New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-29
A BLOT ON THE CITY'S NAME.
HORRIBLE CONDITION IN WHICH TAM
MANY HAS KEPT THE TOMBS.


SINGING PREsENTMrNT BY THE
GRAND JURY - IMPROVE
MENTs CALLED FOR.
The overcrowded condition of the Tombs, as
result OF Tammany misruc in this city, which
was described in The Tribune few weeks ago.
has been investigated by the Grand Jury, COM
mittee of which made a careful inspection OF the
prison and of other buildings in the Enclosure last
week AS a natural result the Grand Jury made
a presentment on the subject yesterday. before
being discharged by Judge Fitzgerald, In the
Court of General Sessions. describing the condi-
ton of the Tombs in language too plain TO be
misunderstood There was no attempt to explain
xvhv the accommodations for prisoners awaiting
trial have been allowed TO become disgrace TO
the city but every intelligent New-Yorker knows
that the cause was the utter indifference OF the
Tammany bosses to public health and decency.
The Tammany bosses preferred to promote
schemes in which there were opportunities Tor
fiat" contracts. and they did not care II any num-
nor or innocent men were crowded with criminals
of the lowest sort in prison cells, where they
might contract incurable disease. They DID not
see any opportunities to make money lot theH-
selves or for their political favorites In proVd-
ing ample and decent accommodations for men
who were accused of crime and were uhaDie ~
give bail While awaiting lrldi AHey i"'"S' pa
ferred to have the prisons made as offensive as
possible and kept under their control, IN oroer
that they might prey upon the weak and unfortu-
nate and extort money from them when they
were arrested and accused Of crime. In the pre-
sentiment of the Grand Jury yesterday the report
Of its special committee is given as follows
The erection of the Tombs prison was begun, IN
1875 and completed in 1898. the site of the Coiiect
pond The consequence r. that the main prison mas
settled SO far thai the heavy walls are cracked from
the roof to the foundation By IN me census oi i'"
the city r sa hln Sad @ S cells for and thirty
cells for women SINCE that tine t nrv nSoe bovs
Cells make total Of 2s while oo the population
has ths ecommodacns have increased from B
to 2a5 cells. During the month OF May me nu M per
n The aotS inst. the number was S5. owing to the
special effort of the May Grand Jury to redues me
voted their special attention during the sitting The
Board of Charities recommends the aooillon %, -V
cells and your committee indorses TINS request.
HOW THE CHANGES CAN BE MADE
This can he done by taking in the Centre-st. side
of the prison and by carrying the main prison up
as many stories as may be considered safe by the
architects charge 1t seems that in planning ,he
present Criminal Courts Building. though very me
rooms were appropriated for Police Justices iOr
court there there was provision made for the
temporary prisoners brought to court ana a~ae,ns
TO remain in the Tombs Building. This IS trivial "a.
excuse for the that pens could De paceu ~
a ppnms o. IN the Criminal Courts Building appropr
ated for them This would enable the %n1 lions with
rooms on the ground floor for cooking laundry
Ws ya arS the aun Cooking and sleeping
violations of the Tombs entirely Inadequate anu d
pTI on ing lS When IS To- provide food for 800
persons is 25x25 feet not large enough FOR smail
bn loom foT Sleeping is but i2x feet
In this room twenty-seven employees are oonsed
The hospital is but SKIS feet. and in this place
all sSsy are na rompaed to a By to
ar hospital for acute or CONTAGIOUS diseases are are
ist When it is known that the most hlthy ppSo ,.
ton of our people are sent here reeXing WIN n1n
conveniences can be realized:
The ny ARE sse.a there w sfs nothing but
stone floor upon which to lie ana your 6ssS SE mat
This number Of persons could be Accommodated
clear and here two persons placed and both
sleep on marrow cot with one mans 1eet IN me
placing more than one person In cell Is the nec-
essary mingling of the most hardened criminas
with perhaps innocent men arrested on suspicion SUSPICION
hs pPs ssPs that %en hs
ter is brought to the attention Of the people there
will not be "a dissenting voice to any v expenditure
This same committee also visited the House or
Detention for Witnesses in Mulberry-st.. and
found twelve prisoners there who are States Wit
nesses. OF those on, has been confined four
months. one two months and six for one month
each. The Grand Jury ended its presentment
by calling the attention Of the City Magistrates
to the fact. and calling upon them to see to II
that these witnesses were not unduy detained.
INDICTMENTS DISMISSED
The Grand jury has during the last month
disposed Of 1856 cases and 1t has ordered the
dismissal Of eighty-Hx indictments. The jury
men were formally discharged by Judge Fitz7
gerald with the thanks OF the Court Before
adjourning court. Judge Fitzgerald took occasion
publicly to thank Assistant District-Attorney
Stephen J. O'Hare for his work. In the last
month Mr.. OHare has disposed Of 346 cases.
Warden Fallon expressed unfeigned delight a,
the presentment made by the Grand Jury as tc
the Tombs, Of which he has been in charge fol
the last four years
II have been fighting for more room and bet
ter accommodations" said the Warden, lever
since I came here l have been severely hand
capped all along. and with the increase Of popu
lation and consequent increase in prisoners e
be expected IN the future. the situation was
discouraging. / hope from the bottom OF m;
heart that the suggestions Of the Grand jury
will be carried out at once"