New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-12
PRICE THREE CENTS.
WEBSTER is IN THE TOMBS
THE TRIBUNEs INQUIRY FOLLOWED BY
PROMPT ACTION
INTERESTING CONTRADICTIONS IN THE STATE
MENTs or oFFIuALs-sIGNITcANT
ADNIcSrO

The officials at Jefferson Market prison and some
, of rhe officials in the Office Of the Commissioners
| OF Charities and Correction were Obliged, of
course, TO endure the intense heat OF the last two
| days, like anybody else. and they did endure il.
| But when to this was added yesterday Tho
Tribune's earnest inquiry about the special favor
shown TO Bertram c. Webster, who killed Charles
f. Goodwin, in holding him In Jefferson Market
| prison instead of the Tombs, to which prison he
was committed by Justice Kelly, they capitilated
| Immediately. Jerry" Bush drove Black Maria
| No. (which, by the way, isn't black at al-in
| the morning from jefferson Market TO the Tombs
with number of prisoners of whom Webster was
one. He was sullen and gloOmy-looking as he was
| led out, handcuiTed to q prisoner named James
Thompson, who is charged with grand larceny.
| The man who killed Goodwin downcast and
gloomy and did not have word to say. He was
| taken to cell No 66. on the second tier Of the
Tombs, and was locked up. When he sat down on
his cot he began TO converse in undertones with
John Freeman, who is charged with manslaughter
and who occupied the same cell with him. Mr..
Allen of the firm Of Howe 81 IIummel, the counsel
for Webster. visited him after his arrival
and had long conversation with him. He warned
him against TALKING with anybody about his case.
Edward G. Sheehy, Commissioner of Charities
and Correction, when seen by Tribune reporter.
appeared to be relieved that the prisoner had been
locked up safely in the Tom6s.
did you order his removal to the Tombs, Mr..
Sheehy?'
81 did mott said he. "Wheu Judge Kelly dis
| rosed of the case and made out the committal Of
| the prisoner il then a question With the
warden OF Jefferson Market to the disposal Of
| Webster
You will admit that he ought to have been
taken to the Tombs on Monday morning, at least''
The official at Jefferson Market will probably
be able better to answer that" Mr Sheehy said.
Were any prisoners removed in the prison
van from Jefferson Market on Monday2'
| Il understand So but it was thought better
not to remove him with 'vags'
"Vagabonds ?"
"No; 'vags. We call vagrants 'vags's you
know. You can see nothing has been lost. nor
has the safety of the prisoner been in the least
imperlled by holding him until today"
| But after ALL he linked to 4 burglar on
| the way the Tombs to-day" suggested the
reporter, and isn't burglar supposed to be
yagabond?'
| II suppose So"
| But not a 'vag,' perhaps?"
perhaps not said the Commissioner. smiling,
in the sense mean. We call tramp or other
lesser criminal of that kind vag.'"
Jerry" BuSh the driver of the prison van, was
asked if he had gone to Jefferson Market on Mon
day to remove prisoners He said that he had.
Was any mention made to you of Webster"
None whatever. Ii was none OF my business
| to inquire. took some prisoners from there to
the river 10 ship them TO the Island, and I car
| ried some also TO the Tombs, but Webster was nos
| one Of them"
| "Were you instructed TO inquire for Webster ?"
| "No; nothing was said to me about him, and IL
| was not my duty to say anything"
| Deputy Warden McDermott, who has been for
| only a week at Jefferson Market, whittier he was
transferred from the Tombs, denied emphaticaly
that the prison had made a trip to the
| Tombs on Monday.
Were any prisoners at all removed from here
| on Nonday?'
"Yes, load of prisoners was taken to the
Island"
why was not Webster removed to the Tombs ?"
Because we did not wish TO make the journey
there with one man"
Who told you TO remove him to-day?"
Myself. Tuesdays and Fridays arc the days
when the Court Of Special Sessions is held, and
these are the principal days when We remove pris-
oners to the Tombs."
Did you receive instructions from any of the
Commissioners regarding Webster"
4" ! went over to the Office to-day" said McDer-
Webster, and | told him that had just sent him
down in the van"
If it was merely to avoid making journey
with only one prisoner, why was it said here yes
terday that it was the regular custom to keep such
persons here until the cOroncrs inquest, and that
there would be no departure from this custom in
the case of Webster?"
That was altogether a mistake" said McDer-
mott hastily. 4" 1t not the custom and is not
the custom. We showed no especial favor to
Webster here. Why should We? .Io treated
as any other man would be treated who was
charged with such grave crime, and for my own
part, to tell you the truth. am glad that the man
is taken from M jurisdiction lie was safe here,
of course, but he is saier there.
Mr. Allen, Of counsel for the defence, SAID tnat
Judge Kelly made q mistake in the first instance
in signing cOmmttal 70 the TombS on the aft
davits of "A few policemen and before the ties ln0ny
taken ard a verdict rendered by the coroners
When asked if ii was upon this ground that the
application was made t. have Webster detained in
Jefferson Market, he admitted that IT was not, AMI
would not deny that il because there are better
facilities for seeing prisoners in Jefferson Market
and that they not so much shut on from the
outer world there they would be in the Iombs
Deputy Warden Finlay. at the I0lnbs. SAID
that the visiting hours there were FROM l0;30
until / as. and that outside of that time nobody
would be allowed 10 communicate with Webster
When the reporter Went 10 the iron grating OK
cell No 66 TO ask Webster if he had anything 70
say, the prisoner shook his head.
"IIas your counsel seen You here"
YES said he. Frightening up, "he has only
Just left | would like very much 10 make
statement in my own behalf. but. following the
advice of NV counsel / will say nothing.
There is this advantage" said lawyer who
does business in the various police courts, for
n prisoner in striving to be kept In the police
conrt iail An effort 10 get bail is more likely
to he successful in one cf these district courts
than in the Tombs. When a man j. in the rombs
the papers must he made out IN the Di,trict-At-
torncy's Office Then, again. | have had caSes in
which il was easier ~ work the matter 6T hail
from tie Tombs than from one Of the police
courts I, was both spirited and pniscworthv
ON the part OF The Tribune this morning." he
added in securing the prompt removal Of Web.
ster 10 the Tombs. which, as a matter Of pllr
legal procedure should not have been deaye,
one hour after the commitment by Judge Kelly
The Coroners inquest will be begun today.