New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-15
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
BEHIND BARS IN THE ToMBs.
Two PnIsoNKns coNpGMNFD TO DEATH, TWO

TWO PRISONERS CONDEMNED TO DEATH, TWO ShN-
| TsNcrp 70 LIFE IMPRISONMENT, AID NINE
AWAITING TRIAL goE MURDER
"Murucrers' Row. a. the corridor in the Tombs
including the cells for condemned crImnalf u usr-
ally called now contains two murderers sentenced
TO death. Cell No. 3. nearest tie desk OF Keeper
HenneSsey on the left-hand side Of the corridor -
occupied by Chastine Cox. sentenced on July IL 10
he hanged on Friday, August %. and now awaiting
the decision of the Court of Appeals when Is eN-
pected by Deccmber.}O. Cox succeeded Porcelio IN
this CELL the latter having been sentenced to life
imprisonment Warden Finn said to a TRIB-
UEE reporter that Cox seemed to bear
his confinement well. He is frequently Wis
tied by clcrgymen aud Sisters OF Charity,
and is given exercise in the corridor every day.
To the reporter Cox said that he was not feeling
very well, rs he had caught 2 severe cold. during
the day he passed much OF his time in reading, and
wished that he could do this at night lie asserted
that 1t was Teat consolation to him that he never
intended muruer, and he was very glad yhat ne did
not shoot and kill anyone outright lie ala not
allow himself to hope for mitigation or sentence,
and looked forward TO death. His principal sorrow
was for his old mother HIS cell Is decorated with
wo0d-cuts. and on the shelf pile of books.
In the adjoining cell is Pietro Balbo the ltalian
who for the murder OF his wife, was condemned on
December IL to death by hanging on January TO-
1880 HIS swarthy face appeared behind the
grated door. In his broken English he said that no
killed bis wife IN self-defence He earnestly urged
tDHt nc DIu always beeD quiet auu pclcelul
this crime. He said he hop to get OFF, but was
prepared for the worst
Seated in his private Office, where on the mantel
bust of Chastine Cox is displayed, the Warden said
that though these condemned men are IN the
SherIf7s care soon as they are sentenced. the
Sheriff had in the prison TO watch them.
But a constant, yigilant watch kept by the
warden over them, and every precaution was useu
TO prevent them from harming themselves.
There were Saturday IN the prison 3S4 prisoners
800 men and Ga women Or these thirteen were
brought there under charge of murder Besides
Cox and Balb0 there three other muTdereis VINO
have been sentenced. William Poole and Joseph lie
Font are doomed TO life Imprisonment. They were
sentenced in November. 1877 for the killing Of
John Ryan, and are awaiting court decision. Oh
the untrleu prisoners charged with the greatest Oi
crimes Thomas Condor is accused OF the mur-
| der of john Lynch on election day; John
Madill was committed November II for causin 8
the death of his wife; George Smith. negro
is charged with shooting Harriet SavIlle white
woman; William Burke, alias stacy. WAS brought
from California 10 answer 70 the charge OF killing
Alice Strickland in June, 1877; Jacob Christian IS
to be tried for causing the death OF Frederick -
Eisch; Patrick Mccormick is held Tor stabbng two
men the d.iy succeeding election; Thomas Whelan
| is held for causing the death of Israel smith; aud
| two Italians, Francisco Accetta and Francisco
| BallO were concerned in the death OF Antonio
| CcantamO IN Harlem.
Rarely have there been many criminals in the
| Tombs accused Of taking human life. Deputy
! Warden Flndlay who has been in the CITY Prison
twenty nine years. remembers twenty-nlne eXecu-
tons in the prison yard since 1890 Many visitors
| daily pass through the corridors of the prison and
| talk with prisoners. Most Of them are country
people visiting in the city and are impeed by Curl
| Osiiy. Women who visit the prison. the keepers
door aud many are highly indignant at being
/ searched.