New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-01
An English Court Scene

The night-charges were just being concluded an
there was cnlprit in his place; there was a police
man in the witness-box in his place; there was
side arrangement like q church-pew, and there NJ,
Fence now appeared in his place there was slna
table IN the CENTER and seat beside IT, and there sa
the clerk in his place there was a hearttmg AM
thereon stood the magistrate in his place and Their
was huddled the public (and a very dirty public
was upon this occason) in its place.
The offender at the bar was a boy about tge1v
years old very shabby, very dirty, very thin aud sal
low, and very stunted. The policeman bearing testi
mony against him was iolly-looking man, SIX fee
high,
The magistrate, Mr.. Settenm was a small sDart
man, rigid IN aspect, and with stern eye and voice
Settleuul. g You say this boy was begging?''
81 do, your Wusshp. heard him saw poor boy
to many gents and ladies'
Did you notice whether he received ANYTHING. no.
liceman?' -
g Yes, your worship, one gentleman hit him =
crack o head, and bid him go to work A LADY said
she was sorry for him. and gave him this ere tract on
spiritual Food which she said would do him more
good than penny loaves And gentleman, after
thht, gave him an order for the workus Then comes
another gentleman, and when he says says he to him
Poor boy, poor boy that gentleman saws Halo
i halto! Police poice' and gives him in charge But
Lhat WASH al, your wnsshp When I, in duty takes
ne reslsts like good un, and kicks me on the sbns
" Has he hurt you policeman 2" incurred Mr. Set.
teum commiseratngly.
lie has hurt me dreadful, your wusship.'' renlied
the witness, an expression Of agony crossing his
countenance. I've been obliged to be kept up
with stimnants ever snce--I'ye been so low
" Shocking! shocling" murmured the magistrate
clasplng his hands and looking upwards. A murmu,
OF sympathy ran through the audience and the umn
OF inquity four feet high crouching at the bar and
screwing his sharp dirty knuclles into the cor
nels OF his eyes, commenced sobbing and evidently
felt every inch OF him an outcast and blot lpon
creation NS''1
The magistrate gathered himself for an exhibition
OF p@%yeg.
20 what are we coming TO what are we
coming I" said the worthy man, with painful emo
tlon Then, sternly, Boy-prisoner, what have you
to say ~
"Tf-if-you please-yo ur-wusship,' sobted the
cnlprt, " I-I-only begged COS l was hungry. Id
had no whites, your wusship, for a--a-whole day
your wlsslip.'
"Why don't you apply to your relatives, boy?' ask
ed the magistrate, with great asperty.
L-lve--no relatives your Wusshp; no-nobody
but mothern-law.'
-" Its no use asking you any questions Isee." said
Or. Settleum; you're quite hardened. Now, here
is boy continued the agistrate addressing those
around" q desperate, ierocious rut1ian, who has
seriously hurt that brave policeman there policeman
Y. was Immediately covered with bushesD whose shin
has been nobly sacrificed in the noble cause of order
say here is this determined vagabond convicted on
the cearest testimony Of begging Now I have
called upon this fellow for his defence, and ask what
has his defence been? Why, has he not had the
audacity to urge as his reason for begging-hat he
was hungry?t'
There were whispers of admiration in court but
some man in the corner Ga carpenter, out of work.
exclaimed, land an uncommon good reason too ="
for which he was straightway taken ont by tile officer
"I will waste no more words upon him. continued
Mr.. settleum w1athtuny. Fourteen days and hard