New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-11
WHO ARE BACK OF WEBSTERs
THE MAN WHO KILLED GOODWIN HAS
STRONG FRIENDS.

THEY SUCCEED IN KEEPING HIM IN JEFFEE
SON MARKET PRISON IN SPITE OF THE
JUSTICES ORDER THAT HE BE
TAKEN TO THE ToMBs-wHAT
THE OFFICIALS SAY.
The fact that Bcrtram C. Webster, who killed
C. f. Goodwin, was not arrested until he had
taken his own time to hire a cab ana
drive to the Office of his lawyers,
Howe & Hummel, in Centre-st. and there
surrender himself, which he did on Friday, has
been subject of general remark among all law
abiding citizens, who wonder what powerful in
fuence is at work in behalf Of Webster. But now
comes another phase of the question in regard to
this same case in which the conduct of the officials
of the District Attorneys office or those having
control Of the government Of the city prisons. can
be characterized by no other term than that OF
| outrageous.
II is q matter Of common knowledge that JET
ferson Market prison and all Of the other subordi-
| nate prisons in the city to which prisoners
charged with grave crimes are temporarily COM
| mitted awaiting the completion of the preliminary
examinations and the sending forward of the
cases to the Grand Jury are merely receiving
stations. In the case of Webster, who was az
raigned on Saturday in Jefferson Market Court.
to the Tombs, but retained in custody in the Jef-
ferson Market prison. awaiting the action OF the
| coroner's Jury Police Justice Kelly before whom
the hearing was had promptly declined TO accede TO
| this rcauest and made an order that Webster be
| committed TO the Tombs. Notwithstanding this
the prisoner still remains in cell No T. on the hrst
tier, in Jefferson Market prison, and from what
could he gathered yesterday from the officials
there. they have resolved to keep him until the
testicony of the coroner's inquest has been taken
and verdict rendered
reporter of The Tribune saw Commissioner
| Edward c. Shechy. of the Department Of Charities
| and Correction, yesterday, and asked him oy
what authority Webster was permitted to remain
| In Jefferson Market prison. instead Of being
removed at once to the Tombs. after the COM
| mitment had been made out and signed by the
| Police Justice
| There is nothing unusual about this said
| Commissioner Sheehy. 80 far as / am able to
| see"
| But is it not the invariable custom in such
| cases 70 have prisoners locked up in the
| TOmbs?"
at is not. said Mr. Sheehy. sunless it is SO
| ordered by the Judge"
But such an order made in this caseP'
"That may be so, but in the case of any commit
| ments Of prisoners on Saturday afternoon or Sun
| day. it is always understood that they are TO be
| kept in the branch prisons until after Sunday.
| Our four vans go to Harlem. Jefferson Market,
Essex Market. and Yorllville prisons each day
| and on Saturday in the forenoon If any commit
| ments are made during the remainder Of that
| day or on Sunday prisoners are removed to
| the Tombs until Monday. 1t is only in special
cases that they are taken away from one OF
| these prisons on Sunday for example, where
| prisoner is in danger of death and has TO be re-
moved to hospital, or where Is afflicted with
| a contagious disease Then again, II the warden
| should fear :or the safety of his prisoner and
make report 10 that effect. he is at once sent
| to the Tombs"
| But. Mr. Sheehy." said the reporter. Z" Satur-
| day and Sunday are passed. and why is not Web
ster now in the Tombs ?"
We'll" said he. you will have to see tho
| police Justice about that. The man is perfectly
secure in Jefferson Market and bis movements
| there are more restricted even than they would
| I've in the TOmbs. for in the former place the
| rule is that he be confined in bis cell during
the entire twenty-fOur hours. whereas in the
| Tombs he is allowed an hour or more exercise
| during the day"
At the Jefferson Market prison the warden made
a well-feigned gesture of surprise as to why Web
sters retention there should be the subject of any
| remark Why" said he with knowing look,
{" have YOU any fear that the prisoner isn't safe
here? ?"
SHOULD you not have removed him to the
Tombs?"
Certainly not: we will keep him here until he
is conveyed from here to the COroner's office. We
do not send prisoners TO the !ombs until full com
| initials are made out: that is until we have the
verdict of the cOrOner's jury.
| did not Justice Kelly commit him TO the
Nv instructions are that he be kept here until
th. Coroner sends for HIM.
| Who instructed you?
| "Those are my Instructions" was the reply
| Further questions proved useless. Deputy War
den Finlay was seen at the TOmbs in place of war,
den FallOn, who is on his vacation Cerrlnly,
said he with the utmost readiness. ana without
| susppcting the object OF the inquiry, " tie IN
| variable custom is to bring here men who have
| been committed TO await the action OF the Irano
jury regardless altogether OF what Is done Dy tne
cOrOner's Jury. or when IL IS done o..
| why has Webster not been brought here y
| Upon my word, sir, said he = cannot tel;
you will have to go TO Jefferson MorKet' OF some
| where else, to find that out. Ill
As the reporter turned away he met well.
known Tammany politician. FOR an tne sake. sakes
! but let me say, although am lammans man,
that the detention of Webster in Jefferson Market
prison instead Of in the iGoS IS sSfIu naa s'e
| II is said that he has less liberty In Jefferson
| Market than he would have IN the Iombs n
| Nonsense! Any child knows different. Ihere
is on the contrary, every freedom imaginable IN
Jcferson Market. And then, you know he added
with sly smile, a man might be in Jefferson
| Market for NIGHT or two without exciting much
remark : but once person enters the Tombs every
body knows about it and every one knows that the
crime charged is a grave and weighty one. Oh,
| Webster has plenty of money and good backing -
he gave knowing wink" and il would be really
100 bad, YOU know, 10 have him in the Tomos'
Please now don't give my name
Police Justice Kelly is in Saratoga.