New-York tribune., 1877-06-30
THE VILEST OF PRISONS

| AMEgcIIEss SYSTEM or EXIORTIOS BgGiyN,ya
| WITH THE ARREST, AND NOT ENDING rPI Pr
| LEAsR-THE LIVE BARELY KEPT ~ THE UNHAPPY
| VICTIMS or THE sHERiFF-HOW He NAMES MONEY
OUT OF THE JAZZ.
| Below is given the personal narrative of a
prisoner confined In Ludlow Street Jail, setting forth
the hardshps to which (ebiors subjected when 80
unfortunate to become ifnates Of that institution
narrated have been corroboraed the story
! is given almost in the prisoners own guagc.
In writing OF LUDLOW Street Jail, it Is difficult or any
one confined there to treat the matter dspassiona,ey
there are 80 many things 10 complain OF that n Is no easy
matter for to forget ones personal grievances
have been there long that shall Try TO lay aside nv
own feelings. and give as nearly possible detailed
OF what be the experience Of arrested
and confined in that institution to-day.
FACILITY OF ARRESTS FOR SMALL DRBTs.
Any one may be arrested order made on an an
dayt charging fraud handed any judge OF the SUPREME
Superior, Common Pleas, or Marine Court. The affidavit
need simply state that the person making IL has claim OF
$40 against the person whom he desires 10 have
arrested and that he IL nored that the debtor IL about
leave the city, and any judge viii grant order Of
arrest without question, the debtor Will DE locked up
and the County OF New-York will help the painun col
lect his claim against the unfortunate The officer
serving the debtor with the papers, after few words
inquiIos "Do you want to go anywhere before being
taken in ~ II The prisoner expresses such desire the
next question IA. " How much Is 1t WorhP In fact from
the time one falls into the hands Of the sheriff the
sant question in regard to everything is, How much
1t worth Z" II the pssoneT has no money or less than
s., he is told to "come along" and The little he may
have will probably be spent before he gets TO the jail
When he arrives there he IS taken at 10 the Office
and the first thing be decided is whether no
wishes pay FOR his board, for which tie prices range
from SO day to $l5 week, half The sum being paya-
BILE in advance. II the prisoner has nc money, watch
or other articles of value will be accepted as security,
and the officers will wait the xiectton that friends
VIII forward some mouey. Bat will say little OF the
boardcrs as they only about fifth OF the inmates.
Their fare is that OF secondrate clearinghouse they
are allowed the privilege of the yard and are not locked
ND until 1890 p. H. II prisoner is unableto pay for
his board. he signs paper declaring himself 10 DE
pauper and the dOorman, Mccarthy calls up stairs 10
tile Fccper duty, New man. look out for hun" Iho
prisoner is then taken up stairs and through an iron
door, which leads into open square. From TINS Two
alleys north and two east and benches are placed
upon t sides Of the square. Here he seated side by
side with cOnyicts and nothing SAID uni some men-
bers OF the gang describcd below begin n con-
yersaton in order, they express IT, TO " see how you
are fixed" and II YOU have any money left fou are nd
ysed to treat the bar in of the alleys, and
ntnaed that il pays get in the good eraces OF the
keepers and gang" in this manner Beer sold Tor Is
cents bottle cigars 10 cents each and tobacco at
an advance rates outside and you are good fellow
SO long as your money holds out and you willing to
spend 1t III this way.
THg TORTURE ALL FOR POOR PRISONERS.
At5p m you are told by the keeper duty to " get
up INTO No. II" il You want any supper Some " the
prisoners viii show you whore no II is, and yon find
that you have been assigned the very worst cell IN the
iaI IL is the last one on the top floor one OF " tho
gang" IN disgusting ate OF dirt. comes around With
basket and hands You piece of bread equal TO about
two good-szed slices, and another MN. equally dirty.
follows with large tin bucket, fI0m which he hs your
I'm cp with what you are told is tea. IL Is made OF hot
water swcetencd with brown sugar and cooked on The
same stove with the tea for The boardcrs THIS all
,our simmer consists Of but you told in time and
eau get bottle you can have q filed with water for the
nj zht. Tie Office doorman, Keeper Mccarthy, AT $50
gives the signal all the prisoners to enter their cells
In your room you find two IRON bedsteads with straw
beds well worn and very dirty. straw pillow, and a
filthy blanket on each Il slop-pail. and two TIN cups
This is the furniture Of the room selected for each new
conner and when Mccarthy reaches on his round-you
demonstrate. and ask II you cannot get cleaner riace
What Is ii wolth is the answer and II you can and
will nav from 50 IS you taken down one flight Of
stairs to cell which is toeraby decent II son have no
money or are unwilling spend IT, you are told with an
oath to yet your cell The door is locked aud no
light is given you One OF the gang" will bring
candle from the bar price 10 and box OF matches
sor which 8 charged bot rider TO get tins you
are obliged treat TO bottle OF beer Your bed Is so
dirty that yon take on your clothes, aud 10 Is IN
tested with yernn You get little sleep during the first
night. - . 49,
The night Waterman, Ftzsinmons, uniocbs your door
at $50 a. NJ and tells you TO get MP, empty your siop
pail wash shake your blankets, and sweep ont yo cell
At The end OF OF the alleys is sink aud the place
for washing; you compelled 70 hold The waiertap
open with one hand while you wash with the other, lh
less some oblging prisoner will open IL for you Iie
] ffl. i.tr mud Tltnh have 1.eat
difficulty in obtaining broom, bu the penalty Ter not
syecpog your cell is TO locked up all day. For break
FAST Won get rs much bread as you had FOR supper,
and wrctcled substitute for coffee, served IN tie cups
used before. Rnner is served 4 noon, and the weekly
bill OF fare Is as follows Monday, barley soup ana
bsed beef; Tuesday, pork and hoiled beans Nednes
day Irish stew Thursday corned beef and potatoes;
Friday fish and potatoes -atrday, hiSh stew sunday
corned beef and potatoes The meat aud poitors are
all o very poor quality and the fish j. the cheapest tlaI
| can be bought in Essex Market suppose that u
Wednesday, when the Irish stew r. furnished One OF
the gang gives you piece Of bread not so af-e ~
was oiye at the previous meals, and another carries me
Stew III the bucket which previously contained tea ahd
coffee The stew is made Of muiton' not Thoroughly
cooled and hot water; there just enough ye-e'aies
u IL TO be seen The food Is oil served by ne gang
and the tin dishes containing IL set ore Wihh Az
oher "a the food is carried around and distributed inc
fin dishes are in constant use and aicNey dfy' u"a
that money could BE- made on contract to mri'' IO0'
for IS cents day for each prisoner ana De''er 'O'
| would be given The prisoners are furnished WIKI ho
towels soap, chairs. knives, forks spoons pa'e' "
dishes of any kind, except the Tin cups afe""y mo"
toned and the tin dishes that are removed ~ 7ooH ~
dinner is over Salt is furnished about once ih "0'
II you have the money 70 purchase articles you ca" 10
! so but if not you must DO without them.
Cosr TO THE TAXPAYERS.
The taxpayers of the County Of New-fofS pay 20
cents day for each prisoner who signs the paper 'as
thar he IS not able to pay for his board nn come mere
yithout q dollar AMI with families suffering, ana LAY
/ 49, . ri,oi- d.uts ,n AZ NOT exceed