The sun., 1896-10-18
THE WOMEN IN THE TOM3S.
7yEr,RE Am INNOCENT, THEY SAT-,
EXCIpT MRS. TURPHP.
Mr. Murphy IL Jour. ,r She Is Guilty

pt Outing Time Dem rnnor orthe Women.
The Fourth OF July was moro OF n holiday this
ycRr than 1t ever was before. There had always
been one place that II could not enter. That
,lace was the Tnmbs prison. In vain 1t thun-
drrcd away Mt tlIc walls and made more noise
thnn the tru mpots around Jericho. They never
eyen tr.mblcd. The national holiday was just
the same as any other prison day TO the people
in the cells.
This year however. the Fourth of July inau-
rurated new departure In the women's prison.
Last spring u new matron was put In charge.
She had never before been n prison matrou, so
abe was not accustomed to the routine and she
pcrmittcd herself to think OF changes. Tho
women prisoners are not locked In their cells
during The day: that Is unless they are unruly.
They are allowed to walk and sit in the corri-
dor into which their cells open. Along each
side of this corridor runs a bencn. and when all
the prisoners are sitting down they fll these
benches completely. They walk up ana
down. but the corridor Is not lofg and 1t is
narrow.
When the Fourth Of July came, Matron Smith
looked at the women prisoners passing the hol-
iday on their benches. as usual, and she thou ght
10 herself that it wasn't a very exhilarating
celebration. Then she had an idea. She
thought ii over for a while and finally she asked
the Warden IL she could not let the women walk
in the yard from 8 80 to in the afternoon. The
Warden was bit surprised at first by so radical
a proposition but took look at the yard aud
another look at the women in their corridor,
and consented on the spot Since that day, the
women prisoners have had their half hour of
fresh air every pleasant afternoon.
The Tombs yard is not cheerful place. but
in the matter Of promenades prisoners cannot
be choosers. The view is not everything that
could he desirp1 owing nriprpullv n he iyl
walls which would reach to tho third story OF
an ordinary building. The yard ramtes n good
deal. II runs In long, narrow sections around
and between the different parts of the prison.
But the yard does more wandering around than
the women are allowed to do. They have the
freedom o. only one section of it. a space about
25 feet wide and 1o feet long. 1t is paved with
large. rough granite blocks 1t Is a dull, ugly
place. but the air is pure: tho free winds OF
heaven blow through it, and there is an ex-
tremely large strip of sky overhead.
Last Thursday, which was a beautiful day.
Miss Hardy. one OF the matrons, allowed a
woman reporter for THE Sun to Join her and the
prisoners in their afternoon walk. 1t was the
second time the reporter had done this. and IL
was moro interesting than any of the O'Clock
teas which she may have missed because ofit.
The first time the women were already in the
yard. They were walking up and down or
standing around in gossiping groups. Some OF
them prone aded arm in arm. or even with their
arms around each others waists, like affection
ate schoolgirls. Others walked alone with bent
heads, Others were laughing together. stop
ping to scratch a match against the stOre prison
wall and light n cigarette Maria Barberi
walking arm in arm with two other prisoners
tried TO catch every word hat her companions
sad. Mar'a's English grows daily, but she has
As Tho reporter entered tho yard woman
standing in a group near by looked up quickly.
She wore, black gown and had tied n thick
black veil over her head. but not over her face.
The moment she saw stranger she pulled the
ve!l down, aud all the time the newspaper
woman was there the veil wasn't lifted she
was Sophie Lyon. the notorious snopliftsr,
whose picture is in the Rogues' Gallery, and
who would scarcely be suspected Of such
IRENE relIcence.
Next to Sorhic Lyon. mysteriously shrouded
as she was in black, the most interesting figure
feet tail. us straight as arrow and strik-
tnHiy hana.omc. she was evidently out OF her
mind. as some OF the other PRISONERS sign ned 10
the reporter by tappn. their torcheads mean
insr. She had gone ont OF the space where
corner Of another passage and taken Il head OF
Ga6b4Go CAB tG irnin , eaTre!. Everybody !nughed
them the happiest ard most care-fTee propls in
the world. The uatron laughed with .hem. was
lenent and jovial with the negress, but man
aged her to perfection.
Last Thursday the reporter wns in the ma
irons room when the iron gates which close he
womens corridor were unlocked. and for the
hrst time in II week Or two the prisoners were
permitlrd TO go into the yard. The weather has
been Iucement. and most OF the women are not
properly clad for being out on a raw. damp day.
IL II the customary thing to say 1.-THE poor Crea-
lures" did 50 aud so IN writing OF prisoners.
Well, in many ways they are ponr creatures.
heaven knows! But they haven't any use for
people who come around and look NJ them aS II
they were Wild animals: nor for those who draw
long face and tell them II. sauctimOn!Ous
way how wicked hey are.
wrrtchedly 50. But they don't care to weep on
your shoulder. They have learned by q long
they have nu use for tender admonition. They
WI! talk to you. es, but they tell their story
their own way and you are expected to make at
least show of believing them. According to
the ia! OF the prisoners. the Tombs is just
pagken p,Ssi with 'nnoctnt people people who are
taken appearances or the cruel rapacity OF the
police.
On. how they do love the police!
Not one OF them is guilty. no. not one. The
reporter had chat with Mt least a dozen of
the courts ought TO be called to the cases of
airy; fairy creature in hin blue and white
IN the NECK, and showed her throat, a pretty
IhT,a LainoI a. FOUND and soft as chIlds: Hsr I
bright
,.H,,Whot May Herbert? Assault. Want to
The reporter did want to. so Miss Hardy said
Let me see; what was your charge? Yon
hcata man. didn't you, ami almost killed hlm;"
No'n didn't beat I'M.
Aud YOU called two men from the corner TO
II:
Nom. ! wasn't Mt home at ALL
:, hen why did they arrest your
Nhe shrugged her shoulders.
aus" II was my house guess. ] didn't
peat IL" man, lie was strong enough 20 have
As!Vcd mscf II Id tried to beat him.
be looked lntO
Also, there was the case OF another woman
VINO ramrup just then, woman who look ed
iheFtrrlde Atherton good many degrees
!!o"tF u, the moral scale II mus he SAID In JUS
lce TO Mrs AlhcrtOn. The resemblance. how
SNeF' was striking, even 10 The small knot or
nhr ia ne hack and the long. straight bang in
IF".'' Mrs. AthcrtOn's nRir is blond clear Ia the
I"u,s "h'lr the Tomb, lady had u sort of inter-
,rthNin "f brown h"twcen hrr scalp and the nj
u1L" hl nasty 80 in speak
I'M lh'rrrrEnUm ~ peculiar TO n large num-
;'I ~ 'ih iHlsuu cnIfurr-, and one can look at
~ hti preitF accurately guage the length OF
IiIihr i.HL ihr woman has been there. May
niyr""r brilliant LOCKS. for instance. show
M q l'l'it dn'k iilacr ht the roots, while am
",'irI ""inlns were about half and half. and
H,n, mean. mNuths. The one that looked Ike
nrII'l"'n "llcrton was in for stealing "a watch
~" 'na a.. Ihat I~ to say. that is the charge.
a ,,f fIp la ltnE-