The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-15

Justice Burke, he says, asked him II
he had any home. Kelly thought the
Justice meant IL he owned property VI
"oS course i told him did not have
a house" said Kelly, in detailing ms
boarding at present, If that is what you
mean
Committed ms Vngrnnt.
He declares that Justice Burke did
not ask him another questlon, inStvnn
To an officer. The next moment, as
Kelly tells 1T, he was, a prisoner.
"Why, II was the biggest sur ~ isThd
Evening World" reporter. IL simply
asked him to do me favor which even
the corner grocer could nave zone lI'
me. do not wart to be committed .
j was no vagrant.. why, l could have nave
been taken care of by. the Sisters who
look after our post i | Ta mas any
"The moment the policeman laid ms
hand on my shoulder l protested, pul
/ was pushed from the courti-r HMda
IN ell night and compelled to lie on a
plank bed, along side of the worst speci-
mems of humanity l ever saw In my
II did not know what the outcome of
Il all would be, and was so ashamed
and mortified that | did not send any
word to my friends, l thought per dS;pT
ali. / was in terrible agony and did
not sleep a wink that night. The FOOD
got there was something a%fui; ,
Next day." he continued, II was
put into the van with half a dozen
others. One man had the jaundice and
was even worse off than ]. Wei, they
Yorkvilie Court, and then to Essex
Market, and finally we were lodged IN
the Tombs, where the paper Justice
Burke had signed for me was hahueu
Kelly's story of life in the Tombs would
fill volume Being ill., he was probably
allowed a little more privilege than the
others. He was told he was vagrant,
and had to sleep at night in the char
which he sat in during the day. ,.-,.
~ was hoping even then sald hendg NY
and have me sent to the HOSPITAL, but
during all the time ! was there never
got a particle Of medical treatment, al
though ! was In torture
Rescued by missionary stephens.
Kelley was In such pitlable condition.
and looked 80 out of place In the prison
with his Grand Army button and blue
suit that he attracted the attention OF
Mr.. Sephens, the missionary The latter
who attends the T0mbs almost daily
heard his story and became Interested
and resolved If possible to get him out.
He began search Of the records, but
could ind nothing showing that the
man had actually been committed as "a
VaErant
Learning the name and number of the
Post to which the man belonged, Mr.
Stephens visited Adit, Thompson. The
latter was thunderstruck.
why" said the Adjutant to the re
reporter yesterday, "Comrade Kccly was
one of the best men In the Post, and Is
past officer Of 1t. He Is steadyg1ins
man, and has aneXcellent record. The
fact that he had heen put In prison as
vagrant nearly took my breath away
when ] heard IT,.
hn
perslstently. but he did not seem able TO
get keely out. The latter. In the mean
time, had written to his daughter on
Staten Island. ana she came up to New
York to demand an explanation from the
man who had sent her father to prison
aas vagrant, when even 4 ne had no
money she had "A comfortable home for
him. She saw Justice Burke, and was
amazed when the latter said:
why, my dear woman, your father
committed himself!'
Anyhow, ne gave her an order for her
fathers Discharge. That was Wcdnes-
day last, and Keely who had then been
in Jail full week, was released,
When the reporter called at 81 West
One undred ana Forty-iifth street yes
terday Keely was at first not inclined
to tell his story.
said, and ii they found out was talk.
Ing about my case they might try and
have me put out OF '.ly position. and !
expect to 20 back to work again Mon
day morning. You can't tell what kind
OF charge they might make against me
But It Is an outrage TO say hiatt |
swear that all ] asked Justice Burke for
was few lines to some hospital.
Il have go d want of the law, but
way to treat 4 m IN whl rise his ,ife
for his country when half the fellows
who are now running things were hiding
Justice Burke was not at the Harlem
Police Court yesterday, but chief Clerk
John Me Cabe, who Is also Secretary to
the Board of Police Justices. was When
the story of Kelly's trials was explained
said:
~ cannot believe that Justice Burke
would hold any man unless nhe actually
asked to be committed, or had been ar
rested"
Then he went over the records and
found under date OF Sept 6, the follow
Ing entry
Mare, Address Charge Dlspn
william kelly, 81 West 10th raF. Charities
THAT entry shows" continued Mr. Mr.
McCahe,. that Kelly must have com
mitted himself, and told the Justice
that he had no home. Furthermore, he
have been perfectly sober at the time
That Is not what we call a commitment
IN tn latter case man is sent up to
the island for six months or so.
IN kellN's case he was simply re-
ferrcd 10 the Commissioners of Charities
and Correction; II lay with the, latter
They could discharge him in day. or
week, or send him to the hospital.
JuTt nS the saw tit
AS 10 kCcly's statement that he asked
the Justice to send him to hospital, /
don't clearly understand II, | was not
here at the time. | do know that If
the Justice really thinks a man IL a sub
tect for hospital he always rings up an
ambulance and has him taken away"
Warden O Brien. Of the Harl, m Prison,
showed the reporter the plank bed which
Keely complains of. The bed" consists
OF IA number of boards placed side by
side, about seven feet along, making
what might he called a bench The lat
ter Is placed on an incline, so that the
head" which rests against the wall.
is about twelve inches higher than the
foot" 4 long board also forms the
pillow. The room, which sometimes ac-
Commodate thirty or forty prisoners. Is
kalsomined and lighted by two barred
windows
what do they want?" said Mr..
OBricn as he showed the reporter out.
"Feathered beds and pillows? Thae is
much better than they can get outside
Why those boards are swept down
every day"