The Portland daily press., 1882-06-10

u ''i' o''l''''9-'S-' SAMUEL RICHARDS.
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Clerk.
The following letter was addressed to Mrs. Crock
er by order of the Commissioner
Mrs. II. T. Croker:
Madam-You are hereby notified that the Com
missioner of Police and Excise has this day appoint
ed you police matron, and Miss III. A. Jones assist
ant matron, and that the commanding officers of
precincts and subprecncts have been instructed by
the Commissioner Of Police to facilitate you in
every way relating to such proposed visits to station
houses consistent with their official duties
Respectfully SAMUEL RICHARDS,
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Clerk.
Mrs. Crocker has just made her first month
ly report, which we should be glad to copy
entire did space permit. We make few brief
extracts. Mrs. Croker says:
My first week was devoted to general sur
vey of the field of labor, and though taking in
| to consideration the plan proposed by your
| committee Ito confne the work to one police
| court and stations attached, yet the distances
of these last and small number of arrests in til Q
| early evening, when it vas proper for a lady
| Unattended TO be abroad, convinced me that
| it was waste of time and strength to attempt
| this plan. My attention was therefore directed
to visiting the courts only, and after two visits
| to each decided on 10 course which have
| pursued during the month, viz, to visit Judge
Bergen's Court Court street, corner of Butler)
| first each morning, as that seemed the most
| fruitful field for my work; thence to judge
| Walsh's Court Getty HalD, unless necessarily
| at the former, which has frequently occurred,
| especially on Monday mornings, when the ar
rests of tive days gave abundant work. There
| has been at the same time an understanding at
other courts to send for Ee should there be
| cases which the judges wished to submit to
| my care. The result of this plan has been that
| three times have been summoned, while on
| duty at the down town courts, by Judge
| Fisher to care for hopeful cases, and two Of
| these are being visited at their homes by ladies
| and 6noCUrapen in the of we'll doing The
number of women and girls that have met at
| the eonrts is 142, from girls IA TO women of
| 60 and upward; while none OF these have been
| passed by without a word of advice and warm
| ing yet my efforts are chiefly directed t, saw
| ing the younger portion, who have Just COM
menced curse of vice and intemperance, or
| those who evince any desire to lead better
| life, and are willing to accept our help IN this
| direction. Three young women have been
taken to the Wayside Home, whose doors are
| so kindly opened to receive any we may bring
them. These are doing well, and will be pro-
vide1 with situations as their requirements
| and good conduct shall merit Six
| have been visited at their homes, adj
vised and encouraged, and one worthy family
| has received your aid. Six have taken the
! this is never urged except in those cases where
| the girls are taken from their old associates, Or
frequently visited and. strengthened by words
of encouragement to keep their pledge. one
| feature has been very noticeable. that on cues
| tioniDg those of the Catholic faith relative TO
/ their attendance at church, and observing its
! ordinances, there are but few exceptions TO this
| reply, viz: Church services neglected and abb
! senC from the confession for a long time. These
| have never failed to urge to return at once to
their church Obligations, and especially to go to
their respective fathers and take the temper
! ance pledge.
One fact is PROMINENT jails are not reforma.
| tory, and never can be. What impresses me