The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-04
THE GRAND JURY.

An Important Presentment-The Condi-
ton Of Our Public Institutions-Thc
Sher1n's Prison Fees.
The Grand Jury Of the Court Of General Sessions
made the following important presentment to Re-
corder Hackett yesterday morning.
To the Hon. JOHN K. HACKETr, Recorder
the Grand Jury, having visited the Bellevue Hos
ptta, the County Jail the House Of Detention, the
City Prison and the Police Headquarters, beg leave
TO submit report, US fOllOws:-
THE BELLEVUE HOSPITAL,
under charge 81 Warden Brennan, was found in
excellent condition. Clearly throughout and the
inmates apparently well cared for. In
THE HOUSE OF DETENTION
there was general cleanliness but the atmos-
pure In one OF them the atmosphere was so very
impure, owing, as Is understood to the imperfect
by considered utterly unit Tor the habitaton OF
any human being We think the least the city
should 40 ior the poor creatures who are held in
comfortable. In this building were observed two
young girls zone foreign subecU, who have been
held In custody as witnesses in homicide cases for
upward OF six months The jury consider IL not
only hardship, but great wrong and an in
cent in custody for SO long period, notwith-
standing 1t may be for public benefit.
II must not to only have demorallzing effect upon
OF idieness, and 1t might lead to vice also, from
associatlng necessarily with the many OF the lower
The inmates are obliged to perform all the mental
services appertaining to their dormiories We con-
should not be subjected to these duties. In
THE COUNTY JAIL. LUDLOW STREET,
It was found generally Clearly, but several OF the
cells were in filthy condition.
THE CITY PRISON,
under the charge Of Warden Johnson, considering
the character OF its ever changing and degraded
inmates, we found in good, cleanly condition but
Tor want Of room many OF the cells were over
crowded, there being two or three prisoners In
The Grand Inquest in view OF the great expense
that will be Incurred IN the purchase OF ground
n daC md nttnnn hntts1 tr,fvo
NEW CITY PRISON.
venture the opinion that no more healthy site can
be found than the present block of the City Prison.
and none more convenient to the courts &C., with
ample ground and would recommend the erection
OF additional cell buildings on the line of Elm OF
The side streets, which would leave ample yard
room, and by the proper permanent Improvement
or the sewerage and waste pipes to tue present
buildings, with proper traps to prevent the eflluva
from arising into the buildings, and to prevent the
same IRON becoming cogged UP. We would there
lore most respectfully recommend to the Common
Council the passage OF an ordinance" asking the
Legislature for repeal of the aforesaid ''act''
prison. d. Il. TURNER, Foreman.
ADDITIONAL PREsEN1MENT-rHE sHERIFF's PRISON
And this Grand Jury tor want Of time to fully
investigate the following subject, would respect
lully peg leave to offer the following present.
ment:-Ihe Grand Inquest have had under con.
sideration
THE BILLS OF THE SHERIFF
against the county for supplies furnished to the
County jail from the LIST OF January, 1872 to the
LIST oil November 1872, inclusive, amounting in the
aggregate TO $2s,457 and with view OF investi-
gazing tue correctness OF the same, have called
upon Warden Tracy, directed through the District
Attorneys office, for the average daily number Of
prisoners confined therein, for the period Of these
bills and the average daily number OF United States
prisoners confined therein for the same time, aud
the amount received from the United States for
their support, which infOi nation has not been
furnished 1t appears that there Is no check what
ever upon the Sheriff or his Warden in the pur-
chase OF such supplies and that the general bin OF
the Warden for monthly supplies are attested and
sworn to by him correct; that the services have
been performed by due authority and that the
prices Just and reasonable and the Sheriff also
certifes that the goods have been received for the
use OF the jail; that the services were performed
and that the prices were just and reasonable. And
the certificate Of the Board OF Supervisors declares
the bills to be audited and allowed, and direct the
Comptroller to pay the same. Section 2, chapter
$40 or Laws OF 1S47, reads as follows =
Town Auditors Supervisors or superintendent of
the Poor Tor any services or disbursements unless
such account shall be made out in items, &C."
Accompanying the bills herein referred to there
are
NO RECEIPTS OR VOUCHERS,
and many OF the articles are named that no
auditing OF the same could be had, the prices
were stated simply In gross, without items, guam
ttty or price per gallon, pound or gross There
tore In the absence OF such items bills or vouchers
and the absence OF weight or quantity OF many OF
the goods, was not such auditing fraudulent,
tom Is nS as IN snS mo c6nmpe
phes, the Grand Jury have taken las they believe,
Cnmpetent testimony that the prices charged in
Snese DIS were rs per cent above current rates,
ana II the daily average number of prisoners had
oeen furnished this body, as required, we should
nave oeen able to ascertain the cost per day the
In conclusion, the Grand Inquest would recon-
mend TO the Board OF Supervisors the contract sys
plies and the household regulations of said County
JAN. ID. b. TURNER, Foreman.
After the Grand Jury had made the presentment
they were discharged BY the Recorder, VINO warmly