New-York tribune., 1879-06-02

made, apparently, one attempt III that uireetion'
and talks of her purposes freely. Not the least
singular feature of the affair is the fact that
the Justice could do nothing for the afflicted
lady more than to propose conference with
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty 10
Children. Evidently the possibilities suggested
by this singular case have never presented
themselves before. and it may be time to or
| ganize society for the protection OF grown
up people against ferocious and cruel boys
and girls.
The mystery Of the Manhattan Bank robbery
is finally laid bare by the confession OF the
Waterman Slevin, who was privy to the
crime His history of the plot to rob
the bank makes romantic story. The
scheme was three years in Matching, and
an unsuccessful attempt was made upon the
vaults of the bank months before the actual
robbery was committed. The attempt was
made and its real nature partially concealed
by the cOnnivance of the Waterman
The police have unquestionabiy done
excellent work in tracing the consplrators
through all their devious ways, until full
disclosure and the arrest of several OF the
chief participants in the crime have rewarded
the long search. One of the most curious
statements in the confession, by the way, is the
declaration that part OF the actual cash
captured was used at Washington to delay the
passage of the bill authorizing the duplicate
issue of the stolen bonds. This may be true,
but it is very likely that the money, If any
was spent went into the pocket OF some as
tute lobbyist, who knew that, In certain
directions, the wickedest persons In the world
are those most easily fooled.
If our Sheriffs are keeping hotels they should
provide better accommodations for their
guests, and if our Sberi6s are keeping jails
there should be some attempt made to make
them places where prisoners can be restrained
of their liberty. As the institutions under the
Sherihs charge are now managed in tins yicln-
ity, they are not effective enough as jails, 1t
seems, to hold prisoners, and not good enough
as hotels to tempt anybody to stay. As a
consequence, there is a growing disposition on
the part of the inmates Of the county prisons in
the cities of New-York and Brooklyn to change
their quarters. The burglar who coolly ex-
pressed his opinion of the cuisine at Ludlow
Street Jail recently by leaving without previous
notice has his imitators in two distinguished
members of the same profession, who literally
walked out of Raymond Street Jail in Brook
lyn yesterday morning. 1t seems that Mr.
Riley, either i'll his capacity as very tyran-
nical hotel-keeper, or in his capacity as an
abnormally benevolent Sheriff. has been COM
pelling or allowing, these prisoners, OF guests
TO 60 to the kitchen for their coffee. Know
ing that if they chose to walk out OF this
kitchen there was substantially no obstacle to
their escape, the wall Of the yard having
been tom down in working upon the new
building, these prisoners naturally resolved to
forcgo their coffee for once, laid down their
cups, and disappeared. The opening should
have been guarded, of course. Sheriff Riley's
excuse is that he asked the Common Council
to appoint two watchmen for that point, and
that body has not complied with his request
Carefully considered, this seems to be one of
the worst official excuses ever offered-which
is saying great deal.