Year: 1870




Judge Troy, in charging Grand Jury i'm
panelled in the Brooklyn Court of Sessions yes
terday, made the following allusion to the dis
graceful condition of Raymond Street Jail, In
connection with the subject of the great Increase
Of crime in the community


AS much as 1t may be regretted, there is no
question that within the last few winter months
crime has increased with unprecedented
rapidity: We hear every day accounts of bur
glaries, larceHies the knife, the pistol. 1t is
our duty, gentlemen, to see to it that mistaken
impression does not go abroad with regard to
crime in our city and country. By recent
observation made by criminal, an impression
prevails among the criminal public, that the
lawsare not enforced, that Hanging for murder
is played out" 1t is necessary to disabuse the
criminal mind of this mistake, as we'll as the
minds of others. While it is necessary to do
THIS, it is also necessary that punishment should
be inflicted only upon the guilty.


The jail of this county is no longer fit to re-
tain prisoners there, and no longer fit for the
requirements of this county. 1t is unhealthy,
badly ventilated. There is one tier of cells
unfit for the occupation of persons. 1t is damp
and nauseating In winter or summer, because of
the moisture and exhalations of the soil. A
strong, healthy man goes into that Jail, who
cannot find bail, and in the short space of three
months comes out a consumptive or with limbs
dwindled down to spindles, because of the rigors
of his confinement. desire to be understood,
gentlemen, that no reflection is cast upon the
officers of the jail. 1t is the only place presented
by the county for the custody of persons. The
Sheriff can furnish only such accommodations
as are furnished to him. / have talked with the
officers of the jail, some of whom have been
there twenty years, and they are of the unani-
nous opinion that the place is insufficient and
unsuitable.


/ know of my own knowledge that ut one
time there were as many as seven persons in
one cell, herded together like bees in hive.
Among these seven persons were those simply
accused, as well as those awaiting sentence. 1t
is not an uncommon thing to find the old broken
down debauchee or the old professional GRIM
inal, stepped to the lips In crime, with some five
or six others, and perhaps boy of twelve years
of age, confined for throwing stones iu the
street, relating his experiences and muttering
his obscenity and profanity.


Now, gentlemen, this state of affairs should be
put stop to. We have gone on spending the
public moneys in this country for luxuries, but
We can loan millions to private corporations for
bridges, whether practicable or not, and can
beautify parks with unnecessary bridges and
details while the more substantial and essential
needs of the county are unsupplied. We re-
quire jail in this county before we do any
thing else, for the safety of the community and
the safety of the prisoners.


The Court alluded to the increase of disrepu-
table houses. There are a great many of them
and some not far Ifrom this very building
places where crime is engendered and every
species of impropriety. These are frequented
by persons of wealth and apparent respecta-
bility, whose names are to be given to the grand
jury, as witnesses, for the purpose of indicting
these places and you should see gentlemen,
that not one escapes.