The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-05
SECRETS FROM THE T0MBS,
TOLD TO a LEGISLLTITE INTESTI-
eating COMMITTEE
Privileges aud even Laxury for the Rich and
Privation and Filth Tor the Poor Fnvor-

iht NhhtNusn Nndt NONtEtu iHt luufT
walls OF the Tombs Yesterday did not modify
the pestilential smell that peryadcd every cor
ridor. Chairman Campbell OF the Assembly
Investigating Committee held his nose as he
looked in on the dens in which girls aud
women grown were swelterinR on a cool Octo-
Der dpy. In the kitchen kettle OF stew was
boiling. The pestilential smell seemed to per
wade the very steam from the vlctuals, and had
a nauseating effect.
The first tier Of the mems departments. west
Of where murderers hanged, rather
empty, there being no condemned persons, and
only few cases Of insanity aud delirium. The
second tier Ia nearly full OF m urderers, and the
upper third and fourth tiers Of persons awaiting
trial for fclonics. The cells had been white
washed and the prisoners strictly warned to
keep their mouths shut.
After walking through the corridors. the COM
mittee went 20 the apartment in which the pris-
oners meet their lawyers.
Warden Quinn testified that h had held the
ONCE since 1879, and that his duties were to keep
the prisoners 10 safe custody, feed them, and
maintain their cleanliness and health ~ far US in
his power. and to obey any order Of a court, or
Of the District Attorney. The orders from the
District Attorney did not come direct, hut
through a clerk. lie added would not dis
charge prisoner on an order from an Assistant
the Dis riot Attorney, signed ny a clerk. Pris-
oners are sent to the General and Special Ses-
sions under charge OF court officers and to the
Oyer and Terminer under charge Of the Sherin's
deputies. know OF no law authorizing court
officer 20 take prisoner from the rombs Prs-
oners are sometimes taken from the Tombs 10y
Roy ABOUT SIXTEEN YEARS CT ACE
employed In the District Attorneys ofllce, and
having an order from the District Attorncy.
They are always bail cases, aud have never
our hours ore from 10 to o'clock for receiving
visitors, though IN case OF emergency We admit
persons later have sometimes allowed coun-
sci to client as late as IN the evening.
and sometimes relax the rule IN favor ~ YER
sons who wish TO see friends about to oe sent
away.
Mr.. Townsend-It has been rumored that certain law.
yer have free access herep Al dom know one from
ismpcr with the clients Of other lssyer, found me
Pn syhs 9n 70 ne en spI o
had previously engaged the counsellor who wished 10
mended them the polieesi lions and police courts.
lin sofors sywor % MIN have nc doub
that LAWYERS pay commission for such sugsesi'ons
eS%Psq that asr nav: p,s sCaSSs tS:
ar common IN regard 70 fees psid ~ police courts
Q-po your keepers recommend la~ye.sy A;-Sot
haa received colnmis-on Tor recommending lawyer
o"is Il true that prisoners are put into poor cell
ss ,yi here mn 9sy Psy @S1sy 70 Be put into
Lsete s rcst STan, hsp! ey MT f,o,Ssr connects
os II true that in order % eomPel prisoners 10 eat
from Ms Foster; restaurant you DO not sllSs their
Kind OF healthy food except liquids such az tea eone
T,.Ss sSo .sii. @siesS' and ,oeasco, Al time
up wish ssrdine boxes. and had to stop that
LIVING TOMB.
o-I understAnd that OF the Tombs sunken,
sl ce of' are sensrS VET ana sersoe not used
The building is eureiy TOO small ior ine number Of
!, ABOUT toe best. We keep the Who SENTENCED
ISLAND and did 70 up .s.ir; sSoSs PTS
es In N aRpss s are rs sS south s spse si
senteneed prisoner aud In the north end for Insane
- Iods h.ys 700 known people 20 Ss held After
seqeSn hASs saa cone nae a ~ ny
ear on, An appeal has been taken m his case. Ths
s' the her sa. sS the second o. the 'Ad TO-
the sIs SSc are The neTe e 10 f ecu for
one person In putting prisoner. 'ossther the Sal DIS
, @s9 S9Sns s ar ss9s
marion. Prisoner have nothing 10 occupy shelr time
nave you never heard Of P,'one,1s paying FOR the
Afa The case "Sa jodP rSo -.
psss hers . ~. e var, rom o '
nsss: 10 fee Rsnss %, S9 Thin ss to feet
s se ss prisoners % T9, ~. he
The Oeiei oa6es are changes once wees. FeaG. out
aide supply Prsoner With sSShs s ISsrs are .eUs.
fop ave gay TO %1s s1E a1S a1s, yis,ns
eonvictsd of breaking prison.
9-lsit eastouaIy ioI a messenger named s.vas. TO
6oIiie9 Al have not heHrd OF any charge Of mat
goP SspYsSi s e s 50
DRuSKENSEss IN THE TOMS.
when nrst came 10 the prison found men stagger
ng aTuaE around me '1rd rrn s' once 'ioPRs9 .ne
brought in vhisEey. as soon as found him out.
Mrs. Julia Millette, an elderly lady dressed in
to prisoners Ia the Tombs for thirty-ave years,
| testified:
| have found the prison .rcsedInsy nl,hy. though
can be Kept just and clean by common stien.
Of baths shd Of something win wen some
Deter TO s % h sn Shr 81 se d Su .ao
g%sn' many hs PT'Tns.s SHs S es l' ., con
Slta sfit Hs' p.per that something ne. to ne
sys 5 The the pS 20 1qf Sey
9gd hardly ye TO ase s. .e oe have
pleasant notice g send to private house where there
o'-Hov about eiesnliness2 A.--Gyo them sheets
once week Instead Of once fortnight have found
main on The bed sithou washing unit they we're worn
G N there Se ef no ST sc UPON Se
sheets have known sheets to be unchanged tot
% S' we're told %sf1 S s Sg NO
have bah He s1sges.ed ina, might MAKE them
shirts to cell where there nye large all with
dirty clothing but the shirts didn't there and had
give the men ten cents apiece TO have their shirts
washed.
| THE WOMAN WHO TOUCHED THEIR HEARTS.
| O-Is there any rule by which those who not do-
PRAYED can Kept apart from old onendersP Al
mink there should be line drawn. There are a mum
Der Why not put the depraved ON one tier and
the others who charged with crime for the hrst
time on oher tiersp These keepers seem 20 think
don't cheat me. | ma that after they know me they
always keep their promises. There Ia manhood IN
every man, however deep down and hardened over It
Q-Have you heard prisoners complain OF their treat.
mont m gard TO counsel Al have heard that the
keepers advise what lawyers to get ana prisoners
frequently complain bitterly that the lawyers get their
money aud DO no service for II. also know thIt
prisoners pay - TO get from poor cell Into clean
one. One prisoner told mt mat when Dufy, Keeper,
put MIN into cell, Duify said Youll squca before
night" asked the prisoner what sque'l' me- ant.
lie said that II meant that he would complain and be
ready 70 puay before night told me me- keeper
that tier that the nrst time found hun taxing 80
OF for changing people from cell to cell
would report him to the Commissioners.
| Q.-CAn yon name any person now IN the Tomhs who
mas had to pay for changing cell2 A.-ies, bat he
told he afraid that N his name he would
be treated cruelty nterward The prisoners afraid
to complain While they are here There are many In the
| tier low that have paid.
| Q.-The warden says that friends permitted to
send IN food without trouble At Ia not 10 have
Known prison officials 10 prevent the bringing IN of
fresh and IKE innncunus food, ana persons are
not allOWtd 10 send out for dinner supper. They
I UauHa lnUl Ia Inv NWAVn