New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-28


sent one Of its staff. ten days ago, to
spend three days among the convlcts
at Sing Sing. Letters nave poured IN
TO this newspaper and 20 Lewis WOOD,
the reporter.
The letters come from all sorts OF
correspondents. For instance. Mrs.
Inez Milhollsnd Boissevain. suttragist
and social student. contributes one.
Another comes from an importer on
Fourth av. Still another Is written by
an official in the government immigra-
ton service. And. of course. many
prisoners in Sing Sing have written to
express their appreciation of the artl-
cles. A particularly poignant com
munication was written by a man IN
the Tombs.
Mrs. Boissevain says: 81 have read
your story in this mornings Tribune
With great interest and enthusiasm.
You have depicted the situation at
Sing Sing with tremendous insight,
sagacity and sympathy ! do congrat-
ulate you"
Human Stuff; Makes One Think.
A Salvation Army captain who for
years has been working in the under
world and is a keen Judge Of human
itv writes: your Sing Sing articles
are fine. Just the kind of human stun
20 make one think Of the other lei
low"
From cell in Che Tombs man
expecting a transfer to Sing sing at
an early date wrote the letter alreaoy
alluded to. He has touched the hu-
man side of the prisoner as only
nrisoner can. He writes:
mo doubt your reporters article on
his experience as ali inmate IN sing
Sing has attracted great attention from
the law-abiding public, both Tor us
literary style and for its clever ldea'
and letting people who are under the
impression that It is playhouse
when in reality any one deprived OF
their liberty can hardly be IN a place
and have it called easy or a play
house. ,,r
"Rut. no matter how clever your
writer may be, he cannot write ms
articles with the same feeling or spirit
he would have written them II ne reai
lv was a convict, and not Win No
mind free and clear, knowing that ne
was not to stay there for years
Tombs Prisoner Writes Plea.
"True il is that he spent the night
in a hole that is called cell. But ms
mind was free, mis- thoughts were n9'
on IN, souls he left behind him-a WIZ
owed mother. sisters, brothers or NJ
tie home. wife and children VINO Ohiy
know that their pepper is gong 10
work far away and he IS going u
stay long while. ~.
"Oh YES, those little dears WONDER
why 'mommer' cried when she SAID IL;
Oh. dear editor, your reporter wen
knew he was going TO JON ms iolhs III
day or so. How could he put the rear
touch in his articles? | wish tney
could read an article or two from one
who has no literary style. no type
writer, no pen and ink, but broken
heart, pencil and piece OF paper
and with a mind upset from knowing
he has two and hall TO iye years Oh
prison ahead of him eavlng Dehihu
him a sick child, wife who Is thrown
upon the world now.
az am sure YOUR readers would after
reading this story of his first Few
nights and days in the Tombs realize
that the word convict often causes
preiudice that is unwarranted. Jhose
that boo Mr.. Osborne's theory or wa;
mn ALREADY I would say Warden Will
find out that there is truth when ne
saws his boys can be reformed. l
leave this place of tears soon and my
name will become a vision of the past
ard | will be transformed into num-
Der"
Cry for New CellhOuses.
Mr.. Woods description of the cell
house at Sing Sing has evidently I'M
pressed many people. The cellhouse
has been described time and again. us
horrors have been emphasized. But the
reporter's description OF the nlches
where men spend years and years has
evidently forced itself upon the public
realization, for several people write
concerning il. The Fourth az. I'M
porter writes:
"Would it be possible to erect new
dollhouse By popular subscription
think this is a very worthy venture and
would like TO do a little TO help II
along. know my friends and relatives
would gladly do all in their power 10
make a success of the idea.
Among the letters from prisoners,
one man who is TO come out from be-
hind the bars in the spring time, and
who intends to devote his life TO bet
tering the condition of the men ne lett
behind, writes:
81 have with a great deal of pleasure
apd' satisfaction read your experience
among us here. While | have been in
prison have met and talked with many
who came among us claiming to try and
find out real conditions. But you are
the very first | have had the pleasure
TO meet that has gone out and told OF
conditions as they are.
Convict to Aid Comrades.
al note you refer to me as the rosy
checked boy and ] appreciate that
YOU did not betray any ones confidence
by mentioning their names. But, after
reading your articles. am glad TO say
that if al any time by using my name
YOU will do good 70 help the men be-
hind the prison walls, you can use 1t
whenever YOU wish. When leave
here | am not going TO try and cover
M the fact that | have been in prison,
but | am going frankly before the
public and try to do all in my power
TO get society to understand the condi-
ton of men who have fallen but VINO
want 70 come back.
Jack Murphy. one OF the founders
of the Mutual Welfare League at Au-
burn and close associate OF the man
who wrote the letter just quoted, sends
word to Mr.. Wood thus:
ION behalf of the Auburn boys ana
myself. | want to congratulate you on
YOUR series of articles just ended. We
are exceedingly pleased with your fair
ness and your manner OF putting me
facts. We feel sure that everybody
acquainted with the work here cannot
fail to appreciate what you have done
TO enlghten the public from the re-
suit which comes from giving the CON
Wet a square deal
Auburn Joins in Thanks.
The Mutual Welfare League az Az