The New York herald., 1874-07-15
POISONOUS PRISONS.

The Dasgr~ceful Condition OF Jefferson
Market Prtson-What Inhumantty
and Carelessness May Lead To.
The condition OF Jefferson Market Prison. as haS
been frequently pointed out in these columns Ia
something disgraceful The ventilation In this
prison Is so bad that the city authorities hav0
been, over and over again, emphatically censured
by coroners' juries for allowing prison to exist
which endangers the lives OF those who are placed
in it, and which is certainly glaring contradlc-
tion OF the humanitarian spirit Of the age. IL Is
difficult to paiate or excuse the orenee COM
mit:ed in this instance by the authorities who
are vested with the power to reform all
such abuses. great many men and women
are placed in cells for trivial offences,
such as drunkenness, disorderly conduct &C., and
even though they be innocent their health and
their very lives are jeopardized by the foul air aDf
the many other fragrant defects Of the prisons
This should certainly not remain so any longer.
and the Grand Jury should take prompt action N
the matter in order to
REMEDY THIS GREAT EVIL.
There are some cases in the Jefferson Market
Prison. in every other OF the police court PRISONS
in this city, which appeal with particular .orce Of
patnos to the sympathy of the kind hearted and
generous Men dragged every day into cells
who are, in point Of education and respectability,
far above the grade Of the average prisoner, res
spectacle fathers of families who, perhaps,
were picked up rom the sidewalk by some
waen rom in * e
Ger Of the law, with his usual discrimination ana
sagacty declares that 1.-The man is drunk" and
he Is forthwith dragged into one OF the foul,
wretched ces-there to rot, and, maybe, to die.
1t would be bad enough If such cases were to hap-
the amenities and refnements OF civilization arc
yet in their infancy, but when prison In New
and cuture-is found so sadly wanting IN all tho
simplest requirements of humanity and justice 1t
rhe e Grand Jury which takes up this subject may
with propriety be reminded OF the good example,
BEEN SET BY A SIMILAR BODY
in such an out-Ofthe-word place as Charlottetown,
Prince Edward Island. There the complaints were
made not about the prison attached to a police
court, but about the shameful condition OF the
Lunatic Asylum The Grand Jury visited the asy-
lum and their Investigations afforded them sights
which, for the credit OF humanity and mercy, be is
said have rarely been equalled on this side OF tho
made on the subject they declared that it was
dlcult to ask the Court to believe tnat an lnstitu-
0m 80 Woud s neo 70 exsr ronnd IN
q ' young woman entirely max; naked hiding her.
self on the floor beneath some broken, dirty
straw. The stencil was unbeaIable There were
horrible pools on the floor, evidently the accumu-
gallons The poor, lorlorn creature endeavored to
hide herself In the filthy straw. The only article
she had upon her was Il rag tied closely round her
neck, with which she could easily have strangled
herself.
III announcer cell, ABOUT tne same size, duOtucE
young woman was closely confined.
THE STENCIL WAS so UNBEATABLE
that none OF the jurors could remain there longer
than few seconds. In this cell there was not
! even the dirty straw, but the poor creature lay
upon the bare boards III a state OF hlth which was
slckenng. In another cell on the same level and
OF the same dimensions, six by seven feet, they
| found an elderly woman; but common de-
! cency" restrained the Grand Jury from
! giving the details OF what they witnessed. The
whole asylum was In a state OF filth, and the stencil
was such that some OF the jury were Ill Tor hours
alter inhang It The keeper of the asylum
/ occupation OF joiner for his present posi-
ton. He showed no evident unwillingness TO
allow the Grand Jury TO see the victims. In con-
ClusiOn they ay:-'SOme one mast be responsible
for this terrible state OF things and beg
spectully to ask the Court where the responsibility
really lies and If it be competent for US 10 prefer
an indictment against the guilty parties in order
not only that punishment may be awarded where
1t is so Justly deserved,
BUT THAT THE UNFORTUNATE CREATURES
OF whom we have been speaking may be rescued
province be relieved from the foul and shameful
disgrace which now rests upon it,"
Tnls Is the language which ought to be used in
relation to such pest-hOuses as the Insane Asy lun
In CharlOttestOwn and the Jefferson Market Prison.
They shame the very communities In whose midst
they are allowed to exist, so that every citizen
should feel bound to effect the proper improve
ments and reforms. There Is no doubt that the
Grand Jury could put stop to the abuses in the
JEFFERSON Market Prison. and 1t Is their duty to
take the measures which are necessary to imme-
dlately accomplish that worthy object. The great
city OF New York cannot afford to be disgraced BY
hora aha NH