The New York herald., 1870-01-19
EU r Q p E.
Imprisonment for Debt Abolished
in England.
The Jails Thrown Open at New Year and
Debtors Made Free.
Christmas Feasts In Rome and the CuriOsities
Of the Council.
ENGLAND.

Abolitioa Of imprisonment for Debt-The
Jaiis Opened and tho Prisoners Set Free.
LONDON, Jan. g. 1870.
On the lst or January the new Bankrupt law,
which aboiishes imprisonment for debt IN England,
except In cases OF county court Judgments Tor small
sums came into operation aud there was 10 conse-
uuence general jail delivery from oil the debtors
prisons and sBponging houses" Of the metropolis
IL mas long been conceded tnat the practice or lock.
lng up a man who owes money which he cannot
pay and keeping him for years in prison like feon
fs ~ brutal as 1t scnseless and yet the stubborn
opposition OF Engllshmen to innovation has kept
alive until now one OF the most cruel and absurd
laws that ever disgraced the statute book
OF any country. Within the last twenty
years. 1t Is true, many notifications OF
the Imprisonment for Deb, law have been made,
and there has been less power than there was prior
TO thar time TO throw debtor into jail and let him
rot there; but still the abuses have been numer-
and tho opening OF the prison doors has turned
loose upon the world score two OF miserable
wretches who for no crime but poverty have grown
old ana rusty in JAIL ana rendered unit ever again
to earn their living by labor.
The new law took effect on the 1st OF January, and
hence nc twelve O'CLOCK at night the last day OF
the OLD year the prisoners we're virtually free,
although judges order for their release might have
been required before they were actually set at D-
the largest place of detention In London, determined
to waive this formally. aud notified the prisoners
rnat all who pleased were at liberty 70 leave the jail
aL midnight OF The 3lst December, and
out OF ninety-four inmates thirty one availed
themselves OF the privilege. These poor creatures
longcd so ardentiy Tor liberty that they packed tner
few goods togeIDer early as four or ve O'Clock
the afternoon, AID counted the seconds untll the
hour OF their release arrived, while In mauy cases
their families, women ana children, waited for them
outside the gates, and watched as anxiously the
slow Night OF time. IL Is o sad commentary upon
the Old law that sixtytrree OF the prisoners begged
to DO allowed TO remain In the jail until the next day.
the plea mostly tnat they had no homes 20 90 TO-
AS the new law does not cover judgments 0btaiaed
IN county courts, over forty prisoners still remain
for stipulated periods. IL Is much complained OF
that the new law does not reach this poorer class
OF debtors, and there seems TO De great Inequality
OF Justice In se1ing the large doctor absolutely
free and sim holding these short terms Of ini-
prLsonnent over the small debtor THIS Is
especially tie case since, under the County
Court act, tho Judges have very arbitrary
power and IL Is actually possible that man who
owes few shill,ngs may be imprisoned, Oh and OF,
Tor years unless nc Is able to pay his ere 1tor. Say
that poor workman owes n grocery bill OF thirty
ghi,lings and nds himself unable TO settle 1T, ne Is
sued before the county court, judgment Is OBJ
tained and an order ID made nv the Judge that the
dentOr pay hyc or sev0n shlll iugS week. This The
debtor IS unable TO do, when he is arrested and
committed 10 jail for forty days. The incarceration
does nN discharge the llabiity-it Ii for contempt
OF the Judges order-and The week after his npera-
tiOn the deOt0r can be again arrested. and 20 on
Czd fr1atSaa. Oi course the forty days inprlson-
ment throws iaborer or mechanic out OF work. and
he has less chance oil paying the debt after he
out OF jail than he nad before In the meantime his
family Deg or starve, or become q charge upon the
parish. aud the END is recNessness, despair and
ruin for thousands who might have remained steady
Workmen and supported their families in compara-
tive comfort nut for the working OF this abominabIe
law.
IL " to be hoped that the reform now commenced
VIII speedily reach that most unfort unate classthe
county court Judgment debtors.