New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-17
LIFE IN LUDLOW STREET JAIL.


TESTIMONY IN THE CASE OF SHERIFF RFILLf-J' r..
IRRLAND's STARTLING STORY.
The investigation of the charges against Sherlh
Reilly was begun yesterday before George 1lcknor
Curtis the Commissioner appointed by the Gov
ernor to take evidence in the case. Messrs. Knox
and Bush represented the Bar Association, and H.
w. Bookstaver and J. Larocque were present Tor
the Sheriff. Mr. Reilly and his nephew. Bernard
Ftzsimmons, the present Warden of Ludlow street
Jail, were also present. j. E Ireland testlhed 'ht
he was confined in Ludlow Street Jail under clvil
process from August so, 1873. to May IL, 1879 lie
gave detailed description of the interior arrange
ment of the Jail. The room formerly occupied by
Tweed he said is now used for prisoners who can
afford TO pay from $50 to $75 week for board
Two bedrooms on the same floor are used by prls-
oners who pay from $35 to $40 a week board
part of the ground floor is set apart for the exclusive
use of the prisoners who pay SO week and are
known as the bOarders. From August 70 January,
Mr. Ireland said he was a boarder, and afterward lie
shared the lot of the ordinary prisoners. N
When he was q bOaTder Mr. Ireland paid - %
each half week. He had cell on the ground noor,
ate in q large dining ROOM had access TO all parts
of the building, and had the use of the yard from
a. ~ to p. M. he was allowed to receive VISITORS
until $50 D. M; to use the bathroom, and to re-
main out of his cell until 1880 p. IN. AT meals ne
was furnished with knives, forks, spoons and nap
kins and the food was good. His bed had snee ts
he was locked in cell III one OF the upper TIERS
There were no sheets his bed and no pillow cases,
and an army blanket was the only covering. When
he first occupied the cell there half an men Oh
dirt on the floor and bed. Poor and scanty food was
given him in q tin basin without a knife. FORK or
SPOON He was allowed TO walk around the tier, but
was locked up at $50 p m. The closets were very
filthy, and the washing arrangements were lhaue,,
Quate A towel thirty inches IN length was nsed
bv sixty persons. He referred TO cell occupied by
a prisoner named Frost, which was so filthy as TO
sickcn people who passed IT.
On the ground floor there is a bar for the prison
ers Beer is sold at Il cents a bottle. when MT.
Ireland was boaTder his cell adiOined the one &C.
cupled by " Red Leary. He noticed that Leary
was allowed many special privileges. VISITORS
were permitted to see him at all hours of the day
around his cell at once, and many OF them were
women. Mr.. Ireland remembered three or lour
different occasions when he annoyed by The
indecent songs sung by five or six women III
Leary's cell at 1890 p. m. They had all been
drinking at the bar. The usual hour for visitors TO
retire was $50 p. No. but there were at least dozen
occasions when women were allowed to remain IN
had seen Warden Watson lying drunk III Learys
cell at least three times. He had also seen Mr. tz-
simmons under the influence of liquor While drink
ing with Ieary. At one time when four or hVe
women were in Leary's CELL Mr.. Ireland noticed that
Warden Watson was one of the party.
MIR. Ireland spoke of other occasions when women
were allowed to visit prisoners. Mrs. FLOOD, the
wife of prisoner visited her husband and found
the door of his cell locked. She afterward discoy-
cred that a woman was in his cell. There were sew
eral women prisoners in the jail, who were allowed
TO visit the male prisoners.
The crOSs-eXaminatlOn OF the witness was feserNeu
for the next hearing Oh thursday.