The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-04
PARISH PRISON,
A Peep Behind the Bars.

| SAA~'S 49,
Parish Prison and its architecture, no de-
scription of it would carry the picture to
their eye more fully than memory, and to
those who have never seen it We fear our
pen would little aid in correct idea of
either its proportions or figure. We wan
dered down to this hospitable abode of those
who have strayed from their proper paths
like lost sheep, and at the entrance on Or
leans stree., we're kindly greeted by Mr..
Joseph Murphy, who was in charge at the
time. After stating the purpose OF our visit
we were invited to enter, and were conduct
ed into the first corridor. The gate slam
med, the bolt ratified in its bearings, and we
were well secured in the Bastille of New Or
leans.
Being guest in prison and forced in
mate are altogether two different things
but there is littl" pleasure to one under
either circumstances, aud we would hardly
overcome the impression that We were there
to stay-possibly because an old lady, years
ago. had foretold our untimely end in the
moose. Followed By the turnkey, we first
visited the colored female ward. Here we
found some fifty negro women out i'll the
prison yard, enjoying the mornings sun and
luxnriating in an early promenade. In the
cells the floors were scrubbed to white
ness only equaled by some kitchen tables we
have seen in old reb times.
A scrupulous cleanliness was every where
visible, and was most marked, everything
which could possibly tend to faint the air
hidden recesses deodorized. After passing
through the female department we entered
the male. Here we we've frs. struck with
the criminal appearance Of the inmates.
There was a hang-dog appearance about
| their faces, a peculiar blinking at close in
spection, which seemed to show that they
much preferred their retirement to the gaze
of the outside world. We next passed into
the white male division. The yard was
crowded with a heterogeneous mass of
beings, some lying at full length on the bare
stones, some huddled up in corner
wrapped in blankets, and others enjoying a
country walk at a leg stretching gait
Hearts trumps," said scowling scar-faced
man in for burglary, "what do You do, take
it up p and he looked around on the other
three old cases.
"No yer DON'T" said one old cruiser, g no
| slipping that Jack out" and he LAID his
hand on the euchre pack. There was a
smile of recognition at his keenness, and
| the game went on.
| 1t would be difficult for one to say which
wore the most criminal look, the murderer
or the petty larceny thief. In our opinion
| the small thief looked the villain the muir
derer, the gentleman. We saw Earle, one OF
the murdercrs of old Mrs. Sallinger. He
was standing by the water tank, and from
| appearances seemed quite contented. After
moments conversation, he said, expect
YOU have seen an account of that little
affair that happened in here the other day
about robbiDg new prisoner Well, that
was made too much of, for it was only a
little fuss, such as occurs in every prison
very often" Earle spoke of the cleanliness
Of the cells, the strict discipline and the
usual good behavior of the men, but, said
he, ~ wish the newspapers would MT say
so much about me-"
We next called on Garvey, his accessory
in the murder. Him we found sitting at the
book in his hand. After recalling some Of
his past career, when he was tenant of the
writer, Carney seemed to be wrapped in
reflections of his happier days. cob" said
he, "those were good old days, but God is
good, and hope for the best. find every
thing here as good as could be expected in
deed, better than poor fellow like me de-
serves" He looked very thin and pale, and
showed plainly the marks Of his imprison-
ment. Ascending the stairs, we passed the
window through which the rope leads which
sustans the scaffold. The marks of the axe
were visible OF the block, each mark being
the sign of criminals death.
We then entered the condemned cell and
met Sam. Williams. who killed young Ar
mand on Royal street. He met us cour-
teously and invited us in. After the usual
compliments had passed he invited us to
seat.
"Well, gentlemen" said he, al never
thought you'd see me here in the condemned
cell but it was caused by one of those
chances which might not occur again in
thousand years; l am the sufferer"
After we had explained the object of our
visit he seemed to appreciate our call, and
expressed his regret at the sad occurrence,
and stated that no one regretted the death
of Armand more than he did.
"No, sir; his mother doesn't feel worse
about that affair than do. The man who
was the whole cause Of the trouble, left the
city, and got into it hardly before knew
where was. Armand and l were friends,
and never would have had any difficulty
with him but for a coincidence of chances"
After going through the other cells, in one
of which we saw Mrs. Burgess, dressed gaud-