The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-04-09
BLACKWELL ISLAND PRISONERS.



. Prisoners are tricky" said Police Jus
tice Patrick ]. Duffy. They're very
tricky. IT takes while to learn all thei'
devices.
He had just come of the AIinnahanonck,
+ the Blackweil's Island boat. The usual SET
of visitors to the Island lounged about the
waiting room
am just coming from the Island" the
Justice went on. - went there on q
mission Of mercy. l find my trouble was
thrown away though. Look at this and
judge IL il isn't plausible letter"
He took slip Of paper from his pocket
and handed it the Tsieg.gm, reporter. On
it was written:
BLAcKwELL's ISLAND WoRKHoUsE.
JuDcE DuFFY:
SR.-I was committed by you TO the
Workhouse for six months Four months
of that time have passed, and I thought you
might possibly grant me discharge
never was arrested in my life before, nor
taken to any court. came on from the
East to this city 10 join some relatives and
was unfortunate enough to go astray.
am not woman who is addicted to drink,
and my health has failed me greatly since 1
was confined in this place. Your Honor,
belong to o good family and am anxious TO
return home. If you will grant my request
will promise never to give occasion 10 be
brought before court again and will try
to do good in the future.
Hoping you will not feel offended ct the
liberty take in writing to you, / remain,
your humble prisoner
~ JENNIE SMITH.
The note was written on tinted paper
and in good hand. A new two-cent post
age stamp was stuck on the corner Of it,
= Did not find her deserving of mercy?
Why, she was an old offender that had
sent to the Island at least half dozen
times. She recognized me at once and
laughed when was ushered into the pres
ence of Jennie Smith She couldn't even
write her own name. When / asked her
how she managed to send me such an elo-
quent appeal she smilinqly answered that it
cost her dollar. afterward learned that
some Of the matrons or attendants who are
fairly educated write letters for the prison.
ers who are unable to write themselves, at
so much letter This was news to me,
although had suspicion several times
that the same hand wrote a good many of
the letters received"
!" Have you much of correspondence
from the Island % asked the reporter
g I receive as many as ten and twelve
letters q day from people committed by me.
just look herei" and the Justice pulled
pile of letters from his coat pocket.
9 Do you investigate them all Pr
q Well, no. I'd have little else to do If
tried to. Most of the justices pay little
attention TO them. / seldom bother unless
something peculiar Or interesting in the
appeal strikes me. OF course y justice in
committing prisoner has pretty good
knowledge of the case before he disposes of
it. Consequently he feels that the culprit
is entitled to the full benefit of the sentence.
But then, there are times when justice
might have been little too severe, or the
complaint may have been too strongly made
against the prisoner. Such cases certainly
are rare. Then, again, many prisoner
has been unfortunate enough to get into
scrape that he or she sincerely repents, ard
pardon often does more good than harm,
particularly when the culprit has had a
taste of the Island. n-New Fork Telegram,