The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-07
ANCIENT PRISON RECORDS.
POLICE COURT IN 1895 STRONGLY
SUGGESTIVE OF TO-DAY,S.

Even n Judicial Joke Preserved In tho Tombs
Like n Fly In Ambor-But who Writes
Them Down Now for the Days when we
shall ne Free rreu weeping ana LauEhteri
The Board Of Aldermen have requested the
contractors who are tearing down the old Tombs
build ing to refrain from removing the Centre
street front walls and porch for q few days, or
until the board decides to do something toward
preserving the Egyptian architectural effects Of
the old City Prison. Contractor J. X. Brown,
who is associated in the work with Michael Ro-
franc, said yesterday that he had held of and
stopped work on the front of the building at tho
request Of the Aldermen; but he said that by
wednesday next there would be nothing left for
him to do except to remove tho Centre street
walls, as by that time he believed he would have
removed all the timber, iron, and glass in the
old building. leaving nothing but tho stone to
be taken down..
Contractors Brown and Rofrano will get q
premium IL thoy complete their part Of the job
OF removing tho Tombs within eight weeks.
This is not tho only reason WHY they are anxious
to go ahead. They are bothered greatly by
relic hunters, who swarm about the old build
ing daily. Last week the contractors had to
call the police to drive the crowd from the side
walk. Tho relic hunters gather from all parts
Of this city, from New Jersey, and from Long
Island. Women scramble over the debris and
poke among the rubbish. One Of these women
told Contractor Rofrano she wanted to buy an
old trunk containing blood stained clothing that
had been found on the roof Of tho old Tombs.
Another begged on Friday to be allowed to hunt
through the cellar for some court records of o
case in which she said she was interested. She
wanted 70 destroy them II sho found them.
The police court records for 1926 are interest,"
inf it s'f oi ' New S1I 9or ssem ss.: Elias B. Roads say,
sleeps sometimes il one place and sometimes II
Many .othor days 10 Ssd nothing 70 eat. 1d:
Judged dl,ord2Fiy and ordered 70 20 committed
to the p'ni''neAf' for 'h As' 6 %Sntn1. Justice"
,r " Sas{ # New %, YS'1 f1 ss;' A Az W, KIM: sT0 Tar.
feot;- James, being examined, says he euessos he
money, and has no clothes, AdjpdGed disorder
N"fhS Following persons are hereby committed
for SIX q % 1S1s each by me- s. circuit, Justice
"Hager jackson. 9 black girl. who live, at
she GAN, but has been in the Bridewell before.
NsysrE and refused 70 ~ for what purpose. :.
Catherine street, where she said she went to
meet a young mar to whom she was engaged to
"Saily Mitchell. aged %, who says she has
ta TSaH .sssS t. gG Sn 3 e 3ta ,tSfss up t ass kSrsh River
relic hunters. who glanced at tho address given
In T fRS f SS@R'i inTsRsFP s slsses that Helen Living
ston. came from Philadelphia to ind her hus.
S SonH; Sns o aSa aatsdt to I the ppe NJ eDtian 70 Tor 1 sfG
month";"
Catherine pusenbury, an old ,drpnkard and
wife Of Moses est the w LiiHr, six months Snaw, In tn the pen Hsin I
heavy BY Reuben Clark, Captain of tho watch,
pa; TSS6atky Townsend: wh9 was warned e
Jared Martin, imPudent to the watch; John
SSsrry; snd walnut '%stfsec;.s; Ann Thompson
looked like che drank and breath smelled 30
S q did much nuiihS swearing on no hSdf 81 as street; Betty
H HiSSs { and s SItis ,5s f Hns II! Is Ny NJ; y .ssE''' AZ MD
It must have boen an awful crime In those day,
in tho street at midnight"
i. Thu Ilss Sa ssT II. 1h It. ]t TH%an sa eompl hiiSP due { sse os,
l,v rSi.i II & f. Nv WoI 1ssf; 81 hs. E1i.a's a, t b:s AI mo.
H HEf:h%S tod dePonse nta sse wanted to tel Se'
nent to Keep . secret; and in the afternoon o
tho day after. having several times during thu
jenkins did tell her that she had set fire to IL,
Oakum House, and that sho was in hopes
when the alarm and confusion took place
that then the two persons who wero con
fined in tho prison would got QUIT tn
names of the two persons she named. bu
deponent has forgot them; that Mrs. Jsn
application to get in the Almshouse for tn
purpose OF getting. the two persons out, an
that IL was not from any necessity OF al,
or help that she stood in need OF; that she di,
make the application, and that she was induces
to do so from the solicitations OF Mr.. Gilber
Knapp, who lives in Division street, the frs
book shop you como to-; that tho house ha
green blinds; and Is next door to q CONNECTION
er's; that said Knapp had promised her S25
she could get the two persons out, and that the
were his friends, and that last night In tho sam
conversation Mrs. Jenkins told deponent tina
she would give her IS II she could tell he
In what way or where there was any plan tina
would set fire to It again. saying that II sh
could get oil and pour on II, 1t would then blaE
quick. and that II the Oakum House could b
set on fire 1t would catch to the Stepping Mi
and set all on fire. her
ELIZABETH Y. LEE.
Sworn before me Aug. IS, 1925,
"Mary Jenkins is adjudged a disorderly pc
! son and ordered to be committed to the Pen
Tertiary for ak months. y. HoPsoN..
Arthur Church was among a batch OF prison
ers arrested for disturbing q Methodist meeting
and the Judge in the commitment papers statet
"A man named Church deserves double punisl
: ment for disturbing a church meeting, so d
PENDANT stands committed to tho penitentiar
for six months. while tho other defendants al
committed for three months each"
7