The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-12-14
Sunday Police Courts in New York

The New ork Herdd has the follow
ing among its city items:
Perhaps it is unknown to the majority
that so numerous are the transgressors of
the law that the utmost despatch of the
magistrate cannot dispose of them all du-
ring the week day sessions, and that an
extra session on the forenoon of every
Sabbath is required, 1t is remarkable
though natural fact that on Sunday the
prisoners box is always the fullest, and
the lists or returns from the various pre-
cincts are always longest Saturday
night is the time when laboring people
receive their weeks wages, and it is then
more intoxicated and more disorderly per-
sons are encountered by policemen on
their beat than at any time during the
week. As consequence the number of
arrests is much larger. The court room
is always thronged of q Sunday, and the
noise and hustle of business is always
great. Let the one who desires to see
his fill of the woes and miseries of the
lower classes in great city betake him to
the Police Court on one of these fine,
pleasant Sunday mornings. 1t is I'm
necessary to remind him that he need not
60 as prisoner, however. AS he hears
the tolling of bells from the neighboring
church spires let him not think that there
alone will he learn lessons which shall
teach him the right, and tn it is neces.
sary for him to go if his desire is to have
his heart fled with better resolves and a
'purer charity. In the Police Court he
may if be will receive instruction for the
better, and may obtain a more practical
and vivid knowledge of the blasting,
damning effect of vicious and sinful life.
If he sees here the long train of offenders
issue forth from the prisoners box, and
take their stations at the bar-tbe ragged,
wreiched, wrinkled and repulsive form of
the vagrant ). the poor unfortunate, whom
no one can help plying, sweeping haugh-
tily and inditferently from the sawdust in
splendid attire, her cheeks painted and
her fingers glittefing with jewels the
drunkard, maudlin or insensate, or tren-
bling with the effect of his debauch and
the terror of returning reason, his gar
merts soiled and torn the idle, shiftless
and lazy beggar the professional Grimm
al, slouching, careless and easy, or the
young man whose first offence is this--if
he b holds this throug of prisoners and
studies the feelings of each as revealed by
the outward actor expression, he is lost
man if he Dies not go from that court
room with better and a kindlier knowl-
edge of human nature and human frailty,
and with heart filled with more com.
miscrating, tender and Christian spirit
towards the lowly, weak and fallen of his
race. The curious and hoartless crowd of
spectators will laugh at the sulferings of
the beggar, the outcast woman-external.
ly listless and unconcerned, but racked
with burn ng shame within; the inebri-
ate, the thief and the many other violators
of justice and law; bat if he possesses a
heart of feeling and Kindness lie will not
laugh. They will soon leave his sight,
but his mind will 90 with them, and days
after he will think of that lost soul, peni-
tent and sorrowful, with useful regret
behind the bars of cell.