WEDDINGS IN THE TOMBS PRISON
Marriages have been performed in the Tombs Prison since it was first
opened in 1838, by clergymen of all denominations, Protestant, Catholic
and Jewish, without the least objection. During its long and eventful
history it may be said truthfully that Cupid’s arrows have penetrated
the gloomy old walls of this dark prison scores of times, where in such
cases the love-making ended in a marriage ceremony in which two hearts
were made one.
It ought further to be said that these Tombs weddings are of two kinds:
Voluntary and involuntary. The latter kind is performed at the request
of the Judges of Special Sessions. When a woman goes to the
Superintendent of Outdoor Relief in this city, and swears that she and
her babe are liable to be a town charge because John Doe, the father of
her illegitimate child refuses to give them a support, he is forthwith
arrested. If convicted after a fair trial, he is given the alternative
of going to prison for a year, marrying the girl, or paying her a weekly
allowance. As a rule, if poor, he marries her, as the easiest way out of
his troubles. As soon as the knot is tied, “they go on their way
rejoicing,” provided everything is all right, and the case against him
falls to the ground.
We regret to say that many of these marriages are a failure, simply
because the male end of the contract gets mad at being forced into
matrimony against his will, even though he knows that he has ruined that
girl. As there is seldom any love in such a match, we find in a great
many cases after the ceremony is performed, the man runs away. The only
redeeming thing about the marriage is that it has saved the name of the
mother and child from lasting disgrace. And from henceforth she has a
claim upon him for legal support, no matter where he may go. Of course,
I always explain the nature of such a marriage to the bridal candidate.
If she is willing to take her chances in the lottery of life, and is
satisfied, I am always willing to do my part to help her with my
services, and for this reason, if he refuses to live with her, she can
compel him to pay her alimony in any part of the United States.
But the marriages that attracted the most attention during these years
were of persons who really wished to be man and wife, from choice. Of
course, their wish is not always granted, for reasons best known to the
authorities. The first marriage of this character which excited the
people of the city was that of John C. Colt, who was convicted of the
murder of Samuel Adams. This marriage took place November 18th, 1842.
During the time that Colt lay in the Tombs he was repeatedly visited by
one Caroline Henshaw, who had been his common-law wife. As they had
never been legally married, Colt expressed a wish that they should be
made husband and wife before his execution. The authorities at first
refused to give the necessary consent, but afterwards gave permission
and agreed that it should take place on the day of his execution, which
was fixed for November 18th, 1842. At 11:30 on the fatal day, the bride
appeared at the condemned cell, neatly attired in a straw bonnet, green
shawl, claret colored cloak trimmed with red cord, and a muff.
Colt was remarkably cheerful for a man who was to die four hours
afterwards, but it was his wedding day, and when should a man be
cheerful if not that day? The ceremony, which took place in the
condemned cell, was witnessed by Judge Merritt, the Sheriff of the
County, Colt’s brother, John Howard Payne, the author of “Home, Sweet
Home,” and several others. The bride and groom were allowed to be alone
for one hour, after which he must prepare for death.
Two hours after she left him to change orange blossoms for sombre weeds,
the sheriff and his deputies went to his cell to escort him to the
scaffold, which was all ready, when to their amazement, they found that
Colt was dead. The gallows had been cheated of its victim. The honeymoon
of an hour was past, and he was cold in death.
Protestant chaplains more than once have been severely criticised for
performing marriages in the Tombs Prison at the request of the
authorities, but when marriages were performed by Catholic priests in
the same place, there was no publicity given, nor were they in the least
criticised.
On June 29th, 1897, a man named Max H. was married to an actress on the
train between New York and Sing Sing. Max had just received a sentence
of four years and six months in State Prison. He had asked the
authorities to allow him to be married in the Tombs several days before,
but they positively refused. At the Grand Central Depot his lady love
boarded the same train on which he was, with an Episcopal minister named
Lindsay, who was a Tombs missionary. They were bound to be married. Dave
Burke was deputy sheriff in charge of the prisoners going to Sing Sing
that day. He consented to the marriage of Max and his lady love on the
train, and they were married. Cupid could not be put off under any
circumstances. The marriage would not have been known, but when the
commitment papers were carefully examined at State Prison after the
prisoner’s pedigree was given, it was found that when Max was sentenced
he was single, but when he reached Sing Sing he was married. This
marriage on the railroad train created a great furore in New York, and
as a result, the deputy sheriff was dismissed, and the minister soon
afterwards left the city.
A few years ago, Lawyer Patrick, who was convicted of the murder of
Millionaire Rice, wished to be married before he was sent to Sing Sing,
where he has been ever since. Mr. Patrick took pains to sound the
feelings of the authorities on the subject, with the result that
objections were made against any such ceremony taking place in the
prison. But Cupid in this case was smarter than the authorities. On the
Sunday previous to his receiving the death sentence, three persons came
to the prison, a lawyer, a friend and Patrick’s lady love. The lawyer
requested permission from the Warden to see the condemned man, which was
granted in the Women’s Prison, where a civil contract was signed, which
made them husband and wife, according to the new law. The following day
Patrick was taken to Sing Sing.
During the past six years a number of convicted men awaiting trial have
begged to be married before going to prison, but I have positively
refused, as I found on inquiry that the object in view was solely to
secure clemency for some miserable scoundrel on the day of sentence. A
recent case was that of a girl named Stella Hamilton, a native of
Connecticut. She called at the Tombs more than a dozen of times, and
begged to be married to a convict named Williams or Willinsky. This man
was a convicted pickpocket, and had served three or four terms in prison
already. She told a romantic story that moved many hearts. Her story was
that more than a year ago she had been saved from drowning by this man,
and now she wished to marry him in return for saving her life on that
occasion. Since then it has turned out that the whole romance was a
scheme to get clemency for Williams.
A few years ago, a crook asked the Chaplain to marry him to a woman he
had wronged, and with whom he had lived as husband and wife. I refused,
as I knew him to have a criminal record. The woman had not known this,
but should have made an inquiry into his character before entering into
such an alliance. He wished the marriage to take place so as to secure
sympathy, and save her name. After he had gone to prison, the woman
followed him, and asked the Warden to permit the ceremony to take place,
as soon as possible, to save her good name and that of the child, but he
refused. Then she called on a Supreme Court Justice, who resided in the
neighborhood, and stated her case to him. The Judge gave her an order
which was served on the warden of the Prison, compelling him to permit
the marriage to take place, which was performed by a minister of the
Gospel the following day.
It seems the law is very clear on these things. If a man has wronged a
woman under a promise of marriage, the fact that the man is in prison
does not deprive her of her rights before the law. If they are both
willing, she can marry him in spite of busy-bodies, judges and prison
authorities.
[Illustration:
A scene in the Tenderloin Station House at midnight.]
[Illustration:
MRS. JOHN A. FOSTER, The Tombs Angel.]
[Illustration:
CORNELIUS V. COLLINS,
Superintendent of State Prisons.]
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