New-York tribune., 1878-03-05
THE COURTS.
THE CRIME OF ABANDONING CHILDREN.
RECORDER HACREIT's ANSWER 70 LETTERS iElNiE
IL TIE TRBt NJ.

THE CRIME OF ABANDONING CHILDREN.
RECORDER HAcKElr's ANSWER TO LETTERS PRINTED
IL THE TRIBJ NJ.
The new term of the Court of General - =
sions was opened yesterday, ard now Grand Jury was
impauellel, william Palcu. OF No - Coolest, beng So
eced rs foreman. Recorder Hckctt read the following
written charge. large Iart of which was designed u
answer the criticisms Of certain cores ondcnis OF IiE
TRBrNE:
The regular list Of accused persons who lrc under de-
teton wifn criminal charges VIII b. llil D.. for you
and uponI II Won viii End the namos 0i four VINO are
infauti,dc. I invite Sour especial ana 'aiN "i-
tcntion to these calendar instances. Ahind H-
mcnt Of children upon the street ha9 al+' hrco'Hc
Il common crime. Tho statutcbooG froWu- up'n u "iih
Il maximum penalty "f seven yc'is 81 imr"s"nIn'ii.
gardcd this offence The police report many r'~' ri
yet Few OF the dc.uqh.nt- are arrested hcci1-c -leh
last term. there WAS however. an aiTai-nnrnt ior i-
offence. II al abandonment ol all ilestimHie IN
r Ihc I,nth.r w. or ItJ , In :ay deere. at,fd
presented, apart from her own declarations. cae OF
nnf-rIiug cInolty-tspocaliy N tha ,ty. where Tho
providing "a ,ao,o-ci n,indng n-ylnn. However.
OF fhc most discreet magistrates had primarily cH-
aniined into the facts and committed The offending
woman for trial. The D-trct-Atomey aftcr pcrusing
thc aMddVs, had accepted an unm"dihrH pee OF
lIllty. NoCNicnuat'ug circumstances were w de Known
10 inc. deemed il, therefore my duty, ~ thi- recent
discovery Of common crime. 10 80 an example h' i-
posing npTsOnmcnt-yct OF less tnun on'-haH oi Tho
statutory term.
Thc purpose Of punishment is To prevent fu'Iro crime,
says Biz Kstonc rather than 10 cNrdtr the T,l For
IN udiCal action afIcr an iuve-ii CATION 30 Wi.h tHU
oi her officials shared. have found The iuH-ue cru-
sured In several quarters nut rather ~ -Iuuir~,
who naturally consulted their own Affective 81 rf.'-
tiOnal faculties instead 81 lhcir cr"l ud@Hrh~ lh h
regard 20 women who NAY be unfortunately tempted
INTO any crime what Il EtcAt bo Wt. io. t'c
Lcglsl.tule provide Tor Them imprisonment n dis
cipluaTy a-l lumS, instead oi III crowded rhli ttlr
or instead OF the penal institution ~ Blackwell n
Island which = not by any means rcuiluaj"I} place.
To consideration which practically concern tnr." refer
cuccs also invite your COTdia Cc0Icru Ou. Aud haud
any case OF CrUcl exposure OI an InInut IN the street
mother thr offender nr he mother, showed indication
OF pucrpeIa uHa, because II 80, the law vi! not mold
her TO resi- lOh>!5uNy.
Recorder Uackett called attention, in few earnest
words TO the new forms which increasing commercial
dishonesty assuming, and thcn briefly mentioned the
special offences winch by sttute lie compelled to
call the attention ol the jury.
a BLACK BABY on \ COURTROOM FLOOR
Ann Dicdrich, a cOlOred woman, appeared
yesterday before Judge Lawrence, Supreme Court,
Chambers to demand her child hoy about two years
old, from Harriet Hicks, also colOrcd WOnian The
mother said she went INTO the Smith jubilee Singing
TrOupe and was discharrd ithout pay ~ Rochester.
Meanwhile her hu.band bad ltruSted the cld 20 II1r-
rie Hicks and had gone away and Mrs. Hicks wanted
nav for the rlid's board. Mts. Hicks came forward
with the child. fat, healthy baby, and asked judi.
hOw's gong 10 get money iOr tIls c'lIi'S board "
Judgc lawrrIcc tOid her she could get no len tho
child for it, She repeated her question twice, With in
creaslng disgust and then put the Cbld down Oh the
floor and departed The mother, though very small
woman, and delicate In appearance managed 10 gather
the neayy lump OF humanity in her arms ana walA of
Wit If iu