elegantly finished, CON
necrine with smaller courtroom for holding private
examinations; private rooms for the Judge clerk, and
officers with admirably arranged waiting-rooms for
prisoners There is also a spacious apartment where
Judge Josiah Porter tries civil The police cells
are larger than usual and have been built with more
than ordinary regard for the health of the occupants,
the arrangements for ventttion beng especially good
In the basement Is large Kitchen.
Commissioner Mycr Stern told TRIBUN rcporterwho
y. mon him Yesterday to ask why t.ie new district
prison was being used the couriroOms III the same
building having been occupied for some months past,
SAD tbat hru by the Commits, rs the
arrangements for admitting daylight INTO some OF the
cells not satisfactory, and 1t was decided not 10
have the prison occupied ua these ana 0her necessary
| al o
been made. according TO contract. Ihe reporter IN
formed Nj Stern that those changes had been made the
Board had been gwen official IN.
mation to that effect ana that as soon "a they should
receive the same the new district prison would De
In a letter to TnE Tribune Sinclair Tousey OF tho
Prison Assocatlo saya a. henDer OF rue ifis"h A.
prisons OF city, and as these are matters O pnbc
venture to ask tat your readers may have an
opportunity learn something of the condition OF the
places III which are temporarily confined the thousands
who are arrested every i'll city. Although the
inmates these prisons confined but short time,
YET owing the great number OF arrests they are never
An noccapied for the whole q hours and the character
and habits OF most Of the occupants demand that alb
eo,ute cleanliness plenty OF water, ana Icrlcct
veutla,Ion should be- found IN all of ihen TO the end
thar the foul gases aui sckcnng odOrs from unceany
aud badly ventilated cells should not cusender disease
among the inmates, thereby making them greater
uc-c 10 the public. ana what Is Of vastly more concern,
spread disease over the cy. Whcrc me cells lace cIch
otncr there is usually but small space between them.
saw four to tive fcri. possibly BJ;h sCXe. placed
these cells For tnc in.orntton OF tios" not familiar
with station house he II may be proper 10 state That
the term lodging u-od ~ TINS communication refers
TO sleeping places gratuiiousy furnished ny the city to
| eu,l as have other abiding place, and con
siSt OF boards or pianks placed on low IRON
frames, the boards being ahen ~ every morning. after
tue ud gers turned OUT aud TIE floor underneath
the bunk thoroughly washed and when night comes
the again placed on the iron frames ready for
the homeless wanderers that are always Struggling buut
great city. No bedding OF hcdcoyerug 81 any dcscrp
non i furnished In the cold season OF the year hun
drcds persons sleep IN these lodgings but N the
SUMMER but lew occupants are found there. Whrl
ucccs .ary warmed ly furnaces stoves
Sometimes these odgcrs numerous that they
compelled 10 lie almost "a close 10 each other ~ behring's
III q. boA old young, dir;y and drtcr ruIi',Odkri
and tubtccO-s.noaci; sue perpetual rcyul.u tramp
hacked close unfortunate c1fIl, whom sickness
or poverty have sent 10 these lodgings Tor the
first time.
The police prisons wen clelusci. aud kept de-
order by tuOSD C1arS though II Is almost lupD
slie 70 keep OF tncm Ia proper cOndltDn owing
faulty construction ana improper location
cellars. The officers ia charge are willing, ANY
reasonable hour to snow their premises - CT zrn ad
many OF them would feel mucI announcement u re
specialize people wOIld Interest themselves enough to
make occasional visits.