New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-22
campaign in accomplishing the Interior pur'
poses of the Romanoffs
,JAILER FATTY WALSH.

Nobody who knows anything of the career OF
"Fauyo Walsh, the gambling house keeper
and general tough" who was made Warden OF
the Tombs Prison through w. r. GIace's active
influence. will doubt for moment the charges
of favoritism, cruelty and extortion which the
convict Driscoll. with the avengInS halter
almost about his neck. so solemnly makes.
II is not too much TO say that the appointment
Of this fellow Walsh was scandalous ana
impudent act of downright defiance to pubic
oninion. His bad character was well known.
Indeed il is stamped full upon his face. In
an interview last week, Mayor Hewitt told or
a nrisoner who had communicated to him
story which. if true, shows that he had been
uninstly confined The Mayor spoke to Walsh
of the matter. and this was his Characteristic
reply If you want the man discharged Will
sord him bacl, to court and have him dis
charged"
Think of it This petty ward politician,
This ex-keeper Of vicious resorts, Will send
him hack to court" and will 81 have him dls-
cbargedo Well may Mr. Hewitt sarcastlcaily
ask "What sort of justice is this? ?" Where
in the world did Walsh get the power to COM
mol the courts to rcscind their action? How
comes it that mere jailcr. intrusted with the
duty Of keeping prisoners III confinement can
release them at his own pleasure as favor
TO men of position and influence! lhaU IT,
mark of itself should suffice to cause his mlne-
date dismissal, and it would, too, but Tor the
fact that behind him is arraycd the influence
of persons eminently respectable in all except
their political relations. to whom Walsh' IN his
canacity of vOte-gcttcr has been OF service
Driscolps statements arc not only full and eX-
niicit but they are made with all the convlnc-
inc sincerity of man who fully realizes That
his bours on earth are told. lie declares that
Walshs treatment of prisoners who are physl-
callv weak. aged, helpless and poor is brutal
and tyrannical in the extreme; that he starves
prisoners to compel them to patroniZe his own
kitchen, charging cxorbitant prices for what
eyer he serves ; that he kept four little boys IN
an unfinished stone cell for three weeks dur
ing bitterly cold weather that he heaped pro-
fame abuse upon an old cripple and kept him
in solitary confinement for two months upon no
otber cause than his humble request for better
food. and in his own case he charges upon
Walsh falschood and outrageous cruelty.
Driscoll is a convicted murderer and the law
looks upon his evidence as tainted. bu' coming
ut such a moment and in such way. and with
every natural presumption supporting its truth,
one would suppose that the Commissioners OF
Charities and Correction. who have charge OF
the Tombs. would at least investigate it. But
when a question was put to them intended to
draw ont an intimation of their probable action,
they made that same tircsomc, worn-out, stupid
cxcuse awe know nothing Of these charges
officially; we shall not investigate unless they
are brought before u.s." Commissioners Porter
even saws that "as a Christian man. he can
not entertain any complaint that Driscoll
makes because he is bad. Since Mr. Porter
thinks it necessary to bring his position as
"Cbristian man. into the case, it is proper TO
saw that it is Just to that phase of his manhood
that Driscolrs allegations should most strongly
appeal
Perhaps Mr.. Hewitt, who has shown such
sincere interest in the citys welfare. may be
strong enough to take his own advice and rise
above sordid politics and take measures TO rid
New-York of the disgrace of " Fatty" Walshs
continued presence in the Warden's oElce
lie has lust told the public how grossly uniit
for the place The man IS. He knows his past
history. He will confer most substantial
benefit on the decent people OF the CITY II ne
will exert his potent influence to induce the
Commissioners 20 carry out their obvious duty