Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-06
FLORIDA.
A CRY FROM PRISON.
SAD Story of a ptive in Ludlow
Street jail.


From the Mem York Herald.
The existence of debtors prison in the
midst of a great and enlightened city like
New York and the sufferings of the priso-
ners confined there have attracted the at
tention of sympathizers in the cause of
personal liberty the whole country over.
Stories are told of men spending years of
their lives in a hopeless struggle against
the rapacity of their creditors and the
laws delays; of their coming into the
prison strong, healthy men and leaving 1t
physical wrecks.
There is a prisoner in Ludlow street
Jail to-day whose case, if known, would
excite general sympathy and indignation.
This poor creature, whose apparent lack
OF intelligence makes IL matter of won
der that he could ever have had wit
enough to incur debt which would put
him within the SherIf's jurisdiction, can
be seen walking up and down the prison
yard, evidently bro0Ging over his wrongs
and the cOldness of an unfeeling world.
He never speaks, nor will the display Of
sympathy by kind-hearted persons elicit
anything from him but an inarticulate
sound, which conveys no ineligible
meaning. Whether it 10 that his wrongs
have brought this mental ruin upon the
prisoner, or whether il is attributable to
temperamental exclusiVeness, aggravated
by long confinement. tits difficult to deter
mine; whichever it be, he is none the less
an object OF pity.
BROODING OVER HIS WRONGS.
The poor fellow is as peculiar in APP
pearance as he is in his actions. He is
not negro, but he is as black as one, and
his clothing is Of the same sable color. A
more melancholy picture can hardly be
imagined than ne presents on his morn
ing walks. He has no friends within the
Jail nor apparently without, for no one
ever calls upon him. His counsel, who
ever he is, never appears, and his case
cannot be receiving the attention it de-
serves. In fact, no one seems to know
what his case is. He never talks about
his affairs, and seems 10 prefer that no
one should inquire into them. lie has
apparently no money, and IL is supposed
that his is one Of those inexpressihly sad
instances where living creature has be-
Rome stranded in this remorseless prison,
IA many a poor fellow is to-day, forgotten
by his friends and fighting his way TO
liberty una ssisted, penniless and alone.
One Of the saddest features of the case
is the manner In which he Is treated by
his fellow prisoners. One would suppose
he would receive only tse kindness his
misforfunes entitle him TO, but this IS, I'M
fortunately, not the case. He Is. on the
contrary, the butt OF the whole jail
worse remarks about him are made In his
presence which only the Obluseness OF his
intellect can prevent from leaving their
sting. All kinds or opprobrlous names
are applied 20 him without occasioning
the least show Of resentment upon his
part; and. In fact, his utter helplessness,
instead OF being protection TO him,
seems 20 incite all the worst instincts OF
the persons with whom he II thrown in
contact.
A "REMINISCENCES OF THE BAsrILE.
II is currently reported that the priso-
ner has made several Intellectual attempts
al escape by getting over the high wall In
the rear Of the prison yard, and the most
cruel and unnecessary precautions have
been taken 20 prevent their recurrence.
Persons whose general reputation for
yeracity entities them 10 credence. say
that after one or two Of the futile attempts
M night the poor fellow haB actually been
ipcareerated In an iron cage, AMI that at
times be has been seen In the yard with
some kind Of clog attached ~ one Of bis
feet. Incredible as such cruelty would
eepm In this enlightened age, there are
persons VINO will vOuch for the truth Of
the above statements. Several appeals
have heou made to the proper authorities
10 have the rigor OF his prison lie relaxed,
but with no apparent results. II Ia,
indeed, 4 verihoatiOn Of the old ndage that
ssWhat il every body's business Is no
Ones.v
N Is hoped that whom the attention OF
tind-hparipd public ~ called 10 the matter
eomefhinr mas De done. Otherwise hope
less insanity (aympiOms ~ which are not
wanting already on death may bring the
poor prisoner his long-delaycd fOlcasc.