The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-02-08
Should The Judges BE Reformed?


question of prison reform involves social
problems of vast moment and extent he is
not assuming any more than what can be
supported by hard facts. When it is said
that the necessity for reformation of GRIM
inals exists, it is by the very fact affirmed
that every branch of social economy. be-
sides that branch which is concerned with
the detention in prison of criminals, needs
investigation. Everyday experience con-
firms the penologist's view. that before the
social waters can be purified. the salts Of
publication must be sprinkled at the foun-
tain head. Before we can have a perfect
prison system, we must have perfect jul
dicary.
ANY person who cares to trouble himself
with such tedious and wearisOme details may
go through the newspaper records Of the
New York police courts for the last year,
and he will discover here alone what must
be to the thoughtful man very startling evil
dence OF the curious sentiments that exist
in high places. Take the average police
justice in any large city and note the judy
mentS which he expresses as to moral and
political influences as responsible for crlmi-
nal conditions Observe the considerations
intellectual, moral, social, and political
which enter into such a mans legal views
of men and actions. All honor we say, to
the conscientious police justice! and there
are many; but we do not hesitate to say
that ignorance, petty spiteS, and demagOg-
uery, paltry bids for popularity. belittling
sentimental views. characterize many judg-
pfc hot frn
Let us take an example. In a certain
large city not ten thousand miles distant,
there sits on the bench OF one of the prn-
cipal police courts certain judge. He has
popularity, political influence. social status.
The fact that he is ''hale- fellow we'll
met with some of the most notorious DO
litical tricksterS of the city does not at all
detract from the high respect in which he is
held by the average citizen. Reading the
newspapers for the past year we come
across such items as these:
A few months ago famous scamp of the
genteel type was brought up before this
judge for trial on charge of having stolen
something like S25 from mans pocket.
This legal arbiter, so far as we understand
the circumstances-and we have given them
careful Observation-Disclosures the man
without having paid much attention to the
would look for higher game than that to be
caught in the net of the common pickpOcket.
IA Daniel come to Judgments was the SEN
timent put forth by the newspaper reporter
i'll chrOnicling this affair.
Before the same judge Oh certain Christ
mas day, there was brought great number
of rum soaked, vice-ridden misdemeanants.
This Solomon ordered that they be dis
charged because, fOrsOoth. it was Christ
mas day. 1t gave them chance to defer
their advent on Blackwell's Island till the
glorious New Year. 1t was great boon
for the liquor dealers, but then it was
''merciful." 1t savored Of what Oliver
Wendell Holmes aptly terms, 1.-THE warm,
champagny. Old-particular, brandy-punchy
feeling" which means so much to the Ordi-
nary voter.
This learned gentleman of law was noted
one time for tine facility with which he dis
tinguished lOaferS from the ''hOrny hand
ed sons of toll" thieves from honest men.
lie had knack OF examining the palms of
each victims hands and if they were rough
and dirty then were they the hands of hon
estsons of toll; but if they were well kept,
Clean shapely hands. then, mark you, then
were they the personal property of a thief
or SWindler!
This sort of legal logic is what social
scientists are directing their guns against.
Must it not be confessed that the best pris-
on system loses some of its force, some of
its power. when judge in public court
looks at the hands of q prisoner, like the
old-tashioned swindling gypsies. and judges
from the appearance of mans hand
whether he shall go to prison or not? Is it
not dangerous sign when public justice
displays the esprit de corps. the chivalry of
the criminal classes. and shows his sympa-
thetic admiration by declaring that a no.
toriOus burglar must be discharged because
good burglar would not stoop to pick
pocket? The Summary