The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-27
LIFE IN THE 70MBS.
Experiences of a Prisoner During q
Residence of Two Months.
EXtOrtiOn and Outrage
PractlSed.
How Prison Officials Manage to Increase
Their Perquistes.

DR.. Moses Jacoby, practising physician residing
and doing business at No. 16l Blocker street, was
on or about the 1st or July last arrested upon
charge not necessary to mention here. lie was
taken before police magistrate sitting ut Harlem.
who after eXami aatiOn committed him, in deiault
OF So 900 bail, to the Tombs TO await the action Of
the Grand Jury. subsequent events demonstrated
his entire innocence OF the charge preferred
against him, and after remaining In the City
Prison for nearly two months he was Aonorably
discharged without trial, and allowed to return to
his patients and family without any Stain upon his
character.
Such, In brei. Is the story which DR.. Moses
JacOby tells OF his misfortune. OF his treatment
while detained prisoner in the Tombs, however,
he speaks with much more energy and profuse-
ness making charges OF ext0rttOn and outrage on
the part OF the officials there, which, II true, would
seem to demand the immediate attention of those
having authority over them. In conversation with
a HERALD reporter yesterday the Doctor rectted
the following
STORY OF HIS EXPERIENCES.
On arriving at the Tombs. the usual preliminary
examination before the Clerk was had, ana, at It's
conclusion that official called out, second Tier
Manl' This brought out q keeper BY the name Of
Duny, having charge OF that tier, by whom was
put in cell with a man charged with burglary.
After remaining there short time, called to the
omcer (Duny) and asked him as favor to give
me cell by myself and said to him, ~ Will make
1t all right with you"
"Wait moment" he said, "and will get you
the best cell on the tier" He returned soon
AFTER and was taken to cell No. sc, which he In.
formed me had been occupied for q long time
by George Francis Train. Subsequently he fur.
nisned me with tumber, spittoon, a locking
glass and some other small articles OF furniture.
l inquired OF prisoner what ought TO give
Duffy, and he answered "Give him So" after.
ward gave the oftcer q 50 noJe, which he put in
his pocket without looking at IT. Very soon alter
tue note was returned to me by one OF the pris-
Oners and within day or TWO Duty came into
my cell and said -
"Doc, this cell IL worth SIS"
"l cannot afford TO pay you that amount at pres
livery well The nrst burglar that comes in
he responded, and walked out. The next day the
burglar came. When stepped out on the corridor
oners DltYy placed his thumb to his nose and
moving his 4, fingers, sald Glow do you like your
The burglar was tried, convicted and sen: to
Sing Sing alter few days. and was alone again.
Then Duffy came 70 the cell ana asked Tor the
"rhe next chance have VIII put couple OF
Soon alter THIS another burglar was placed In
the cell, and when the hour for exercise came
Duffy came to the door LOT the new conner, but
would not allow me to go out and from that time
l was denied the privilege OF exercising such
as Is habitualiy accorded to all prisoners waiting
to Commissioner slerne. Neither PAID any atten-
ton to letters, ana am satisfied the one TO the
Latter WAS mot
ter, who visited me frequently. This brought
Warden Quinn 10 my cell door, when he called
Criminal wha do you wantY"
'T am no crlmliaI,"l said. II have committed
III you don't d, what the ofIlcer tells you,n he
answered, ~ WIZ put you IN the dark cell, ana
with Duly Wen this was over Duny came to
the cell toor AMI said, "well, how much did you
| In an lntervi'w with my counsel, which took
place soon aferI complained OF the treatment
received, anu t called TO Warden Quinn, who
hap ened to be ,aSsing The window OF tine consul
tauon room at lhe moment, and requested him
to treat me IN gentlemanly manner. The only
response Quinn made was "That criminal Is a
/ - liar," anu liter my counsel was gone he
called out to oneD his Oficers:-
''Put tnat fellow IN the cOnvict's CELL"
This was sometime IN the month OF August. I
was Immediately taken and placed IN one OF the
cells on the frs moor devoted to condemned
1eous more lltny ncle IL Is impossible TO con.
celye Of Inevetsaw anything 10 equal 1t. ASH
entered the Warien orderei colored man 20
white wash the no)r which was done immediately.
and so rendering 1T less ha)itable than IL was
before. The damp was oozlns through the walls:
the straw mattress was awe with vermln and
contained something even wGse wnicn mad been
let by previous occupant was placed in there
about Jour O'CLOCK, ana b0tnthe inner and outer
door were smut, 50 was
DEPRIVED OF ALL vErILArIoN
pushed the horrible mattrts one side and sat
down upon the bed and ther PASSED the entire
night MY door was not openl until nine O'Clock
upon 1t with my cane. The igntu atmosphere
OF the cell had induced lever from which | was
G wnom saea a50ass s1GIsd
quested to see the doctor. Commissioner 81 erne
happened to be near at nand a. having received
my cell. told MIN how shaeiuily had been
treated, In the presence OF Warden who was
standing near, aud SAID to hi
"All the crime nave c0mMeQ here Is In re.
fusing to pay money"
and showed MIN the filthy edition OF the mat
tress. He offered to give permit to bring
my own bedding II desired. TOLD HIN Ibid
not wish to stay Ia that niscell to whicn he re-
spOnded:-
COMMISSIONER sTER PowERLEss.
doctor, can DO nOthlnor you. | cannot IN.
teriere with the order OF tnVarden"
,r"nn WIN prove to o yo%1 sla jnat the whole
81 know all that"
and renamed IN the hitbole. DR.. BreXes, the
physician OF the prison, csd little later, ana
Ierred to my old CELL whiovas done. Upon h1s
Recommendation l was United 10 walk two
hours In the yard and iouours eacn day in the
corridor. am satisfied 1t the order granting
this permission came ir0Commlssioner stern.
the privilege was cut on ! snort time however.
and upon my again cOmining TO the Commls,
sioner he SAID he could dOtning more or me.
renamed there subject petty vexssiohs anu az
insults too numerous TO rDunt until the 5th OF
7th OF september, when was honorary uis.
charged having been as lltless OF an offence ~
the babe UNBORN. ,,,
am sailsied that theirs regular ring within
the prison walls and aiIUithe officials lot inthiue
money out Of such pi sons as nave any me aus,
by making their situation, unbearaDe as Possiu,eo
until they are wiling pay. Lev u ueO ene
appearing man be brOugl there ana ne - a. Vhoo
paced IN a cell with sOInthei or our al, miono
very presence Is pestienal, no conveniences are
furnished him ana those ,ivieges ne Is euV,t.su
to under the rules dent MIN unti ne 10 uv',
pelled to pay and this whe there are many vacans
cells; Kept so, am satkeu, Ior tue use VI S s
man who can be made Udisgorge. Inese iaosa
are generally known am0g tue PRISONERS auu a'o
hx IL m a. a