The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-16

the ROUNDUP. They collected fees and
mileage foT every hobo landed in jail,
and although they brought them TO the
Jail in squalls Of from five to ten on
and time w~erecharg ed for each individual,
The same as Y the prisoners had been
brought In seEArately-
Every tradN and every, profession
was Represented among the hoboes who
crowded the jay. When room could no
longer be fodndinside the overflow were
lodged In q shspk. in the jail yard and
fence they ran tie GROWER and drank
the long winter lights away.
Spring found ttem ready for the road
again, and as they were released a
hearty farewell WA waved to them by
the diamond bedsoked Sheriff. They
Favored prisoner In those days had
the run Of the saloons in the neighbor.
hood OF the jail, and often to find a pris-
oner wanted by some country justice
Of the peace 1t was necessary to send a
trusty TO make a tour Of the saloons.
Other prisoners were allowed to go home
the Sheriff didn't forget to charge the
county with their board for the fun term
Of their sentences.
II Is related OF one man who was held
for forgery that he was several times
interrupted while in an interesting poker
game and he at length became SO ex.
that he would leave the place II he wasn't
treated better. This man is said to have
won enough at poker games in the saloons
around the jail to square his account with
the complainant, who thereupon refused
to prosecute.
Another prisoner with a liking for a
good horse took a fine trotter belong
M 10 an under sheriff and raced him in
A number Of matches or Long Island.
Winning several purses and wagers.
ne rot drunk on the way home and the
horse ran away and broke its neck. The
prisoner escaped unhurt and got back
70 the Jail and It was several days before
the under sheriff learned the exact details
Of the affair.
Upon another occasion a farmer who
had been drawn as a grand juror was
shocked while walking to the court house
to 500 a man who a few weeks before
had been sentenced to the county jail
for stealing his horse driving 9 fine
trotter up jackson avenue. The sheriff
Jury with the result that the horse thief
was deprived OF his liberty while the
grand fury remained in session,
One Sheriff who took a number Of
mechanics from the Jail and sent
them down on Long Island to help to
build his country home was OF an eco
nomioal turn Of mind. Among the batch
Was a skilled builder who was unable to
keep sober. He was sent along 70 boss
the job. His sentence expiring before
the building was finished funds were
supplied him, be Immediately got drunk,
was rearrested and sentenced to an
other term in the county Jail and was
then sent back TO finish the house; and
IL was a poor business Sheriff h at the
end OF his term of three years didn't
retire with Sl0O. 600 or more to his credit
Gambling was rampant and poolrooms
hourished. while parts of the county were
policed by deputies furnished by the
Sheriff at so much a head.
issd the famous poolrooms that were
run in the old Puritan Club on the
meadows between Blissville and Hunters
Point, Long Island City. When public
olamor against this open gambling be-
came too strong word would be sent
70 the managers OF me pooipoom asSi tn1
them to have the place raided. Usually
the raid was pulled off late in the after
noon, lust before the last race, in order
not to interfere with business.
These raids were great affairs, and
as an unobstructed view could be had
Of the court house across tho bare
Iucauowb " tho RNoio
posted in a crows nest on the building
with q pair Of field glasses would Keep
the crowd informed on the progress OF
the raiders. calling out the event with
true sporting zest;
caught sight OF the raiders leaving the
court house. SHERIFF Blank in the lead,
Jones and Smith neck and. At the quar-
ter-Sherif Blank and Jones neck and;
Smith and Brown fighting for second
plaoe. At the h~alf-Sherif Blank lead
ing the tail end and everybody want'n
When the raiders got within a few blocks
OF the building the crowd would stampede
and the Sherif's men would go in and
chop down q few stalls and carry awaI
a few states as evidence and then the
game would 60 on as usual. g.,
Those were the good old days said
an old timer; plenty OF money and P'en,y
an std Of goin' to the races all the old
boys are goin' to the g%raveyards an no.
body seems to miss 'em. Jest a few years
more an the old gang will be all gone ana
Through the passage of an act by, II"
last Legislature, with the outgoing OF u"
which ives established before the Reyoln-
ton will take its place in history and the
new incumbent will take the Office under
a salary. This will be the means OF
wiping out the present system of having
the prisoners fed by the Sheriff and here,
after fewer prisoners will probably find
lodgings in the jail.
Finishing touches are 10Y being given
to the interior Of the new structure. ana
SIS 900 having been appropriated for me
1t is understood that Justice
and County Judge Humphrey
will this summer look after this detail IN
conjunction with Borough President Ores
ser and the decorators.