New-York tribune., 1875-10-05
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
CITY PRISON MANAGEMENT.

CITY PRISON MANAGEMENT
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE on CRIME AT THE
roMBs-TEsTINoNY OF WARDEN QUINN AS TO
THE DEFECTIVE CONDITION OF THE PRISON
COMPLAINTS OF VISITORS AND PRISONERS.
The Assembly Committee on Crime yester-
day held at the Tombs. Before beginning the
session the members were shown through all depart,
ments Of the prison by Warden Quinn They expressed
themselves very much dissatisfied with the CONDITION
OF the prison. considering it to be in very bad and hthy
condition.
John Quinn Warden Of the City Prison and the district
prisons testified that he sent prisoners to court on he
order OF an Assistant District Attorney but discharged
them only on the order OF the District Attorney Coun-
se he said are recommended TO prisoners. 1t is mostly
done through the Police Department The minute the
law Laws it's hand upon man that minute lawyers
card Is placed in his possession When person Is oo
fined in the prison friends allowed TO send IN 1oou,
clothes bedding and any other like comforts one part
of the prison sunk and in the rainy season. or when
any waterpipes burst, the water remains In threc
or four cells TO the depth OF several feet The
only distinction made in combining prisoners Is IN regard
10 the class Of crime ana the prisoners Cleanliness AZ
present the total number in the male prison proper
233 accommodated in 130 cells. Both In tle morning
and evening the men can walk for half an hour IN the
tier They are in their cells at all other times Ihe ces
of the women open all day Men who have been CON
fined for many months sometimes allowed to walk IN
the ward Basins placed in each cell, ana the men
may have baths whenever they ask for them shrts'
coats and other clothing are also issued to prisoners
The beds arc generally changed week, but some
times only once every two weeks The witness thought
il would be wise to establish wash-house and employ
the women in washing the prisoners clothes Atpresent
from 30 TO 40 prisoners are employed III dolhs "oIk
about the prison Many Of the prisoners i've IN 'he
prison. sometimes staying month over their ume Inc
witness was positive that liquor was brought into the
for q
prisoners there a messenger named savage VINO
charged the prisoners from so cents to So according
10 the distance TO travelled Stamps, paper ana ell
yelopes were furnished TO prisoners when asked FOR
Mrs Deborah Miett wife Of the rector Of the Church
Of the Holy Martyrs protestant EpiscopaD, testified
that during the past 80 years she had visited the prison
ers from three to four times a week. Although much
good work had been done during the past 10 months the
male prisoners were as general thing in very filthy
condition She had never asked for envelopes stamps
or paper because she understood that was against inc
rule for the institution to furnish them to prisoners
During the past three months stationery was furmshed
She had known Of where the sheets had remained
on the beds for seven weeks at time. She had never
heard OF baths being furnished to the men, In one cell
abe found I've large men, OF them not having had
their shirts changed in several weeks There was no
rule TO compel the men TO take baths FROM 'ilhe
to time prisoners plain that lawyers took fees ana
never did anything for them giI named I'm
had told her that W. f. Howe had taken go lOm heI
and luQ defended her. 1uCIc vert many OthNi
cases beside this The witness had also known cases
where men had been compelled 10 pay 70 10 ee put III
cleaner ,and better cells. Keeper Duffy would pnt
prisoners in dirty CELL saying that they would be will
ing to pay for clean cell before night The witness qua
not wonder that liquor brought into the prison as
convict was placed at the gate to search VISITORS
bribes In the time Of Warden Gray, there, was d
restaurant attached 10 the prison, the prices OF with
were higher than at DelmOnicOs There was now a
restaurant under the charge OF Mrs. roster. IL was
common rumOr that men were taken out a1ter hours
who had money ana influence: A.. 10 ,, ,oo-
n "A
confined on false charge OF conspiracy since jan 10
lie had never been tried, although ne demanded tla
several times. He did not know why ne was not tled
When RAYMOND was the TOmbs he had the run OF the
prison. and acted agent for the Keepers Inc VII
knew OF case where man pau 30 oa III q ce ga 80,
an extra walk. lie had sent letters 10 the man thr0ug
prsOn officials but they had never reached thelr dcS
nation His letters posted by visitors OF ny
Mrs Mlett Stamps were never furnished to him e1
cept by Mrs Millett He had never heard OF pain
since he had been in the institution I -
refused to allow prisoners 10 see counsel HE cose
had called and presented his card but he was driven
from the prison and insulted The witness salu lhe
prison fare sometimes gOod ana someuhes lnls
DR. David Brekes the physician of the TOmbs testified
in regard TO the prisoner FleHs, & TmO ME- e% hd beev
change of routine, and instead Of PERMISSION Dhg gwen
by the DistricAttoney TO remove the man 70 the nos
paI il referred to the commissioners no answer
was received until after the man was dead lhh witness
Thought air baths and more walking IN the yarus
should be given TO the prisoners. fatlek wash su t
Peter link, two prisoners, gave tesuOny cOIroD1rtNe
of the evidence OF Saca. james Bilel steward o 'he
prison. testified that in answer 20 calls rOn keepers ne
had issued about 100 shirts, together WIN Spoons
trowsers coats, etc, within the last three months
Frederick Van Tine clerk of the prison, produced ils
hooks showing that during the last three months %
shirts had been issued No spoons nor coats ana only so
pounds of SOAP had been issued Mr. Quinn SAID that III
regard TO Mr. Howe and the girl Blank. Mr. Howe had
defended her in both her trials. walter savage denied
that he had ever brought liquor into the prison
The Committee adjourned until IL a. H. to-day