The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-04
THE HOUSE OF DETENTION.
a MONTHS BoARDING IN THE Null
BERRY STREET HOTEL.
rhe Js,i for Witnesses who hive neither
Money nor Priends-An Interesting Ex-
perteuce-One Captive who was Content.

Nhe Jaw lot Witnesses VINO uHVe
Money nor Priends-An Interesting Ex-
pertcuce-Ope Captive who was Content.
To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Str
Among several misadyenturcs that befell me
short time back was months Incarceration In
the House OF Detention for witnesses. Like
many othors. had often before felt inqutitiye
about the manner OF life led In such places, but
less than a weeks trial OF IT surfeited NV curl
osity. on the west side Of Mulberry, midway
between Broome and Spring streets, towers
large six story building. with pressed brick fac
ing, abundant stone trimmings, and snowy
Mansard roof in stately contrast with the dingy
structures around II. Two large folding doors,
each at the head Of half dozen stone steps,
break the front OF the building. ON the tran
som window over one Of these CLEAN, In gilt
letters, the words, "lith Precinct Police sta
ton" while n circular brass plate on the other
bears the inscription, " House Of Detention for
Witnesses" The lattor door. through a small
hall, leads into a broad passageway that runs
through the building At the foot OF the staircase
conducting to the upper rooms stand an oaken
desk and pivoted arm chair, the latter usually
clasring In Its snug embrace the Ianitor's portly
form. The front room ON this floor is plainly
furnished as parlor, and the rear neatly fitted
up with black walnut desk and chairs. as an
ONCE Tor the sergeant In charge Of the building.
The large Windows Of this once look across
Tagged and confined court yard, on a level with
the basement, hut the vision Is checked by
another building, ave stories high dinghy white
washed, with windows securely barred The
nrst story Ia hidden from gazers In the ONCE by
q high board fence. bi,ecting the court yard
front Of Il the female. The two sexes strictly
separnted; ne women occupying me upper por-
confined In the barred structure In the rear. A
large tagged hallway In the basement of the rear
building opens into the common layatury, con-
taininR, besides few rude toilet appurt enances.
anunber of laundry troughs for the use OF those
mr. In lakt Ina nAi lArt
nor friends to get their washing done outside,
ore willing to do II themselves
upper floors. The second, third and fourth
have each three rooms. Al every land
right and the other TO the left. each
Into narrow, white-washed room extending
half a dozen beds. ranged ike cots in a hospital
against the wal opposite the cntrince This
Ing his rounds, dim view Of his charges
through the gate harr. A small Intermediate
ntted out with a single chair often an object Of
considerable contention. and long pine bench,
ass common sitting room for the dwellers ON
divided hall furnished with settees. tables and
stools, cards checkers and chess, for the general
On the arrival Of prisoners from the police
court, the Coroners Inquest. the District Attor-
ney ONCE, or occasionally from the Police Gem
trail Office, the officers cunvoying them deliver to
the janitor the commi tments on which they are
to he held In custody. These somewhat disin-
Renuously set forth that the prisoners having
refused to appear as witnesses In cases therein
named, are To be kept IN confinement until the
trials come on, in default of bail. which ranges
usually from Sln to Sl.tOJ. The new corners
Invited to deposit their money and other Valua-
bies for safe keeping, and are required to sur
render any writing materials IN their possession.
duced to the sergeant. their names registered
and beds ass gned tn them, after which they are
nj liberty to be interviewed by the companions
OF their temporary confinement These usually
belong TO the ranks of labor, skilled and UNI
skilled the few exceptions being CLERKS unem-
plOytd and therefore friend Transient visit
ors to the city,whose lack Of local acquaintance
prevents them from getting bail ana accom-
States evidence. The number Of witnesses av-
eraves during the year nearly twenty males, and
somewhat less than han that number of To-
males.
The social hall that crowns the rear building
IL the favorite luunging place OF the former aud
their time Is passed there. Even the few too fas-
cercmonious. proletarian herd are soon led To
forget thelr srruples by their desire to escape
from the dreariness Of their own company. The
sixe OF the room and the vast prospect from II.
illlmitable skywaJds and horizontally extremely
extensive athwart nclghhoring roofs and chin
ney-, wonderfully tighten the depression Of
compulsory confinement. and often lmpari u
sense Of relief aud exataiiun that sets heart
thought ana tongue INTO lN.k motion. Here
retlcenc" gradually Yields. and all who have eurs
may I'm most cares isarn the fun particular ~
what each man testimony viii lie. Win a
single exception the associates Of my captivity
were al bottom civil and good natured, prone
occasionally t. intrudc di-lsfe"aAb uu super
sensitive nerves. but mainly from their ignorance
that there were such
found a strong desire for newspaper nutori-
ETY., one Of the great tailings OF these people. On
the return OF witness from an adjourned eN-
animation hi desire to see his evidence In print
was always fevtrish, while his comments on it
arerWard were seldom complimentary to the
reporter. A craving for the literature ~ crime
seems epidemic within prison walls. and how
ever Interest," Ing tue general intelligence In the
morning payer. II Vas Invariably overlooked
until the uh-curest item OF criminal news had
been carefully scanned noted as singular
also tho utter skeuticism of all with regard To
the administration ui lu-tlre IN the
which me, were concerned Their belief was
1rm and loudly expressed that political or
financial Influences would have more to dc with
the Issue Of these eases than any evidence; and
SO many Instances aud Illustrations were given
In support of this opinion that local tradition
must have accumulated many Of them from the
ms EN- yr and stteTence Of former inmate
cerely hemoaued hy many, who would have very
oheerfully wasted 1t IN equal idleness, were Il
entirely at their own disposal The dearth Of
reading matter was another topic of complaint
The daily papers, bought by the iavorites of for
though freely lent, could only AFFORD supply
far snort Of the demand. A. for book. even
IN the prisoners quarters. The most fruitful
source of grunbling, however. was that they
detention. They claimed thar Justice should be
5ust enough To allow, al least. "A moderate rec
Ompense 10 innocent men ON whom she had in
nieted unmerltrd hardships In her own Interests.
beyond Thee Incidental grievan"es' how
s Srad the tn treatment t5 OF the PT,operi of
sergeant and his three assistants were uniform
~ cNil and attentive; the rules few, and
sugs, 'IiNu Of order rather than restraint (;
Will" the fare at breakfast, dinner, and
supper Wa always unstinted. and in quality
aud yare) considerably better than the majoii-
" Of the guests had ever been accustomed
20. To guard against extraueou- Influences Wis
onicer and on a permit from the committing
magistrate or district Attorney : office. All cor
Te,pundenc, was subjected to the sergeant M
tie post office.
euIO OF an Inc prisoners one alone confess ed