The New York herald., 1877-02-02
JUSTICE WITHOUT MERCY.

Incidents OF q sufficiently pathetic nature excite
tho sympathy Of officers attached Now York police
court are of occurrence and must possess some
powerful elements. Accustomed those persons arc
to daily suffering in all forms. 10 msory
degradation and despair, they become caous 10
pity and oblivious TO others woes Yesterday after
noon a, the Tombs Police Court such an incident
occurred. The elements werc exceedingly simple and
unromantic, consisting merely OF tho piteous appeal
for judicial mercy OF two poor female children,
rested for tho ncinous crime Of sweeping the slush
from tho muddy street crossings and accepting there
for an occasional penny from charitable pedestrians
THIS may or may not be Construed into begging,
which, by the wise provision Of our law. offence
punishable by imprisonment under the vagrant
act Nearly all police justices deal cni-
entity with tho little Offenders, approaching
the TACT tina, thoy well the mcagre pistance they
receive and at the same tmc confer real heneAs 70
citizens especially when tho streets are In such
q wretchcd condition as at present
The prisoners gave the pamcs OF Kattc Magic and
Polly Walsh, and their ages eleven and twelve years
respectively. Both were pnched, and con-
suinptive, with pretty and intelligent faces. An
"am sp iooD nom bc,o1e "con
broth. They cried piicously on being placed at tho
bar and between their sobs begged for pardon the
officer " regrctul for having made the arrest tried
to comfort them with the assurance that whom they
told the Judge the circumstances he would permit them
to 20 home. They frightened up At this, and
how the present her hrst ofrenoc Her father
was an old man and unable to obtain work, and her
mother was sick abed Shc did not know II was an
offence, there bread Ia tho house. and
ing several otncr little girls earning money In that
way she took broom and began sweeping. She had
only lust commenced when tho officer arrested her.
ION. mistern she added, ''do please let 70
home TO poor. poor mother, and will never, never
again sweep tho streets"
The cold, impressive lines OF Judge Kibrc;h's face
were unreaxcd BY the waits appeal He simply wrote
on the commitment "Scnt 10 tho House OF Refuge I"
and the iittle girls away. They stepped down
brskiy WITH ''Oh, thank you. lister, thank you'
thinking they had been released When the onicer
stopped thcu on their way out they realized their
mistake The pale face Of litto Kittc grew pacr and
folding her hands II In prayer she humbcd herself
before tho Judge and prayed
"Ah. good KIND mister. please lot me homo 10 m
mothcr IL viii break her heart II you keep me. Oh,
/ wouldn't have gone sweeping the streets u u was
not we were hungry at home; but do, please Kind,
good mister. lot me 20 and promise the holy
book to starvc death than sweep the streets
again.
The officer gupcd little as no said They are not
rcyular sweepcrs. Your Honor. never saw them be-
fore and arrested them ony because had orders 10
arrest all persons taking aims on my post ;"
at makes difference " coldy replied the Judge,
spcak ing the sobs OF tho children, 81 will send
them to the House OF Refuge"
Another wall more prayers, and Judge kibrcth saw
every person in the court room looking with In.
tense pity and sympathy. pin could he heard drop,
SO profound was tho silence.
well run homc,r nc said grufyiy; .don't como
hero again." And the little ned like frightened
deer.