Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-06-19
THE LONDON POLICE COURT.

THE LONDON POLICE COURT.
Nothing can be more depressing than
the aspect and atmosphere of the Lon
don police courts. They are, for the
most part, dingy and darkly y-dreary por-
tails to the yet gloomier abodes of con-
victed crime and misdemeanor. The
magistrates are men usually of stern
countenance and despotic manner, who
sit severely aloft and dispense a justice
that is at least prompt and swift, if not
always discriminating, and rarely tenn
pered with mercy. The policemen look
serious and prophetic in their corners;
the lawyers are less gorgeous and less
loquacions than those of Westminster
Hall; the prisoners, with rare excep-
tions, are of the poorest class, wretched
ly clad, with haggard or vicious faces,
dragged hither from the depths of the
slums which are to be found in spots in
every quarter of London.
A very large proportion of the cases in
these courts are, as might be supposed,
the results of the irrepressible taste of
the low-class Briton for strong drink.
On one occasion, rather good looking
woman of twenty-seven was brought up
at Westminster, the sadly monotonous
charge of being "drunk and disorderly"
having been made against her. The
magistrate asked her what she had to
say.
Nothing" she replied, 81 believe 1
was born drunk"
"What?"
81 was born drunk, think; for I'm
always drunk"
every candid, certainly"
"You know me very well," said the
woman. Then, turning to the police,
she continued: "You are all down on
me, and you weren't asked to give me
lift. I'll leave off drinking, your wor,
ship, if you'll let me off.
"Tm afraid can't believe you"
"Oh, yes, you can; for I'll go to the
priest at once and sign the pledge. 1
drunk and call for the police"
A poor wretched fellow of twenty
five, whose clothes hung in tatters about
him, appeared to answer similar
charge in Worship street.
Well,' said the magistrate, " do
you wish to ask the constable any ques-
tion9"
"Look here, sir, said the man, CT
want to speak to you"
"What do you wish to say to me2"
"Why, look here, sir; I've tried
good many fakements in life, and had
good start in the cough-drop line. But
that fell off, and now I'm about the pub
lie houses giving recitations. 1 can give
you one if you like"
But you'll end your days in a luna
tic asylum if you act i'll this strange
way about the Streets"
"They turned me out of Coldbath
Fields on Saturday, and this was the
pair of boots (taking off one) "they
gave me in Christian country. L asked
the magistrate to give me SOY. for o
start, but no, he wouldn't"
"You are not to go about in this
way"
"Look here, sir; let me speak as well
as you, though you are magistrate. If
you will give me something out Of the
poor-box for fresh start, I'll go away" !"
Tho magistrate had, for once, COM
passion, and the poor ex-cough- drop
vender went back to his recitations. Z"
A policeman passing, one day, Tenn
pie Stairs Qeading to the Thames), found
man lying at the bottom in the mud
and water.
81 looked at the body" says the
policeman, in court, "and said /: He's
been dead four days. 1 thought he had
been drowned and washed mp. I pulled
him out, and then found he was alive
and quite sensible"
The prisoner, on being asked if he
wished to put any question, said
"No, sir. l don't care to trouble him.
l don't remember anything about it. He
says he pulled me out; so am much
obliged to him. All I know is, that ]
found myself very wet at the police sta
tion, and didn't like it. He says had
been dead four days, so ] suppose 4
must have come to life again"
81 think" says the magistrate, "yor
were very drunk, and I must fine yor
ten shillings."
"Oh, make it five; I'm out o
work"
A tierce-looking old woman wa
charged with begging at Guildhall.
The magistrate told her she was no
allowed to beg.
But will, though |"
You cannot be allowed to break th
aw with impunity, and commit you t.
prison for twonty.one days"