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[Illustration:
John J. Munro
Ex-chaplain of the Tombs.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE NEW YORK TOMBS INSIDE AND OUT!
Scenes and Reminiscences Coming Down to the
Present.—A Story Stranger Than Fiction,
With an Historic Account of
America’s Most Famous
Prison.
by
JOHN JOSIAH MUNRO,
Ex-Chaplain of the Tombs.
(Illustrated)
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Printed and Published by the Author,
at 186 Ainslie Street.
Price, $1.50.
Copyrighted, 1909,
by
John J. Munro,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Thomas J. Blain, Printer,
Port Chester, New York.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION.
By Rev. Madison C. Peters, D. D.
I have known the author of this book for many years. He was once
associated with me in my ministerial work. I know all about his work as
Chaplain of the Tombs, and have often spoken with him about the
conditions prevailing in that institution, and have again and again
urged him to tell the public all he knows about its inside workings. I
have every reason to believe from what I know of the author, that he has
written a true story, one which every citizen of Greater New York should
read, and which ought to arouse the red-hot blood of every lover of his
kind.
The book ought to be in the hands of every clergyman, lawyer, physician,
and of every good citizen. It will furnish material for sermons and
addresses, and give impulse and impetus to all the workers for social
betterment, and bring to us the blessings of Him who said: “I was in
prison and ye visited Me.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THANKS.
In the preparation of this work, I feel I am under lasting obligations
for discriminating advice and kindly suggestions tendered me at
different times by many friends. But I am under special debt to Mr.
George H. Sandison, Managing Editor, and J. A. Belford, Art Editor of
the Christian Herald, for valuable suggestions.
I also express my sincere thanks to the Rev. Madison C. Peters, D. D.,
whose clarion voice against wrongs and abuses of various kinds has been
heard all over Greater New York, for many helpful suggestions. I am also
thankful to many of the New York magazines and papers for kind words and
much interest in articles of mine on Prison Work that have appeared from
time to time. These magazines and papers include Harper’s Weekly,
Success, Van Norden, Intelligencer, Christian Advocate, Examiner, Press,
Presbyterian, Witness and many others.
I extend my thanks also to Messrs. Harper & Bro., for the use of a cut,
and to the Evening Journal for the loan of photographs.
THE AUTHOR.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ILLUSTRATIONS.
THE AUTHOR, REV. JOHN J. MUNRO
CHILDREN’S COURT
GENERAL SESSIONS JUDGES
CRIMINAL BRANCH OF SUPREME COURT
EX-POLICE COMMISSIONER THEODORE A. BINGHAM
POLICE COMMISSIONER BAKER AT HIS DESK
NEW TOMBS PRISON
CORRIDOR OF WOMEN’S PRISON
OLD TOMBS ENTRANCE ON LEONARD STREET
DAVIS, WHO PARDONED HIMSELF OUT OF PRISON
SING SING PRISON ENTRANCE
SING SING CHAPEL
THE DEATH CHAMBER AT SING SING
NEW POLICE HEADQUARTERS
SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE IN THE OLD TOMBS
OLD POLICE HEADQUARTERS
JUSTICE BLANCHARD OF SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE GOFF OF THE SUPREME COURT
THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS
HON C. V. COLLINS, SUPERINTENDENT OF PRISONS
HON. JOHN F. MCINTYRE, CRIMINAL LAWYER
SCENE IN THE TENDERLOIN STATION HOUSE
MRS. JOHN A. FOSTER, THE TOMBS ANGEL
PUTTING A CROOK THROUGH THE “THIRD DEGREE” AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS
ROLL CALL IN A STATION HOUSE AT MIDNIGHT
MEN’S PRISON
WOMEN’S PRISON
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS.
FOREWORD
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES Page 11
The strange circumstances of a visit
to the Tombs on an errand of
mercy.—Early impressions more than
thirty years ago.—Recollections—Humane
Overseers.
CHAPTER I.
WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE TOMBS Page 17
A modern Prison Barracks—Personal
Experiences—Amazing stories of
corruption—Ruth Howard’s bomb—Charges
pigeon-holed—Commissioner Hynes’
Administration—Bissert in
clover—Drunken prisoners—The gamblers’
paradise—Lawyers and
clients—Privileges for the few—Abusing
the unfortunate—The food—Tammany
Politics—City Prisons in charge of
State authorities.
CHAPTER II.
AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF AMERICA’S MOST Page 29
FAMOUS PRISON
The Collect Pond of three generations
ago—King William’s
Experience—Agitation to fill up—How it
came to be called the Tombs—Size of
the old Tombs—Retrospect—The New
Tombs—When Opened—The semiofficial
characters.
CHAPTER III
MODERN EXCUSES FOR CRIME Page 38
Criminal instincts—Moral
defectives—Inducing men to commit
crime—Examples—The fair sex as
tempters—The irresistible
impulse—Drawing the line.
CHAPTER IV.
HOW CRIMINALS ARE MADE Page 45
Increase in crime—Fierce modern
temptations—Strong drink as a crime
maker—Immigration—Gladstone’s
dictum—Finding the causes—Is there a
remedy?
CHAPTER V.
THE SCIENTIFIC CRIMINAL Page 50
The criminal product of the 20th
century—A crook’s outfit—Criminal
character—Beating the
law—Anthropology—Lombroso as an
authority on crime—Crime and the
Nation—Repressive measures.
CHAPTER VI.
SOME FAMOUS TOMBS PRISONERS Page 57
The irony of fate—The innocent and
guilty—Monroe Edwards—Murderers’
Row—Scannel, Croker, Erastus Wyman,
Ferdinand Ward, Buchanan, Carlyle
Harris, Patrick and Thaw.
CHAPTER VII
THE DANGEROUS EDUCATED CROOK Page 62
The fallacy that education cures
crime—Moral training necessary—John
Howard and education—Industry and
crime—Elmira’s experience—Where the
educated crook is dangerous—Examples.
CHAPTER VIII.
LEAVES FROM THE HISTORY OF A CHECKERED Page 67
CAREER
The remarkable confessions of one of
the brightest, brainiest and smartest
crooks of his day.
How He Pardoned Himself Out of Prison
Admits total depravity—His
prayer—Serving time in a Coal
Mine—Impersonating a
clergyman—Feigning to be deaf and
dumb—Bemoaning His sad condition.
CHAPTER IX.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CROOK Page 75
How a Young Life Was Wrecked
A New England ancestry—An indulgent
mother—Idleness and bad company—The
feelings of a guilty conscience—Work
or crime, which?—State
prison—Liberty—Again arrested—A new
career in crime—Many burglaries.
CHAPTER X
WANDERING STARS AND BUZZARDS OF THE Page 81
TOMBS
Thrilling Experiences
The study of human nature—Deception of
the looks—Chronic liars—A deserter
from Russia—Chump of Harlem—Many dark
records—Four years for telling a
lie—Capt. Jack—Crooked Kahn—The Panel
Crooks—Wilson’s career—The dress
slasher—Amazing cheek.
CHAPTER XI.
BRILLIANT FORGERY CROOKS Page 100
Forgery as a fine art—A skilled
crime—Forgery experts—Becker, the King
of Forgers—His career—Three of a kind.
CHAPTER XII.
CHANGING THE GRAND JURY INTO A BOARD OF Page 108
CRIMINAL EXPERTS
A New Classification of Criminals
Popular demand to abolish the Grand
Jury—Judges ask for legal
indictments—Too rapid work in Grand
Jury room—The weakness of the
system—Rich men on the Grand
Jury—Under the control of
District-Attorney—Board of Criminal
Experts—Save the county millions of
dollars—Cases—An original
classification.
CHAPTER XIII
SCHOOLS OF CRIME Page 120
How Young Crooks are Educated
Crime both infectious and
contagious—Importing crooks—New York
prisons, crime breeders—Modern
Fagins—Breaking up Faginism—Best
remedy morality in the public schools.
CHAPTER XIV.
YOUTHFUL DELINQUENTS AND THE CHILDREN’S Page 126
COURT
The cause of temptations—Reasons for
children in crime—Evil
resorts—Conversations with child
criminals—The German boy—The
Children’s Court—Its origin—Crime
among poor children the result of
social conditions—Incorrigibles—The
good work of the Children’s Aid
Society—Foolish “coddling” of lawless
children.
CHAPTER XV.
THE ROD AS A REFORMATIVE AGENT IN THE Page 133
EDUCATION OF YOUTHFUL LAWBREAKERS
A recent ruling on corporal
punishment—Favored by best prison
reformers—Horace Mann—School
Principals and teachers—Supt.
Brockway—What they do in England and
Germany—Rights of parents—Lawless
homes—Crime more demoralizing than
pain—An experienced probation
officer—What others say.
CHAPTER XVI
CRIME AMONG WOMEN Page 139
(1) The Social Evil. (2) Felonies.
(3) The Shoplifter.
Causes of crime among women—Reasons
for moral leprosy—The Cadet system—How
carried on—Examples—The celestials of
Chinatown—Women of the Tombs—Mother
Mandelbaum—Queen Bertha—A belle from
old Kentucky—Others—The modern
shoplifter—Examples.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE STEAL OR STARVE UNFORTUNATES Page 151
A great omission—Poverty and social
conditions the cause of crime—The
unemployed—Hungry children—Poverty
homes and crime—What ex-convicts
say—Hungry men commit crime to be sent
to prison—Want food.
CHAPTER XVIII.
HOW YOUNG MEN BREAK INTO PRISON Page 157
Startling facts—Save young men—The way
of the transgressor—How young men go
down—Example—Percentage of young
men—Opinion of Supt.
Brockway—Generators of crime—Fast
living—Examples—Bad associates—Need of
agencies.
CHAPTER XIX
OUR POLICE GUARDIANS Page 164
Prevention better than cure—An
experienced Superintendent—Politics
the curse of the Department—The Lexow
investigations—The single-headed
Commissioner—Present standing of the
Police—The work of a policeman—The
cost of the police for 1909—General
Bingham.
CHAPTER XX.
THE DETECTIVE BUREAU Page 171
The Detective Bureau—Early
heads—Modern methods—Crime as a
science—The Dewey parade—Detectives in
disguise—Old world methods—Scotland
Yard and French methods—The work of
the stool pigeon—Examples.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE ROGUES’ GALLERY AND THE THIRD DEGREE Page 179
The Gallery—Measurement of
crooks—Clippings—Up to date
records—Arrests last year—Curiosities
of crime—Mugging crooks—The third
degree, what is it—Inspector Byrnes
and Jake Sharp—The third degree in
Germany.
CHAPTER XXII
THE CITY GANGS Page 185
City gangs for sixty years—Political
clans—The Bloody Sixth—The Whyo
Gang—How they lived—Relation to
crime—Paul Kelly and Monk Eastman
Gangs—Their East Side pull.
CHAPTER XXIII.
CRIMINAL TRIALS AND THE GLORIOUS Page 190
UNCERTAINTY OF THE LAW
Noted criminal trials—Catering to
depraved tastes—Some great
trials—Legal loopholes—Beating the
case—Many trials a farce—Swift justice
for criminals—Homicide trials—Lax
condition of courts—Greasing the
machinery of the law—Crooks at the bar
of justice—Noted criminal
lawyers—Strange sentences—Examples.
CHAPTER XXIV.
CRIMINAL BRANCH OF THE SUPREME COURT Page 202
The new Constitution—Abolition of the
Oyer and Terminer—An exclusively
criminal court—The highest Court in
the State—Criminal branch of the
Supreme Court in session nine
months—Cases of great public
importance—Narrow margin between civil
and criminal law—Dead
sympathies—Variety of thinking—Merging
the General Sessions.
CHAPTER XXV
SHARKS AND SHYSTERS OF OUR CRIMINAL Page 206
COURTS
Fallen on evil days—Robbing
clients—Examples—Steerers and
policemen—The City and District
prisons—Grafting around Courts.
CHAPTER XXVI.
SCENES IN OUR POLICE COURTS Page 213
The sorting Criminal Bureau—How crooks
are gathered in the pens—The
Magistrates’ Court—The shyster and
ward heeler—The power of a
pull—Examples—Mike Maguire—The
drunks—Sunday morning at the Tombs
Court—Small justice—Good Judges.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CROOKED CROOKS IN PRISONS Page 219
Crime Committed in Penal Institutions
Brilliant men in prison—Bold
crooks—Dr. Robertson’s experience with
crooks—Shep of New York—A big
undertaking—His success—Counterfeiters
in Auburn—Big discovery—Sent to
Clinton Prison.
CHAPTER XXVIII
SCENES DURING VISITING HOURS IN THE Page 226
TOMBS
A polyglot assembly—Many
nationalities—Pathetic scenes—The
guilty son—The young woman—Mothers
kneeling—The newsboy—Murderers’
Row—Negroes—Italians—Germans—The
prisoner’s plaint.
CHAPTER XXIX.
DOES IMPRISONMENT REFORM? Page 236
A hard question—Changing
character—Cure for crime—Brooding over
the past—Born crooks—Lines of
circumvallation—Efforts made to
reform—Evolution of prison
reform—Needed reforms to-day—The
greatest barrier.
CHAPTER XXX.
STRONG DRINK AND CRIME Page 243
Personal observations of the effect of
strong drink—Close the saloons and you
will close the prisons—Moral
supineness—A New York expert on
murders—The Medical News—Empty jails
in Prohibition States.
CHAPTER XXXI
THE ANGELS OF THE TOMBS Page 248
The phrase originally given to only
two missionary workers—How Mrs.
Schaffner became a Tombs Angel—Her
work as a missionary—The second Tombs
Angel, Mrs. John A. Forster—A night in
the Death House—How missionaries are
deceived.
CHAPTER XXXII.
WEDDINGS OF THE TOMBS Page 256
Marriages performed since 1838—Two
kinds, voluntary and compulsory—One of
the earliest marriages—Married on the
train to Sing Sing—Lawyer Patrick’s
venture—Other marriages.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
AFTER SENTENCE, WHAT? Page 261
From Tombs to State Prison—English
system—Received in prison—Initiation,
classification and shops—A prison
reformer—What he has done to improve
the prisoner’s lot—A new
discipline—The soul of reformation.
CHAPTER XXXIV
THE INFLICTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN Page 269
THE TOMBS
John C. Colt—A suicide—Hanging day in
the Tombs—The hanging of Harry
Carlton—Scenes around the
building—Official list of the
executed.
CHAPTER XXXV.
A VISIT TO THE DEATH HOUSE AT SING SING Page 277
A never-to-be-forgotten visit—Supreme
Court orders—The earliest victims—The
escape of Pallister and Roche—What I
saw—The men present—Casconea’s
experience.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
A TRAMP COLONY Page 284
What shall be done with our
tramps?—Organize a colony—How
graded—Working on business
principles—The cost of such an
undertaking—What the French
do—Habitual criminals and
misdemeanants—How they may be
segregated and classified.
CHAPTER XXXVII
THE COST OF CRIME IN GREATER NEW YORK Page 291
A staggering question—Rikers Prison—A
national waste—Careful study of the
cost of crime—Crime on the
increase—Direct expenditures—Indirect
expenditures—Tables showing how money
is spent—Criminal loopholes—Results.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE AGE OF GRAFT. Page 296
The bane of our municipal
government—New York’s prosperity—What
it cost to run the city—Assessments
and commissions—Ancient and modern
grafters—Police graft—Fortunes for the
few—Various grafting schemes—The new
water works.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
A Sunday morning service in the old Tombs prison.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOREWORD
Some Personal Experiences
My first visit to the grim old Tombs Prison was in the early part of
1875. I have never forgotten that visit and the deep impression it left
on my mind. The scenes I witnessed that day have come back to me scores
of times and I have wished that I had the power to have changed the
things I then saw. At any rate, that memorable experience started in my
soul a deeper sympathy and pity for erring humanity.
Afterwards I spent much time visiting the old prison, as I had the
opportunity, and I found it a splendid place for the study of human
nature, and especially the criminal side of life.
When speaking to New Yorkers of the scenes I had witnessed in this
prison, I found them to be densely ignorant of its history and
management. Why should they take any interest in the old Tombs? New
Yorkers are too busy in commercial pursuits to give much time to such
trifles! I found, however, after they were aroused on the subject of
abuses they wished to know everything, and they wondered like myself why
politics should be allowed to have such a controlling power in the City
Prison.
At this time I was a lay missionary. My field of labor was the old “Red
Light District.” This part of New York was not as densely populated as
now. It contained a large number of people, mostly of the thrifty Irish
and German class. It had many large tenements which contained from eight
to twelve families, which were veritable “bee hives” of the human
species.
While visiting, not far from Essex Market Court, a lady informed me that
a member of my Sunday School was then in the Tombs, and asked me to go
and see him. This was new work for me and I confess, I did not know how
to go about it. I called to see the boy’s mother, who kept a beer garden
in the neighborhood. But I could get nothing out of her, and came away
feeling that my labor was all in vain. The woman was so much absorbed in
her saloon business and so benumbed and besotted with beer that she
seemed devoid of all motherly instinct and feeling. And she seemed not
to care the snap of her finger about her boy.
After a good deal of difficulty I made my way to the Boys’ Prison in the
Tombs, which was in the rear of the building. To my amazement I found a
crowd of young thieves and pickpockets huddled together, and this Sunday
School lad in the midst. In those days the authorities made no attempt
at segregation or discrimination. The boys were all together, cursing
and howling like a lot of devils! I was pained beyond measure, and I
regret to say when I returned to the City Prison after nearly twenty
years, almost the same condition existed. I found the Boys’ Prison in a
filthy condition—damp and foul, more fit for hogs than human beings, and
this besides the continual noises, yelling, howling, cursing, swearing
and cat-calls in ten languages!
I made a hurried investigation and saw the authorities, after which the
boy was discharged and returned home. He never forgot his experience in
that gloomy old prison! I kept watch of him but I do not think he was
ever the same person. Those few days in the Tombs as the companion of
thieves and pickpockets not only marred his future life but came near
blasting his usefulness forever!
I kept up my interest in the poor, gaunt, ill clad, badly fed and
poverty stricken unfortunates of the old Tombs, a large number of whom
were criminals simply because of their social conditions and for no
other reason. I was a frequent visitor till my graduation from Union
Theological Seminary in 1880.
In 1897 I again took up my residence in New York. I felt my interest in
prison labors come back with the freshness of youth, and at once gave my
Sundays to the prosecution of the work.
I have found that the Boys’ Prison has always been the hardest
department to manage in the entire Tombs system. Sometimes a keeper was
placed in charge who knew how to handle boys. But in later years the
conditions were worse than ever. We knew one keeper who was a common
scold. He swore at the boys and they swore back at him, using the most
vulgar and lurid profanity. Then they would steal from each other, fight
among themselves like old time pugilists and they could always depend on
outsiders to smuggle in cigarettes and blood curdling dime novels. On
account of the lack of discipline, the Boys’ Prison became one of the
most proficient Schools of Crime. Here they learned to become expert
pickpockets under the very nose of the prison authorities!
I have often told my friends when showing them around the building I
would rather bury a relative of mine than have him spend a week in this
dirty, immoral pest hole. During the past five or six years there has
been an average of 75 to 80 boys a day in this prison, and shocking to
relate, one-half have frequently to be treated for venereal disease. If
you want your boy to be a full-fledged degenerate and outcast send him
to the Tombs Prison, for only a few days, and when he comes out of this
School of Crime he will dare anything in the line of criminality!
It is a fact that cannot be denied that in this prison some of the boys
plan crime and execute it on the outside. This has been proven scores of
times, when these young crooks return to the prison on fresh charges. If
you question them they will admit that they received their incentive to
do crooked deeds while in the Tombs. Those who are sent to the
Protectory and the House of Refuge are seldom improved when they come
out. Barney McGill, who had been a lieutenant in the Navy during the
Civil War, was one of the best and kindest of keepers. He was in the
Department of Corrections for many years and was noted for his outspoken
fidelity. While in charge of the Boys’ Prison a few years ago, he wore a
gold watch and chain exposed to view. Some of the “kids” thought it was
a “dead-easy” thing to get Barney’s watch. An East Side boy named Mickey
Cohen, promised to secure it without much trouble. One morning this
young crook called Barney to his cell and said, “Keeper, I want to speak
to you. Excuse me, I am afraid to speak loud ‘cause if some of dese kids
hear it, dey will kill me.” “Speak out, my little man,” said Barney, “I
will see that no one harms you.” Then he told Barney a “fake” tale of
some boys who intended to escape. While he was doing this he stole
Barney’s watch, leaving the chain dangle in front of his vest. In half
an hour Barney missed his gold watch. After threatening to “kill” a half
a dozen of the suspicious crooks, the guilty one confessed. Afterwards
the watch was found in the cell mattress.
When Jimmy Hagan was boss of the Tombs he took Billy Evers from
Murderers’ Row and sent him to the Boys’ Prison for some trifling
offence. Billy was a good keeper and a favorite among the boys. He had a
fatherly way of getting around them and into their affection. He never
swore at them! Whenever I made trips to Sing Sing in after years in the
interest of the discharged prisoner and met any of the old boys they
were sure to ask after Billy Evers.
Then there was Larry Creevy. Some boys were afraid of him but he knew
how to keep them in their place. Then there were John O’Conners and Mike
Breen, two most excellent keepers. Under John E. Van De Carr, who can
truthfully be called the Prince of Wardens, the Boys’ Prison was carried
on above reproach!
It is needless to say that some of these boys were the children of
well-to-do parents who allowed them to be sent to the City Prison for
the “scare” it would give them. But it had no apparent effect on most of
them. Many times a mother in silks and satins with a full display of
jewelry would visit the Prison. One day a mother went to one of the
judges to ask clemency for her boy who was up for sentence. The judge
was disposed to be lenient with the lad as he was not a thief. But the
Court had made inquiry and learned that the parents were more to blame
for his downfall than the boy. I was glad the judge spoke as he did,
before he got through that mother’s face was crimson. “Woman,” said the
judge, “why don’t you look after your boy? You are responsible for his
disgrace. You go out at night to the theatre and other social functions,
and while you are having a nice time your boy is going to the Devil! If
you promise to stay at home and try and bring up your boy the proper
way, I will suspend sentence.” She did.
For several years after I went to the Tombs there was a man who acted as
school teacher and probation officer, whose vile relations with the boys
in his rooms on Chrystie street, was scandalous. Several had confessed
to me as well as to Father Smith, the Catholic Priest. As soon as I
learned that the shocking information was true, I sent the boys and
their parents to Commissioner Hynes, and with the aid of Justice Meyers
of Special Sessions he was “bounced.” The general opinion at the time
was that the brute ought to have been sent to Sing Sing for twenty
years. Warden Van De Carr deserved great credit for the help rendered on
this occasion. These and similar abuses have been going on in our
prisons for years, but no body is willing to stop them or expose them?
The present missionary mollycoddles would not dare to speak against
them, and as far as the Tombs abuses are concerned the Prison
Association has been dumb on these and similar subjects. The courts find
it hard to secure the right kind of Probation officers. This is
especially true in regard to Boys. A loud mouthed, untruthful grafter
should not be allowed to manage boys under any circumstances. There are
two notable exceptions, one in Brooklyn and the other in New York—both
reliable men, Messrs. Baccus and Kimball.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER I
WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE TOMBS
No prison on the American continent has had such an unsavory reputation
as a corrupt grafting institution as the New York Tombs. This has been
especially true when City politics had decreed it to be in charge of the
House of Grafters on Fourteenth Street.
In giving my personal experience of what I have beheld with my own eyes
in America’s greatest criminal barracks, I do so with the sole object of
letting the light in, and making it easier, if possible, for future
unfortunates who may be domiciled here for any length of time.
For many years the Tombs Prison has been the happy hunting ground for
graft and “rake-offs” of various kinds, given in return for all kinds of
privileges. Money has always been used to awaken the darkest passions in
man, those who are mad for the “dough” take all kinds of chances to
secure it.
To the daily visitor who comes to the City Prison, everything looks
beautiful and serene on the outside. But the careful observer sees
things in a different light and as he reads between the lines he can
detect the spurious from the genuine.
In endeavoring to carry on the work of a prison from a business
standpoint we must rid ourselves of everything romantic and deal only
with facts and common sense. It is not a pleasant task to expose infamy,
no matter where it is found. And you can rest assured that the one who
dares do it will be rewarded with invective, abuse and slander. On the
other hand, to pass it by without making some effort to change the
wretched conditions is cowardly.
The stories told of the abuses of the Tombs seem as strange as the
Arabian Nights! But most of them were true and would have made fine
reading for the average New Yorker, but graft kept them out of the
newspapers and from publicity.
One of the earliest “bombs” that struck the City Prison, was hurled by
an inmate named Ruth Howard during the sitting of the Mazet Committee,
in 1897-8. The Committee threatened to make an investigation and expose
the vile conditions which then existed. In her letter to the Committee,
Mrs. Howard describes the place as grossly immoral and, of course,
excoriated several of the officials by name. It was the general opinion
at the time that if the case had been pushed against these Tammanyites
they would soon be wearing striped suits either in Sing Sing or
Blackwell’s Island. After this the Commissioner refused to allow certain
ones to inspect the Women’s Prison.
For a number of years charges have been made at various times against
the Tombs Prison in general and the Department of Corrections in
particular, which many of our City newspapers and a score of criminal
lawyers who have come in contact with the conditions have known to be
true, but nothing has been done to clean out this sink of iniquity.
Whenever any person has had the courage to call attention to the
grafting abuses, common assaults, whiskey and dope smuggling and other
unseemly conduct of the Tombs officials, the usual response was
“Traitor, humbug, liar,” and a volley of anathemas! Such an answer
sufficed for the time being. Frequently these officials would resort to
a “white wash” paper, signed by missionaries and other hangers-on in the
building who would be compelled to affix their names to the document or
else be “bounced.” It seems to me all such whitewash “buzzards” were no
better than the real inmates of the cells!
I recall now when I first went there that there were two Wall Street
swindlers in the old Prison who were said to be rich. They had sumptuous
privileges. One of these crooks fought for his liberty in the state and
federal courts but did not succeed, but as he had the ready cash on hand
he found a good cell in the annex. He had everything he desired. The
other man who was convicted, but had appealed for a stay, fought against
being bled any longer and was removed to an inferior cell. I remember he
sent out for reporters that he might give them a tale of oppression, but
they were not allowed to see him. The “grafters” told the newspaper men
that the fellow was crazy.
In those days some of the abuses were of a gross sensual character and
had been going on for years but who would dare speak against them? And
so the grafters had everything their own way!
I have nothing but kind words for the excellent work of the Hon. Thomas
W. Hynes, who was an ideal Commissioner during the Mayor Low
administration. Mr. Hynes was an honest, upright and fair Commissioner
and sought in every way to keep his department clean. He removed Warden
Flynn and it would have been well if the Courts had left him out as he
certainly has made a poor Warden.
Whiskey, Gambling and Other Privileges
When Warden Bissert was an involuntary inmate of the Tombs in the fall
of 1901, he had so many privileges and such an old-fashioned good time
that many persons rightly concluded that he owned the City Prison. Not
only did he eat, drink, smoke the best Havanas and play cards at the
Warden’s table, but he was allowed to receive from ten to thirty plain
clothes policemen as his visitors daily! They had no passes whatever
when they came to the Tombs, but these were not necessary. All they were
required to say to the gateman was, “We are the Wardman’s friends.” On
Sunday afternoons, when everything was quiet, a woman was allowed to
pass through the front gate, enter a cell and be with a prisoner for
immoral purposes! The Keeper had orders to allow her pass into the
prison. I watched her enter the corner cell in the annex, which had a
gas jet, she came every Sunday for weeks and usually stayed an hour. Nor
was this an uncommon occurrence. Francis J. Lantry was Commissioner of
Corrections, James Hagan, Warden, and William Flynn, the present Warden,
was head keeper. Did I speak about it at the time? Certainly. And an
investigation was promised but like all of Tammany’s investigations it
never came!
The city cops that came daily to see the wardman always brought a
plentiful supply of whiskey. And judging from the number of empty
bottles found around the ten-day house, the quantity consumed on the
premises was enormous. And often keepers, “trusties” and prisoners were
found more than half drunk.
In these days Joe Williams, ballot-box stuffer, who was afterwards sent
to Sing Sing for a term of years, had special privileges. Joe was seldom
locked in his cell night or day. Many months afterwards when I
personally visited Auburn Prison, I found a man who had been at that
time in the “hall” with Williams; he informed him that the reason
Williams had so many privileges bestowed on him was on account of being
the “graft collector” in the ten-day house.
Williams, “Jimmie” Maguire and other trusties, were often “paralyzed”
drunk in the tiers with the whiskey brought in for Bissert’s benefit.
“Jimmie” Maguire had been in the Tombs no less than twenty times to my
knowledge for drunk and disorderly conduct, and worked most of the time
in the kitchen under the colored chef.
Every afternoon when the visitors had gone, keepers and inmates in
various parts of the prison sat down and boldly “picked out” the winners
of the races. And some made “books.” Then an official would be
dispatched to a pool room opposite the Criminal Court Building, said to
be over Tom Foley’s gin mill. This kind of gambling was kept up in the
Tombs daily, Sundays excepted, for years under Tammany Hall. The
prisoners saw the officials gamble and they in turn made “pools” and
sent their money where it could do the most good.
This gambling became such a nuisance that it became known on the
outside. A gentleman well known around the Criminal Court Building told
me afterwards that to make sure of the rumor he sent a betting
“commissioner” to the pool room over Tom Foley’s saloon and he waited
there till the Tombs runner came and laid several bets on the ponies.
When I saw how the poor unfortunates were being robbed and ruined, by
the prison gamblers, I made bold to go to Lantry and asked him to stop
it. I saw at once that I touched him, for he got red in the face. He
called Warden Flynn over the telephone and gave him a “roasting.” What
he said after I left the room, I have no idea, but when I reached the
Tombs I found that some persons had been struck by a cyclone. Thanks to
Mr. Lantry, the regular pool room messenger had been “fired” to
Blackwells Island and for several weeks the gamblers in the prison went
out of business. But in a short time the crooked work went on as brisk
as ever. At any rate, I relieved my conscience of a painful duty in the
matter and stopped the mean business for a season. I wish now that I had
called on Mr. Jerome and he might have sent the “bunch” to the
Penitentiary.
From that time on these gambling officials became my Nemesis. They hated
to see me around the Tombs. Commissioner Lantry afterwards told me that
I was the only person among Catholics, Jews and Protestant missionaries
that ever personally complained against the rotten conditions in the
Tombs. But then cowards are afraid to tell the truth!
Steerage
The way that lawyers have been robbed of their clients the past few
years in the City Prison has become a public scandal. Almost every day
there is a fight in the vicinity of the Counsel Room. It is the old
story, some reputable lawyer is fighting for his rights because an
official has stolen his client and given him to a “shyster.” It is said
that thousands of dollars a year have been passed to certain ones, who
have been the real “steerers,” and not the keepers. The Bar Association
should investigate and remedy this evil. There are a dozen reputable
lawyers in New York who are ready to furnish satisfactory evidence of
this bare-faced thievery and grafting. These corrupt officials should be
bounced, and a new Diogenes sent around the State with a searchlight
under his wing in an endeavor to find some honest men to take their
place.
Old time “steerers” in the palmy days made plenty of money in securing
lawyers for prisoners. I recall a man who had secured a lawyer through
one of his friends while in the District Prison. It was a homicide case.
When he came to the Tombs one of the keepers persuaded him to give him
up. The keeper approached him, thus, “Say, who is your lawyer?” “So and
So,” was the reply. “Well, let me tell you, he is no good. You will have
a chance of going to the Chair or away for life!” “It’s only
manslaughter, my lawyer says.” “Don’t make any difference,” said the
keeper, “I am telling you for your own good. Give him up. Why don’t you
get Mr. ——?” So he secures Mr. —— and that keeper gets the graft from
the lawyer.
When a certain politician was the boss of the City Prison, it was said
by the knowing ones that all homicides as soon as they gave their
pedigree at the desk were marched to the warden’s office where they were
privately catechised to know whether any “steerer” of the prison had
been giving them information about lawyers, and then informed that it
was not necessary for them to go to Court to get counsel, that he would
out of the goodness of his heart look after their interests and assign
them a lawyer. Two or three shyster firms had the murder cases during
this “regime,” at $500.00 per head, which was the amount of money
allowed by the State for the defence of every murderer, less one-half,
which went to the “grafter.” Thanks to Judge Rosalsky, who has made it a
rule that no prisoner in the Tombs can change his attorney without the
consent of the court.
The Prison Food
The bread given to the prisoner comes from Blackwell’s Island. It used
to be said that it was an inferior quality to that given to the “cons”
in the penitentiary. It was often so black that it had to be thrown
away, and frequently the dogs would not eat it. The tea and coffee was
colored water and the daily soup was mighty poor stuff. When I asked a
wise official to explain, he said, “Can’t explain; some guy is getting
rich.” It used to be a prisoner could get a small piece of meat once in
a while if he paid the captain of the tier five cents! The Friday clam
soup used to be horrible! They said it stank like the devil! Holy
angels, what stuff to give to human beings. Hear the profane expressions
of disapproval from the prisoners as it is taken to the cell doors. “D——
that chowder, take it away at once. The first time I ate it, it nearly
killed me.” Perhaps from another tier could be heard as they passed the
stinking stuff along, “Not for me. Send for the coroner and the grand
jury, call Jerome.”
Abusing the Unfortunates
Some officials shamefully abuse the prisoners for a small offence and in
turn the prisoners curse them in the vilest profanity.
In the early morning of July 4th, 1906, a colored man named Cambridge
called loudly for help. A night keeper responded. When he reached the
cell door he said, “What do you want?” The sick man replied, “Keeper,
get me a doctor, I am very sick.” The answer of the official was, “Go to
hell and put a cloth around your head.” In the morning Cambridge was
carried to the hall where he died the following day. When I spoke to an
official about it he said it was nobody’s damned business. But this was
common treatment toward moneyless unfortunates!
Special Privileges
When a West Side gambler was in the Tombs charged with murder, he had a
fresh bottle of whiskey brought to him almost daily and he made no bones
of the matter. Of course, it could not come into the Tombs without
money, of which B. had an abundance. One of the keepers said to me that
he saw the warden drinking whiskey with the murderer in his cell. But
this was nothing!
Scotty Young, who had spent two years in the Tombs awaiting trial, was
another prisoner that had special privileges. Scotty bragged that he had
his whiskey daily and none dared molest him. What kind of a “pull” he
had, never could be learned, as he was never known to have any more
money than he required for his personal needs. That “Scotty” had special
privileges none can deny; when a keeper tried to take away a large piece
of broken mirror, a pocket knife, a razor and other deadly things from
him, he was told that the warden gave him special permission, and of
course, that ended it.
The Grand Jury
Every month at the close of the term the Grand Jury pays a visit of
inspection to the Tombs. This has been their custom for many years. As
the warden knows they are coming he puts everything in a “spick and
span” order. They receive unusual attention on all such occasions, the
discipline is up to the highest pitch and the warden as a rule shows
them around. But to the man who can read between the lines this is all
“make believe.”
If the Grand Jury should visit the Tombs like a thief in the night, that
is, unexpectedly, they would then see the place as it is and would not
be imposed upon any longer. If the Grand Jury came to the Tombs on
Friday and refused to be led around by the warden, but by a Court
official, their eyes would be opened. Perhaps they could be induced to
wait around till the noon hour, when they would have an opportunity of
at least “smelling” the stinking chowder which the unfortunate inmates
are compelled to eat or starve.
If any of the Grand Jury tried to eat some of this unpalatable stuff
they would become so deathly sick that a doctor would have to be called
and if they ever recovered we fear they would indict the warden on the
spot!
Of course the monthly visit of the Grand Jury is known in advance. They
are carefully piloted around through the halls where the floors have
been mopped that morning and everything made to look “shiny” and neat
for the occasion. As a rule they are taken through the new prison and
down into the cellar where may be found the machinery all polished and
bright.
I would like to lock some of these gentlemen in one of the cells for an
hour or two. As is well known, many of these cells are “reeking” with
vermin and filth. Not of the Tombs only, but some of the district
prisons. I have seen men in the Tombs and in other prisons of the City,
who had hardly become inmates before the vermin would literally be found
crawling over them.
In summer time when the weather is warm and oppressive, the “Annex bug”
(where the misdemeanants are kept) which is said to be an “Asiatic”
brand of bug, comes out of the porous brick by thousands and for two or
three months have their “fill” of human gore. I think the main trouble
is with the bedding. It is sent to the Workhouse and washed about twice
a year in ordinary water, instead of being boiled in a vat of carbolic
acid or _aqua fortis_, and beaten for a few days with clubs. Not
infrequently visitors and missionaries find vermin crawling over their
clothing after they have returned to their homes.
Politics and the Prisons
I hope the time is not far distant when the prisons of greater New York
will be conducted by the State authorities, as is the case in nearly all
other countries. They are the proper custodians of the prisoner. It
seems to me that this is the only cure for the rank abuses that have
existed in these prisons for half a century. Under Tammany as everybody
knows, the warden or other official could get as drunk as a lord, abuse
everybody in sight and yet be considered a hero! Some men have been
suspended for a few days but when the district leader took a hand in the
matter that ended it.
Last election day, November, 1908, two members of the State Prison
Commission visited Hart’s Island and found it deserted. The keepers and
orderlies were scattered all over greater New York trying to pile up
Tammany votes. For more than two years the Workhouse end of the Island
has been in a state of pandemonium. Under Tammany Hall, politics always
cuts a wide swath in prison matters. A keeper who refuses to work for
votes on election day is considered “no good” and is recommended by the
district leader for dismissal. If this cannot be done, “fake” charges
are presented against him and unless he repents and returns to the
“fold” he is bounced. One of the most intelligent keepers the Tombs ever
had was Frank Smith. He knew his business so well that he was an
authority on the various kinds of commitments. When Flynn became warden
he was sent to Blackwell’s Island. If Frank told all he knew about the
Tombs’ grafters there would have been a sensation! The old Book says
“resist the devil and he will flee from you, but resist the Tammany
grafters and they will fly at you!” As soon as any one tries to reform
such a place he gets mud and filth thrown at him!
When W. R. Hearst ran for Mayor of New York, he had several warm friends
among the keepers. At first they were not afraid to speak in his favor,
but this was soon changed. Spies were sent to the prisons and the
unlucky wights that favored him were given to understand that if they
deserted Tammany they would lose their jobs, and the civil service law
would not save them. Notwithstanding this “scare” a large number of the
most intelligent keepers voted the Independence League ticket, but kept
it to themselves. I have nothing but kind words for the rank and file of
the keepers in the Tombs and the other New York prisons. I believe most
of them try to do their duty faithfully.
After the scandalous sale or “give away” of Kings County Penitentiary,
for one-sixth of its real value, the grafters said that it was done for
economy’s sake, which is untrue, for soon after—from sixty to seventy
keepers were transferred to the District Prisons of New York and
Blackwell’s Island, where was an over supply already. The result was
that ever since there have been two Wardens and two deputy Wardens in
the New York Penitentiary, besides a superfluous number of keepers and
orderlies in all penal institutions of greater New York.
At one time Hart’s Island had something like sixty extra men who were
classed as stablemen and orderlies. They had absolutely nothing to do
except to draw their pay and help the district leaders. Bitter
complaints were made from time to time against a brother of the deputy
who ran things with a high hand. If anybody complained against these
scandalous conditions he would soon be “fired.” Tammany has no use for
reformers. I do not think it possible to paint the New York prisons as
black as they have been until recently. If a day of judgment ever comes
when all the scandalous conditions shall be exposed to public view the
people will be astonished.
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