New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-11
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
Ym1ow STREET JAIL FOR FIVE YEARS

u.cDoNAIps FxPERIESCE-THREE fHAhS
WITHOUT SEEING SUN, MOON OR STARS
Tho Roosevelt Committee concluded the TAX
snr of testimony yesterday. All the members were p,'
ant except Mr. WEIGH. The witness OF saiuIuA'
A Adams guardian clerk OF the euriossos ' ~
peared nj his own request andhat OF Chiei |ieN
representing the Surrogate. 10 explain Tue 0e'o
TO by Charles c. APPLICABLE law clerk ~ s1 "a nc.n
on Friday 1t was alleged that . rec Oh GIL INV 80
HnanAaa nv the guardian clerk When conIron'ea Oh
Saturday with the statement, MI ADAMS W as u'0'o "
exnlan what be declared TO be, under ordinary e0"
stances excessive charges Returning to the once 10
looked into the details OF the case, and IN MS 'eSoy
Yesterday he explained II as follows
Notayv fee execution OF two bonds ~ w
standardization each bond and justification WIN GER
nm SSa copy Of petition with certificate Of clerk 20
ExemphhcatiOn OF original 1900. w
There being no additional witnesses, the committee
went In body TO the Ludlow Street Jail for the purpose
OF taking certain testimony which it was otherwise I'M
nossible to procure. The first witness Augustine
Ralph Macdonald who has been in the Jail continuously
for over years. with the exception of month spent
at the hospital the time he before the Grand
Jury last summer. He is civil prisoner held for nom
payment Of an alleged claim OF $4,000 preferred by
Charles E. Hovey and William P. Dole OF Washington,
as counsel fees in case which the prisoner had before
the Alabama Commission. Mr.. Macdonald asserts that
no services were performed by them but that they pro
cured Judgment by leaving paper at house that they
swore was his last place of residence but In Wbch De
claims never TO lived in his life The witness SAID
that for the thirteen months after entering the jail ne
maid his board and enjoyed the privileges accorded to all
prisoners who were bOarders. When he was no longer
able TO pay he put in cell No. Al which from It's
stated that he made complaint to doctor who said
that must be removed: He was removed TO another
little better. He again spoke 10 the physcai
who sad he would speak 20 the deputy warden lie re-
ported that he had done So and that II wa an
trba he
or not. Deputy Warden Ul1nsn had sald ri, 10
him how n %nch hp SnSod He said
$3.50 adding that his friends would help him TO pay IT,
The witness he not good terms with his family
and could not raise the money he kept in that
cell until UIiman died. subsequently he was changed
answer as he had given ms word that he would never
tell and he would rather be punished than dVuge Ine
cause He now acting librarian and since entering
upon that service has enjoyed the same privileges a. te
boarders, being allowed remain out OF his cell loSo
at night. on Saturday night an or1er cane ron io
sheriff lock up every For ten years the librarian
The witness detailed at great length certain abuses
sun moon Now he is allowed an hour each day
in the yard He alleged that. being deprived OF warm
ing The meat that had been gwen -, 9 i
was often pnrid He h9 9Gou eaten s6 no'n a96
dinners year. When taken to the hospital the doctors
told that his trouble the result OF lack OF proper
nourisnment The food dealt in uncean vessels
which used in connection with scrubhng the floors
The and disgusting language OF the Keepers ana
deputy warden that the witness would not re
peat it. had prisoners kicked aud had twice been
attacked himself , =,
that OF "A number Of other evil prisoners, Iuch OF
which cOrroborated his most startling statements
There was much contradictory evidence IN regard TO
the smu I'll ny whjskey the Jail for the use OF prS
opers Young fellow named Cohen has been actlng as
messengers when placed upon the stand he denied mat
he had ever carried whskey into the jail tie was con
by the prisoners themselves with the bottles IN
which the liquor had been carried one OF these bore he
label of John wilkins, grocer in Grdnd-st subpoena
was served upon that gentleman ana ne
promptly responded Cohen had declared that
he had been ia the only three or
four times Mr. wilkins identified him wei a. the bot
he In which the liquor had been sold HO stated that he
had seen Cohen the store at least twenty-five times,
though he himself rarely waited on customers Cohen
became greatly confused al the array OF proof against MS
VeTacty. "a ,.
In spite Of the fact that the witnesses testified almost
unanimously profanity and Obscenty on the part OF
Deputy Warden Herman that official, when put upon
the stand calmly and with air OF injured
innocence declared that he not guilty OF the charge
because incapable of such actions or
own high res Dect for himself
The committee adjourned and returned TO Albany last
evening .,.. -. I
by several prominent law firms gng that no change pe
made in the system Of making searches IN the bureau IoI
COLLECTION OF Assessments and Arrears, Among th9se
signing the paper strong Cadwaader, Alexander
d Green, and Vanderpoel, Green Cunning