New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-26
WAITE UNDERTOOK AND KEY
HOW THE IDLE DAYS AND WEEKS PASS BY
HIS LIFE AS A WITNESS WHO CANNOT FURNISH
BAH.


BAIL
big wasted, heayy jawed nan, phlegmatic
and Of sluggish tace sits ut long deal table 10 the base
ment OF Mulberry ST building ac O'Clock every norm
in1 and slowly works away with knife and fork at an
obdurate beefes The Is low aud about teu FEE,
In width and twenty IN depth. It's painted walls are
clean and there Is general air OF neaness in the pacee
but evidently money has been laytshed on decora-
tons luxury Of any sort rhe sunlight enters the
place but dimly, and shadows hold possession Of the
hooks and MI lherry ST. far from being Al
Inviting thoroug hare its doors are not agreeable II is
In the midst OF the house district Yet the af
10 this basement, sweet snd clear. and only the
odor OF reaches the broad noss OF the silent
eater at the table. There plenty OF space for twenty
persons at the table, but he evidently prefers to eat
alone The only thing that appears to arouse his spirits
10 the appearance Of comely woman who waits on tn
table and with whom he has objection 20 exchange
facetious remarks.
The big man Is ex Alderman Charles B. Waite and the
place Is the House OF Detention fer Witnesses Besides
Wate there fifteen and ten women detained as
witnesses In the building but they never see him except
by casual gmpses and be prefers not to see them He
eats at the long table but he tages bis meals after
the others have finished In days when he kept the
Brevoort House and trustee OF the estate OF half
million dollars left by his brother hs table was spread
sumptuously every day He had his costly carriages
his haudsome horses his yacht his old and exquisite
Wines his dinner parties. his Or less selec. suppers
after the buresque comic opera was over And all
this gayly until the oyia going lessee OF
the Psluot House at London collapsed with this his
last hooi after In vain protesting that he would
yet pay all his deots with his share OF the Broadway
boodle" And then be declared tn at ne got OF Il.
Some months later he became voluntary prisoner at
the States expense. Then It was that he was nailed as
treasure OF testimony OF priceless value, and young
Assistant District Attorney Delaney Nicon watched
over hun that aHeconae interest which the miner
fh< ,h
provision Market he hal not only the su bstAntals
but all the delicaces tho He ate so long, so
much e1pensvey that he carried CONSERVATION to
the contingent fund Of the DISTRICT Attorneys ONCE
Then. too he had carriage at his call, and in the
company OF detective he went to the play whenever he
WISHED his favorte place OF resorS being the Casino
where he gazsd with especial zest upon the dasnng
captain OF the guard.
TAKING HIS CONFINEMENT EASILY.
The ex Alderman takes his breakfast, his dinner
aud bis supper In tie dnly lighted basement IN
Muloerry-st. He sits 10 the seat which a witness
de- aimed In q murder case has Just occupied
As he passes up the stairs he gance across the court
yard and five oury fellows gazing through the
grating at hiu Two OF them waiting to he called
witnesses In the DriscOu homicide case. They have
fat aDd greasy during their detention. aud they
complain OF OF exercise. This lack OF exercise
troubles Waite and keeps down his appetite.
The ex-Alder.nan has two goodsized rooms on the
fourth floor facing Mulberry st. lie has Oecuplei tneW
since July T. 1hey are comfortably furnished and are
on tue womans side OF the house. Waite is the only
male prisoner there. ereant HObrO0k. IN charge OF
tue House OF Detention says tina. Waite takes his
nuement easily II Is not because he Is philosopher;
10 because his brain Is active he Is sluggish
aud retains bis old habit OF letting Things slide" After
his breakfast reads the mOrning papers, either In his
own room or He has the rel OF the stairs
and the Sergeants ROOM chafs and talks on all topics
but One-that OF his own testmOny-ani lois about in
his od-fashioned way. The Sergeant hnis him COM
panionable: SO do the emI Logged In the building.
some OF them have been connected with the Fire
Department and that topic Is mentioned be Is
oil alive although he has been forced TO give up the
cherished ambition of his fe tnat OF becoming Fire
Commissioner. He kills time IN reaiing doing, eating
and talking
Waite only by such visitors get permits from
the District Attorney superintendent Murray. He
Is the custody OF the Police Department. and In that
respect stands different basis from That OF the other
prisoners Who are the custody OF Sergeant H0br0ok
as the head OF the House OF Detention. Mrs. Waite
visited her husband last mouth ago. His two brothers
call upon him. Detective Sergeant Frink takes him
out for q stroll occasionally. He has no money,
apparently to pay for carriage aud it understood
thar the luxury carriage tina States expense no
longer his Although he is special prisoner he has
the same rare the Others This consists OF meats and
sOups bread, potatoes tea and coffee. Mrs Illlnan,
tue purvegOr OF the house. who gets 20 cents meal Tor
her supplies with gas heat ami rent thrown In believes
In solid us aud provides them IN abundance. sOudty
ana not variety therefore, charscterZes tue rare. But
this does not seem To worry Waite. lie will remain
prisoner unless somebody fur ntshes $4,000 bail for
him. until after Jaehne decision at least, and
urec:sey when his testimony Will be wanted nobody
ppears to know just at present.