Evening star., 1895-11-01
LETTERS FROM THE JAIL
How Prisoners Plead for Liberty and q
Chance to Reform
This is q Season of the Year When
Many a Poor Wretch is Glad
to Go to Jail.

Person under what are known in prisons
as long terms" do not find it very uncom-
Portable at times, although under the gen.
eral run of things those who are sentenced
to the District Jail are not supposed to do
anything other than spend their time in
cells, with occasional few minutes for
exercise in the corridor. With the social
ed 'long-term' prisoners, however, it is
different for the prison officials have to
utilize them to do work about the building
and grounds. including service in the
kitchen. At the workhouse it is entirely
different, for there the prisoners are sup
posed to go out and perform some kind of
labor Some of this labor is done on the
streets, while other work about the farm
occupies the time and attention of some of
those who are unfortunate enough to fall
into the hands of the police.
At this season of the year there are some
prisoners who are delighted with Jail sem
tence. for this means a warm, comfortable
home for them, and plenty Of food, with
little or no work to do. On the other hand,
workhouse sentence is not so desirable,
for a few days work in cleaning snow out
In the cold weather. with wet feet, Is cal
culated to make any man wish he could go
to some other climate. even If he had to
tramp there.
The Letter Writers.
In both the jail and workhouse there are
usually a number of men who are letter
writers, and these individuals pass their
time writing to friends when they can get
the necessary stationery and postage
stamps.
But these letters are subject to inspection
by the Jail officials. and. therefore. the con-
tents Of them are different from what they
taken because it might prevent plan for
jail delivery being successfully carried out
Most colored men write to their sweet
hearts. some Of the officials say. while
the white men write to male friends This
rule applies only to the common, everyday
prisoner. and not to the professional thieves
and the occasional prisoner who Is in moro
than commonplace circumstances.
Some of the prisoners do not forget to ad-
dress notes to persons whom they expect
will do them some good and perhaps get
them out Of prison.
A Pathetic Appeal.
Prosecuting Attorney Mullowny recently
received from a colored man under sentence
in jail a letter as follows:
Hon District Attorney Police Court Mr.
Mullowny.
Sir: After having worried and tortured
my weak, ignorant brain until my head reels
in pain, and in silent meditation Of a solemn
shame, l can ma no Otuer way COuceiNdDic
under the canopy of heaven than to call
upon your name. Mr.. Mullowny, If your
honor allows, please, sir. for Gods sake
have mercy upon my four little. small chill
dren, whose mother is delicate and their
condition is hundred per cent worse than
mine. l feel that through the fiuency of
your powerful speech. in brief remark, You
could implore the Hon. Judge Miller to sus-
pend the remainder of my time or give me
personal bonds that may have a chance to
recuperate in the potato gathering time
and get my family out of the slums of Goat
alley.
They are harbored in one room and may
cause the District more trouble by disease.
| Fhe hardness of the times and debt are the
| principal causes of my famly's present
| condition, and an overdose of rum on the
| 14th instant is the cause of my present fate,
for which 1 confess that am heartily sorry
| and ashamed. Therefore humbly pray to
God that you will help me for my destitute
| family's sake, and l will be ever cautious,
| courteous, honest and temperate for the re-
| roainder of my day. Is my humble cry to God
| and the universe. Dear sir. know that If
| you withheld your wrath from the diamond
thief you can save a poorer wretch as I.
And you will not be doing me a favor alone,
but you will be showering blessings upon the
| heads of seven other poor souls terribly
more deserving Of happiness. One lifeboat
| can save many a perishing soul to shun
| the tidal wave.
Your. very humble. confessing servant.
-, thirty days in jail; arrested and badly
| beaten on the 14th instant and committed to
| thirty days for assault; fine, SO Residence,
] ID Goat alley; front room. upstairs; wife and
| four children; laborer.
Sometimes Released.
Only few days ago a white man sentenc-
| ed to the farm because of his bad conduct.
resulting from the use of Intoxicating liquor
addressed to the officer who had arrested
| him the following:
Secgt. John c. Daily:
| Dear Sir: AS L am now sober. and fully
| realize the shame attaching to the fact of
| being an inmate of this asylum, 1 will ask
| en- my personal bond. and with the sole
and specific condition of taking the pledge
and abstaining in future from all intoxi-
| cants of whatever character.
| l cannot close this hastily written note
| without expressing sincere regret for caus-
| ing you to do what l know you very re.
| luctantly did in causing my arrest. How,
| ever. let the past be buried beyond recol
| lection, as my future conduct shall be up.
| right, honest, and in keeping with respec,
due my father in his declining years Hop
| ing it may be in your power to grant mt
the above favor, l am, sir. yours respect
fully,
p. s.: Would be pleased to have yol
| answer at your earliest convenience
These letters were given due considera
ton. and the man who signifed desire tt
take the pledge and do better was released
the next day.
Such letters are received from prisoner.
almost every day, and the attorneys ant
court officers always give them due con
sheraton.
DIR. BradfOrd's Sentence.
DIR. Orlando E. Bradford, who was last
week convicted of having in his possession
plates for counterfeiting 500 bills, was
sentenced Wednesday in New York to six
years in the Kings county penitentiary
Owing to the fact that he revealed to the
secret service the hiding place of number
of plates and a quantity of counterfeit
securities he escaped longer sentence.