The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-29
BEDFORD STREET IN COURT.

The Grand jury and the Court Take Notice OF
M-RemarIts OF Judge Peirce UpOn the Sub
sThis morning. when the Grand Jury came into
sourt TO make their usual presentation, his Honor
Judge Peirce called their attention to the degrada-
hon OF Bedford street, speaking as foll0ws-
Gentlemen Of tie Grand Juy:-A recert visit made by
in company with the District Attorney and other gen
Bedford and ST. ary streets has induced me TO invite
ATTENTION to the unhappy eoadi9n OF that portion
given no idea OF It's misery squaorand wetched
might realize in your hearts the depths Of
degradation ana depravity which there exist You
sed sene' rags. besotod, drunken lost to ni ali
sense Of decency shame sunken and degraded be-
yond all conception, Their c'lst o9ay refuge from the
swarm and in Witch spent III. wrctcned pittanees
tomed AZ late hour OF the night they are driven Sy tn
keepers, find lodging place in some hole OF cellar
drunk aud helpless in Of the whsSy Shops from
You have there also found men wearing the common
OF humanity, who. for gan, destroy the bodies
nI th rnkS which they claim sell aGt6S
rity of the Commonwealth Of Ponnylyaua and who with
ealm indifference pursue their horrible trac with their
miserable victims al! around hem every stage Of drunk
lies in utter hepessness upon the oor of these outpos
In these haunts found thieves prostitutes
Of all races, coiors ana SEXES IA Goamon admixnre
soSrnpsion sIId snd dSgTSSaGioP1 fogSS m 1 ,rrour limo
miserable hovels rckety outhouscs, built wood and
usually consisting of but one roomnot much than
though somewhat larger and wboh have probably cost
dollar and one dollar and twenty cents per week
If you enter them you find many OF them bedes almost
comfort convenience In these and in the adjacent eel
times ten twenty in number more lying promiscu
ouy the bare floor EARTH who pay ten cents each
am tod, are owned by of wealth, who collect
through agents. and whose delicate never
in contact with the fostering corruption from which
they draw their income.
Of course, gentlemen, neighborhOod such 1 have
ieebattempted to describe toyou is tine fruitful
% s be doa 3 9f
have visited it, have felt since my visit it,
s nd the o % II the S
Of philadelphia could see for theyeves this plague
spot IN their midst they would not tolerate its existence
Religion justice and the welfare of society alike demand
Bedford Street Mission is tailoring faithfully and ear
shops which nfest the neshborhood with their poi,
and fiery drinks more than counerac the inu-
which moral suasion and religious teaching
am informed that that valuable and efficient officer,
Sergeant Duffy and the officers associated with him are
@ tSst gr their Se g1.St a IN s infected S
against these yolatos of the law the penalties which are
The law Of Pennsylvania prohibits any person keeping
house or place Co the Of donsss gamin
drinking or other msbehayor to the common nuisance
also prohibits the, wlfully furnishing intoxica-
person OF known intcmperate habits TO minor.
to insane person, or TO any drunk
thing which is detrimental and hurtfu to the health
and morals OF the public at Such
can be prosecuted for maintaining a common nuisance
All these offenses are misdemeanors and punishable
by fine and imprisonment.
have power 70 send for witnesses to whom these
facts known and to ascertain tho
who maintain these nusances, who otherwise vio
latng the law, and to their the court
that bills OF indictment may be seat in against hem and
that they be punished for their violations of the law
1t is the duty of connected with the
ficn of law to endeavor to ferret punish
breakers Of the law and TO protect the community from
the mischief and ruin which they inhct Aud am sure
gentlemen of the jury that will do whatever is In yon
power to accomplish these ends.
A = no c1o n these pnmarES