The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-23
FOURTH WARD LODGINGS.
The Sort or Tramps' Resort that the Police
Broke UP In Omver street.

Capt. Petty of the Oak street police, with
Detectives John Keirns and Gilbert Carr.
marched into tho Tombs Police Court yesterday
with sixty men and women whom he had ar
rested in Bridget Donnelly's lodging house Mt
GS Oliver street at o'clock in tho morning.
The house in question is an old-fashioned
thrce-story and basement red brick building.
The once green shutters are nailed up, the
black door is cracked and blistored, and the
glnss panels arc broken. The basement Is di-
vidcd up in narrow hunks. In a cellar beneath
il an accumulation Of ashes broken bottles.
and damp straw. To gain access to this cellar
IL s necessary to go through trap door and
down n crazy ladder. Hero tho lowest tramps
OF both scxes were permitted TO sleep for
consideration Of from five cents TO two cents.
Tho hunks in the basement were let ut from
ten to twenty cents. The third and fourth floors
and the garrett. fitted NJ with narrow beds. were
worth thirty cents a night 10 a lodger. In the
rear yard were threo covered sheds, IN which
quantity OF loose straw was scattered and for
this accommodation Mrs. Donney exacted
WhalrNcr pennies Applicants were hhle 10 give.
Mrs DQnnelly's two daughters live In tho house
well dressed children, ono Of whom has
governess to teach her French and music
The Dirty Spoon" has been notorious for
many years. During tho war 1t was a dance
house and gambling den. II was in the base
mont that n sailor IN n drunken fight was shot
dead and his body thrown into the cellar. whore
1t was allowed to remain two weoks before the
house police officer, who was dislikod by the
inmates was stabbed in the back and died in
stanty his murderer escaping.
Justice Wandcl ordered Clerk Murray to
make out two lists Of those taken. One he
called tho bad. the other the good list Tho
practised eye Of the Justice recognized among
the large number OF prisoners some who were
deserving Of pity. They were the poor sickly.
tired trnmps. who were broken down and harm
less John Campbell. n tall. gray-hared man.
with an Intelligent sun-burnt face. was the first
chilled. He was suffering from pneumonia.
What remained OF his cont was tied together
with strings. He wore no collar or necktie In
his well worn boots were pieces Of newspaper.
| these were tied to his feet by string.
Officer kcirns knew nothing wrong about
! him. except that he quietly walked the streets.
! day IN and day ont. Robert Murray a boy ~ l6.
! was found lying on the straw in the woOdshed.
! lie had his foot in n can Of stale beer. John
| Mrehan. who blacks boots in Wall street. had
| been found lying on the ROOT Of the woodshed.
! John Connors, II strapUng big lad. with both
| eyes blHckCned and an ugly scar on his cheek,
! Detective kolrns told the Justice. had done
nothing but stoal for the past three years.
The women were as had. II not worse. than
the men. They wore OF all ages and colors and
some werc imbecie. Justice Wandell found
| but few 90 put down in his good list and sent
the majority to the penitentiary, Mrs. Donnclly
was committed for trial.