Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-31
POLICE ON THE MOVE.
Central Station Removed From Dia-
mond Street to Oak Alley.


April 1, like many r
the city they decided to ILL.,
days before, and to-day the Cenlla. .ce
station address is Oak alley, near Liberty
street, instead of Diamond street, as it was
yesterday morning. The last prisoner
in the old station was Jacob Sny-
der, of the Fourth ward, who
was arrested yesterday morning
by Detective McTighe on charge of horse
stealing He was transferred to the Jail at
noon and few hours later force of work.
men had torn down the cells, the furniture
and carpet had been removed, and the
Diamond alley station had become q men,
ory. In the meantime the Oak alley STA
tion was opened for business. Sergeants
Gray and Metz had followed their books to
their new quarters and stood smilingly
awaiting the first conner.
They did not have long to wait. Thomas
Brady, an old-timer, was captured early in
the afternoon in his usual condition of in
toxication at Eleventh and Liberty streets
by Officer Frank Yeager, who called the
wagon and sent him in. A number of other
prisoners were gathered in during the after
noon and evening, but to Brady belongs the
unenviable distinction Of being the first
prisoner in the new station.
Tho New Central Police Station.
The new station is not nearly completed,
but the cells are as strong as they will ever
be, and there Is little danger of any prisoner
ever escaping from them. 1t will require
several weeks for the carpenters, painters
and plumbers to finish up the interior of
the building. Its exterior appearance is
not handsome now, but a few coats of paint
will effect great improvement. From the
outside the building is an exact counterpart
of the quaint looking county jails to be
seen all through the South. The gabled
roof, the weather-worn walls, and the large
open space surrounding the building, all
suggest the Southern idea
But the interior is vastly different. The
cell arrangements are of the most modern
designs. The bars are of steel, the doors
are arranged so that when closed they are
locked so securely they cannot be opened
without key, and each apartment is pro-
vided with the latest improvements in
every particular. The lighting and ventila-
tion of the cellroom is perfect, and the ar
rangement for the reception of prisoners and
keeping men and women out OF sight of
each other at all times has been cleyerly
done. The matron's room on the second
floor is provided with bath, beds and other
conveniences for the comfort and proper
handling, of lost children and sick pso-
separated entirely from the main
prison, where wayward girls will
be securely kept until returned to their
parents or friends. The spacious court room
on the first floor is conveniently arranged,
and the roomy yard around the building is
being paved with a smooth asphalt pave
ment, which will fill the long-felt want Of
police drill ground.
Renewing nm Old Landmark.
. The old Central station on Diamond street
will soon be torn down and by most people
forgotten. 1t has been the temporary prison
of many noted and desperate characters, and
it has been the scene of many sensational
events in criminal life. More than a
hundred murderers have been confined
within its walls, burglars and thieves
it has held by the thousands
and many life has passed out there
despite the strong iron bars. There is no
record to show how many deaths by sui
eide have occurred in the old station nor
how many prisoners have escaped. This or
other information of similar character is
available only in the memory of those con-
nected with the department.
The present building on Diamond street
was built in 1872. The city leased Will
kins Hall, Fourth avenue, running through
to Diamond street, in 1857, when Henry
Weaver was Mayor. The station had been
in the English block, on the opposite side of
the street. In wilkins Hall were located
the Mayors, Treasurer's and Controllers
offices. The cell room was rickety one
story affair and was finally abandoned and
torn down when the present building was
pies the old Wilkins Hall site. Captain
William Reed, the oldest police officer in
the United States, was the first official oc-
cupant of the old station, and he was the
last to leave it, in company with Dan Silvis
and Roger O'Mara, the two next oldest Off
GERS in the city, yesterday afternoon. Cap
tain Reed will be comfortably provided for
in tho new Sfafion