New-York tribune., 1907-11-13
DUCHESS At THE TOMBS.
With Hrs. Mackay Her Grace of
Marlborough Makes Inspection.

There was crowd in Centre street yesterday
afternoon all because of the arrival Of a duchess
~ the Tombs prison a countess had visited that
institution before. and last spring woman who
WIS called baroness In keeping there pend
ing her trial for the murder of her former en-
ployeT Yesterday, however, was the first time
that a woman Of such exalted rank duchess had
come 10 the prison Her intended visit had not
been unheraide6. So much OF New York loves 10
look upon notabties for the mere sake of looking
that it was only reasonable to expect that there
would re hundreds Of persons gaze rapturolsIv
when her grace Of Marlborough 10 make
inspection OF New Yorks chief place Of detention
OF criminals
oughfare half hour before her grace arrived but
even the Anlerican-boIn duchess seemed bit
prlsed wnen she saw The hluecoats beating back
Fe crowd. which threatened to prevent her leaving
the automobile IN which she sat with Mrs Clarence
H. Macksy. with whom she is staying in town.
The duchess ana Mrs Mackay accompanied
10 the Tombs by Colonel George r. NJ. Harvey.
editor Of The North American Review; Henry
James Forman. assistant editor and Major F D.
preEs request of the duchess. who, with other
women of title and high social standing in Eng
land. is identified with the movement for the bet
terment of conditions in the prisons in that
Try, and who had expressed a wish TO look
one Of the chief prisons in New York City.
The visit was scheduled for 230 O'Clock, Com
missioner Of Corrections Coggey having issued
permit for the party TO 90 through the prison at
that time. The duchess and her companions were
late in arriving from the Lawyers Club. where
they had been the guests Of J. Henry Harper at
luncheon There were fully a thousand people in
the street in front of the Tombs when the auto
mobile hanson in which were the duchess and
Mrs Macksy came Up Centre street, and the
photographers rushed vantage points while the
policemen worked hard let the hanson through.
All these TO see u.s. said her grace. with laugh.
10 Mrs. Mackay, they hastened up the steps and
out Of sight Of the crowds in the street
Inside the building. however, the duchess found
that she not Yet free of the sightseers The
waiting for visitors filed with waiting
reporters there business and and women
who had secured permission 10 special place to
size up the duchess Commissioner Coggev
also there to receive the party and conducted the
visitors to the entrance TO the prison, where War
cen Flynn took up the task Of showing the party
through the institution
Both the duchess and Mrs, Nackay expressed
theiF approval Of the sanitary conditions Of the
institution, and the duchess manifested much in
terest in the conditions and regulations governing
daily life % the prisoners She asked particu-
lHrly about the arrangements made for the women
prisoners and after viewing both the mems and
wonens wards. showed some disappointment at
what she thought WIS the greater freedom allowed
70 She men. Warden Flynn explained. however,
that the women prisoners We're not confined to
their cells and were allowed to eat at a common
table which caused the duchess to modify her
opinion. hasty trip made through Muir
dereTs Row" but neither the duchess nor her
hostess stopped 10 make Inquiries about the occu-
pants.
In passing along one of the tiers Warden Flynn
drew the attention OF her grace a group four
prisoners who were busy enjoying themselves in
the yard below tossing twenty-pound medicine
hall THAT one, there said the warden pointing
20 tan Young man. dressed in a pair OF light
trousers anG light coat, who seemed to be enjoy
fnp his afternoon exercise lis Harry Tbau The
duchess made comment, but turned away her
head.
After being shown through the ToThS the party
crossed the Bridge Of Signs and made visit 10 the
Court 81 General Sessions. where they were intro
duced 70 Judge Rosalsky Meanwhile hurry call
for tue automobiles had been sent TO the
Tonbs, but by the time Mrs Mackay's hanson
had turned into Lafayette street and stopped at
the entrance 10 the Criminal Courts Building Tho
waiting crowd had caught on and came u a
eBfop around through Franklin street. The men
IN the party and the reporters formed a protective
Gordon on either side OF her grace and Mrs.
il3Efi n keen hack fsb
Mrs. Mackay said 81 AT the dUchesss own
suggestion that tie visit TO the prison which last
ed less than hour. made Her grace
pressed pleasure at the cleanliness of the cells
ssid that in this respect the prison far
porior to those she had in England The
greater personal freedom allowed TO the prisoners
also received favorable comment and the oppor-
funity for reading and writing commended.
The duchess also seemed pleased when informed
that no prisoner under sixteen years OF age was
detained in the ToInbs and that q court espe-
eisIy provided for the trial of juvenile