The New York herald., 1869-04-14
Crime in hondon--The Cruelty to Criminals
Bill

LONDON March 81, 1869.
DR.. Bali who has gathered such singular impress
sion OF the immortality and vice OF the American
under the system OF vointaryism, is just now beng
supplied with some wholesome food for reflection
upon the morals OF his own countrymen in a series
OF letters published in the Times on the hauns and
habits OF criminals in London, where the Established
Church reigns IN all its glory. The descriptions
given by the writer Of character to startle even
those best acquainted with the worst features OF
New York lile We are told that in some stated
localities IN London whole communities saJsst
only robbery aud prostitution, and that thou
sands OF the young OF bpth sexes live there
who have been "sucked, Graded and hardened in
scenes OF guilt intemperance and pronsacy'' until
they bloom forth into full grown ..snashers. bur-
glars. thieves prostitutes and Iorsers." We told
that regular missionary LABOR OF proselytsm to
wee is going vigorously among the boys an girls OF
London and that thousands Of children gathered
IN the worst dens OF tine metropolis who are smore tic
for nursery than for notorious thieves house OF
nlfame" Or course all this Is carried on under the
eyes OF the police and OF the wei paid ministers OF
the Established Church, who are supposed to do SO
much for the morals or people. Tne enormous
amount Ol crime has OF course rom time to time
attracted Tie atteation OF the la6-nases, and
their Efforts have been directed towards its dlmlau-
ton. But. unfortunately. the .'noDs' OF England,
and especially the noble lords wno are hereditary
legislators, have bUt one idea in dealing with crime.
ana that IS that II can only be stopped by severity ol
punishment. They would gladly, Al they could 80
back 10 the good Old DAYS wnen the gaiows cuiid
he made the penalty for petty Iarccny for they cen-
not conceive wby thief should be allowed TO 1--we.
Actuatel by this spirit royal commission Ave
years ago examined into The su5ect OF crime and
prison discipline and the result Of their lavestiga-
tiJa the revision OF the Jaws and the general M
OF punishment both IN the length OF sen,encc
and the severity OF treatment. Hard labor
was required In almost ai cases ana in-
troduced INTO every prison, and with the
Singular pervcrsity thst has always marked English
81 Qu
of being put TO such work as would make the prisons
partially, at least scl-sufpOrtng. Solitary colnue-
lncnt Was made more general the period OF sleep
materially reduced, ana the conyIcts were de-
priyed OF tue customary mattress comDciicd to
seep on bare boards. Nevertheless despue tiis in-
crease OF severity. AMI despite the Established
Church. so much lauded by Dr. BAH, CRIME has In
creased and become more intensified than ever
during the past foar or i've years. AstonIshed at
thls result. the lords have passed another bin
"lor the more effective prevention OF crime,r the
main object Of which Is % put the man who has
been twice cOnyictr OF any oifcnce under the sur
Neilancc Of tire ponce, WHO eau at any moment ar
rest him dnd fcquirs lim % prove that ne ~
earning an honest livng. The bIl changes the Old
principle o; law whci n0lds maa 90 be innocent
until hc i5 proved 10 DC guilty, ana holds him 10 be
The evil ana injustice o. such measure VIII be at
once appaent and 10 has been appropriately
termed the Cruelty 20 Criminl3p bill. 40 puts u
dangerous power iuto the hands OF tue police,
tfust IN their integrity. man wlO has been
tempted 70 CRIME ~ never SAFE lie may be in
spectaDle emp, snent and u arrested, may bc aVc
u prove the fact; hut the chances are that his
nl0yer wOnl1 bs ignorant of his past career anI
WOll dismiss hn soon az he learned tnat he had
served ont convcps sentcnce. Tnls the bill pus
up tic Darrers aganst reformation and creates tno
r"ie-ohce criminal always a criminal.