Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-20
A TALK WITH JOHN DEVOY
IN PRISON.
He Complains Of 1.-THE Food and
the Cells--HOw He WsIl Treat
Mr.. Belmont in the Future.
New York Tribune. u.

New York Tribune, ~.
Warden Fox's Office is large COM
modious room at the rear of the peni-
Tertiary on Blackwell's Island. Of
cial business is conducted behind
barrier which incloses about third of
the room. In the larger space wait
persons who visit the island on official
business or to see prisoners. Here
recently Tribune reporter conversed
with John Dewey. On June l9 the
record of admissions bore the follow
ing entry: John Dewey, Astor House;
height, 5 feet g inches; weight, las
pounds; brown hair, gray eyes, dark
complexion; single, educated and
Catholic; remarks, none"
Mr.. Dewey looked very well, but it
was with a weary air that he spoke to
the reporter. This is well conduc-
ted prison" he said, so far as l have
been enabled to judge, and l have
nothing 10 complain of in the conduct
of the officials. They rigidly adhere
to their duty, yet seem to sympathize
with my position, although they do not
say so outright. Of two things, how
ever, | must complain. One is the
quality OF the food supplied to prison
ers, and the extreme smallness of the
cells. | know nothing Of any Ameri-
can prison, with the exception of this
penitentiaTy, but, thanks to the Brit
ish government, | have a good idea of
the interior of Irish and English
prisons, and have spent FIVE years of
my life in them. / must say of the
English prisons that the food is uni
formly OF better quality and the
cells about double the size, and
better ventilated than those
here. To cOnfne man in cell 8 feet
1 inches long, by 3 feet 5 inches wide
and only 6 feet s inches high, is puu-
ishment indeed; and when Overcrowd
ing necessitates the putting of two
prisoners into one cell, the effect is
terrible. In England the food given
to prisoners is thoroughly good and
wholesome, but it is dealt out in such
infnitesimal rations that although my
appetite was never very keen, ! wes
half starved during the first three of
my FIVE years of prison lie there. At
ter that | was allowed rather more
liberal diet. Here there is no stint of
food, but the quality of it is very poor.
[ scarcely know which is the worst, to
be tantalized with a taste of a really
good dinner or to have an abundance
Of such food as is served up here. In
England all prisoners are rigidly al
lowanced, and a man the size of Mr..
Brennan-pointing to the colossal fig.
ure of the Commissioner, who stands
6 feet Ct inches tall-receives no more
than you would" looking at the di.
minutive form Of the reporter.
And what is being done to obtain
your release from here, Mr.. Devoy?'
Nothing directly from myself, but
many influential friends who have de
clared themselves my friends are
working hard for me. Men of all
classes Of opinion in every part Of the
State are bringing their influence to
bear on the Governor in my behalf,
and should not be surprised if in a
week or SO | was again conducting my
paper.
when you are again at liberty |
suppose you will forget that the world
contains such a man as August Bels
mont" remarked the reporter.
by no MEANS" he replied. "But [
will not commit the mistake which
has brought me here, second time, |
promise you. l had partly written
the article of which Mr.. Belmont
complains, when | was suddenly called
away and was absent from my desk
for nearly two hours. When | re-
turned it was almost time for the last
forms to be taken to the press. and !
wrote the closing paragraphs in great
haste; otherwise | think | might have
been more temperate in my express
sions.
Mr.. Dewey had heard of the Mona.
CHAN election, and he attached great
Importance to the victory of Mr..
Healy. 1.-THE victory of a Home
Ruler in Ulster" said Mr.. Dewey, is
never to be regarded as trivial by the
Irish patriot, and Mr.. Healy's success
proves to my satisfaction that Episco-
palian and Presbyterian, no less than
Catholic Irishmen. are beginning to
desire National autonomy or at least
home rule. | regard the election as
the most important incident in Irish
politics that has occurred for some
time, and as entirely favorable to the
great Irish movement"