The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-17
ALAS !! POOR BIN.
Chairman of the Penitenti-
ary Committee to See
How 1t Is Himself.
SURRENDERED TO THE SHERIFF.
Completely Broken Down When
Placed in a Cell at
Snake Hill.

Freeholder Philip Bindernagle has gone
to Snake Hill to serve his one year term
in the penitentiary. The application made
by former District Attorney Ridgway of
Brooklyn to the United States Supreme
Court for a writ of error was evidently
not successful as Bindernagle quitely sur
rendered himself to Sheriff Heller this
morning. He was accompanied by Ord
Darling one of his bondsmen.
Sheriff Heller, Bindernagle. his brother
Charles and Darling entered a coach and
were driven away. The Journey to Snake
Hill was quickly made and they reached
here at n:30 A. NJ The new boarder
needed no formal Introduction to Warden
Grimes. as he<was chairman of the Peni-
tentiary Committee.
When the party entered the dingy little
office overlooking the Hackensaek. Sheriff
Heller, turning to the Warden, who stood
quietly awaiting the Sheriff's words. said
81 bring you Philip Bindernagle, and
here is the commitment.
The Warden took the paper and glanced
at it. when Bindernagle, in a low voice.
said
please let me see the commitment
After looking at it carefully for mo-
ment Bindernagle remarked that the
paper did not specify whether he should
be committed to the penitentiary or to
Trenton and he would like to have that
point settled.
1.-The law is plain on that point re-
Joined the Warden, "and the penitentiary
is the place for your imprisonment.
but don't think it is right" persisted
the prisoner, ''for you to accept me when
the paper is SO vague
Sheriff Heller sided with the Warden
and to remove all doubts he read the
remittitur from the Court of Errors
and Appeals.
..Oh. very good remarked Bindernagle,
dejectedly, andN. turning to. the Warden
made a sign to signify that he was ready
When the clerk began to take his pedigree
and enter the facts on the prison register
Bindernagle turned pale and leaned
against the desk for support. When
Warden Grimes stepped up to him and
gently took his watch and chain, ring and
contents of his pockets from him Binder
nagle shook like an aspen. Sheriff
Heller turned his head away and vainly
tried to conceal his agitation. 1t was a
painful experience for the Sheriff and
Warden to undergo and they were agi-
tated almost as much as the prisoner.
At the moment when the Warden was
putting the -Freeholder's property into
the safe the prisoners brother entered
the room and walking up to Philip. put
his arms about him and whispered some
thing in his ear. Bndernagle completely
broke down. Tears came to his eyes and
he tottered like drunken man.
.sBes brave, Phil murmured his brother,
and with an effort he turned to the
to cell. The party walked through the
little waiting room. passed the kitchen
and through the dining hall to the main
prison The keeper led the way to Tier
/, Cell s, and silently pointed to suit of
prison garb on the bed inside the cell.
Bindernagle walked into the white
washed cell and with trembling fingers
took off his clothing and in few minutes
stood in the doorway wearing the stripes
of a convict. He took sorrowful leave
of his brother and turning to the keeper
said:-
''I want to lie down. Win you not let
anyone disturb me2''
The Keeper nodded his head and the
prisoner threw himself YEARLY on the
narrow bed. The barred door was closed.
a steel lock gave a sharp click and Philip
Bindernagle had begun his term of i'm
prisonment.
There is a good deal of curiosity as to
whether Warden Grimes will assign Bin
dernagle to the grounds or not. 1t is
generally believed that he will be given
"trusty' place. ~