The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-01-13
NEW YORK.
The Tombs-Rapid Justice in a
Police G0urt-Ths 0psra-Sal.
VIM, Mary Anderson,
Etc. -The Electric
Light.
New YoRK, Jan. 5. 1881.

Editors Herald:
New York is probably seen at il
most interesting time during to
holidays; the putrescent odors AM
deathdealing fumes Of her unswep
streets. 80 obnoxious in the summer
lie dormant under the feeble actor
OF a winters sup; the operatic ant
theatrical seasons are at high tide
and leagues of her streets are clothed
in the most attractive holiday attire
a. this time, also, are deepened into
more painful contrast the lines of that
picture which tells the tale OF wealth
and poverty; she stated child OF the
avenue. provided with everything
deemed nice and fitting by bis
parents and attractive to his own
tastes. mourns the narroWness of the
field for selection; while the. sunken,
aged and shivering offspring of Chat
ham street gszes ct the cltron peel
which crowns the pyramid Of raisins
in she neighboring grocery, with
longing eyes, watering mouth, and q
sadness of expression which bespeaks
the object unsttsinable. The luxury
of the rich and the poverty of the
poor become heightened by holiday
contrast.
A melancholy percentage of the
people of New York shiver through
the winter night aDd day, and
hunger throughout the year. 1t is
the contemplation OF this and the
fact that we are all human beings,
with similar desires and necessities,
which gives birth to the wild COM
munistic vsgaries of nihiIists and
socialists. This, the Ozark Con-
tinent" of universal comfort and
plenty, is a broad field for the ex.
ploratlons of the Stanleys Of science,
and Livingstones OF religion.
DESTROYS of seeing the manner in
which the common criminals of New
York are Condemned and jailed, ]
visited a police court and the we'll
known Tombs. Il was shout
twenty minutes to ten when l ap-
plied for admission to the latter.
Mr.. Finn. the warden, stated that
visitors were not admitted before ten
a m. end suggested thar 1 visit the
police court, OF the floor above, until
the. hour.
Fortunately, when 7 reached the
court room door, | was just in rear OF
q brisk, closely shaven, sharp-eyed,
and rather INSCRIPTIONS looking
person, whom | sfterRsrd learned to
be Tombs lawyer, and who by three
vigorous taps on the door found the
''Open sesame" OF the hall. A burly
official admitted the man of law, but
an objeotiDg hand to my
entrance. which was removed, how
ever, aad even used to point out
front seat for my occupancy, WHEN |
| was merely visitor.
Behind long desk, was ems ,onced
The police justice, man whom /
pronounced q proiege
Of Tammauy Hall AID It's fallen chief,
by the Irish turn OF his isttures, and
the characteristic cut OF his beard,
which began at one ear. described a
mathematical semi.clfcls around bis
cnin, and brought up near the other
ear. He was conventionaIly blooted,
and to add to ms impressiveness
spoke in tenor strains. which would
have brought jealous tears TO the eye
Of a Campanini. Although 1 was
within fifteen feet of the Judge, there
was 60 much confusion and noise
around him, l was unable to follow q
case.
Drunk and disorderly" was the
most frequent charge, and preferred
against boys in their teens. men in
their last stages, and women OF
repulsive vissge. The proverbial wit
Of the New York police Justice is
fitting q scence OF so much
yet they are al witty. And
where dost thou live, my honeyp
the Justice asked a miserable woman
Of about fifty. l did not hear the
rest of the case, which lasted but a |
few seconds, bu! hesru the sentence
which seemed to be the universal
oke, five hundred dollars" and the
wretch passed from one policeman to
another, and disappeared through
the side entrance into the prison.
Another case of drunkenness, also a |
woman, was brought up, in which |
The aggressive attorney, before re
Ierfed to, was employed. In answer
10 a question Of the judge, the
,ulprit replied, "Yis, yer honor, it's
he first time me name has liver
been on the register" snd the
awyer, with surprising adapIsbility
,wore that be had known this LADY"
Tor twenty-four years and that che
pad ever been a woman of eminent
whereupon he thrust a
iiriy law digest under the nose of the
Justice, who was busy writing, with
the information that there is the
sw;" the Judge continued his writ
ing, and at the came time perpetTated
another witticism, which was lost TO
my ear, but set the surrounding syco-
phants into psroxysms OF laughter;
The fortunate culpTit came through
the front grating and DISAPPEARED q