The New York herald., 1879-07-02
"WINE, WOMEN AND SONG"

THE LIBRARIAN" AND AFRICAN COOK OF LuD-
Low STREET JAIL AND WHAT THEY SAW IN
THE COUNTY LocKUp-''UNIoN SQUARE" AND
''BAxTER LEY"-MIRTH, MUSIC AND REV.
ELRY BY NIGHT.
The examination of the charges made by the Ear
Association against Sheriff Reilly resumed yes
terday before George Ticknor Curtis. the commits
soner appointed by Governor Robinson. The exam
nation which took place in the oyer and Terminer
OF the Supreme Court. began eleven o'clock.
The Bar Association represented by j. Adriance
Bush and Sheriff Reilly by Messrs Bookstaver and
Larocque. There was large number OF in
terested spectators. The first witness was
Lawrence A. Riley, prisoner in Ludlow
Street Jail during the period of the in
carceration OF "Red" Leary. He testified
that he took of the library and had facilities to
note the conditions of the cells Those on the first
corridor. occupied by prisoners who paid SIS week
for their board. were always kept Clean but those
the two upper tiers cleaned by the prisoners
occupying them. and their cleanliness depended on
tho occupants. There better Sheets blankets
and pillow cases on the beds OF the boarders than
those of the other prisoners. The witness testified
further that the food furnished him while he in
the Jail was of such poor quality that he made
SICK and on one OCCASION he fell down in
faint He had often heard singing in the
alley where the bar located after half
past ten O'Clock night An actor who was
prisoner in the Jail. but is now liberated, led
the singing and "Red" Leary and Warden Watson
Joined in the cnoruses. He remembered that
occasion Keeper McGovern asked Mr.. Ireland who
was in his cell, and Ireland denied that any one
in it. The keeper and witness walked back and
found prisoner named Hanes with o woman in
the CELL Ireland was locked up few
mo la.c Pri ted in iail
prohibited the bringing in of liquor; visitors
to nonpaying prisoners were accommodated
with wooden bench in the corridor. while the
.boarders' were permitted the freedom of the jail
and yard, aud were allowed to receive visitors
in their cells at night. Prisoners the
upper corridors were obliged to get up at
six O'Clock every morning and clean their cells,
and atterward they washed themselves the
Ludlow street side OF the Jail. He remembered
morning when the atmosphere of the Jail very
oppressive, and petition was sent to the Warden
asking for more ventilation This enraged the
opened and turned off the heat, although it
winter. The windows were kept open until the
prison doctor ordered them to be closed. 1t was .
daily occurrence TOR prisoners to be intoxicated.
and he had frequently seen them fighting near the
bar. He knew prisoner named Mrs. Rogers; she
went about among the men, and allowed to do
pretty much as she pleased. Referring several
times In his testimony to Union square," he was
asked where it was He replied thar it was the
junction OF the corridors, and added that the Lud
low street corridor was known Baxter alley.
The witness was cross-examned by Mi. Larocque.
STARTLING EXPOSURES.
Marc Antony, negro, was the next witness. He
employed to wait upon Red Leary and one two
other paying prisoners. He testified that prisoners
were permitted to have women in their cells. On
one occasion he had seen the present Warden. Ber
nard Fitzsimmons, i'll the bathroom in company
with q female.
After recess this witness was cross-examined ut
much length by Mr. Larocque. Several questions
then put to the witness which he either showed
great hesitation in ans werng or refused to answer.
nd II aS ha wi tines had
been intimidated by some one and that he was labor
ing Ill terror OF the of somebody should he
tell what he knew. After being assured by Mr.. Cur
tis that no harm would to him il he testified
truthfuy and that he would be protected the terri
fed witness reluctantly proceeded to give his
to the questions propounded by the sheris counsel.
He inaily admitted that he saw Mr.. Ireland and Mr..
De Berg the latter being pointed out in the audience)
at No. Nassau street i'll the morning, and that they
walked to the Court House in company. His
versaton with Ireland was about his (the witness)
chance Of procuring situation at Red Bank, N J.
No questions for him to answer read to him by
Mr.. Henry L. Knox, did he know Mr.. Knox.
After the witness lett the court the time
recess he went to lunch in New Church street in
company with Mr. De Berg end Mr.. Ireland. All
three sat ut one table while taking lunch. but there
was no conversation about the Sheriff or Ludlow
Street Jail. The witness knew of woman coming
to the jail in the evening and remaining until morn
ing in the cell OF two prisoners named Jones and
Rogers. 1t was the cell of the dining room. He
the woman in her nightdress the next morning.
To Commissioner Curtis the witness said that he
was born in North Africa ard came to this city in
1854; he was born Free but was subsequently, sold
as a slave; that he was brought to New York by a
sea captains thaa he called himself thirtyhve years
of age that he went back to Africa after being here
a short time. but that he returned to New York in
1857. since which time he has lived here perma-
nenty.
At this point Mr.. Bush stated that en- important
witness mot an ex,Prisonerl who was expected, had
management of Ludlow Street Jail. The absent
witness would be present at the next sitting. he
added, and he therefore asked that an adjournment
be had until haif-past ten o'clock this morning
which wan ordered by Commissioner Curtis.