The evening world., 1889-01-12

to Report nj the Prison Associations
Once-Ju-tice Quay says that The Power
Given to the Rcformntory Is Too Much.
Police Justice Duffy said this morning in
reference TO the arrest of David Mendes. jr.,
by Officer Hildebrandt. of the Elmira Re-
fornatory:
The power given TO the authorities at
Elmira is too much. 1t is too arbitrary.
They have more power than the Car of
Russia. Once their clutches are Upon
IA poor fellow they have the right
by law TO summarily lock him up without
trial and without process. They may say
We want him. and that is all that is neces-
snry. The law ought not to be permitted TO
remain on the statute books
On the application of Joseph Stiner Justice
Patterson in Supreme Court Chambers has
granted a writ of habeas corpus for
young Mendcs.
Lawyer Stiner was on hand with his writ
of habens corpus when Officer Hildebrandt
called mt the jefferson Market Court for the
discharge papers for the lad. He was quite
dlScunCerted.
Mrs. Reilly. the wife of Detective .Sergt.
Reilly. was present. She is friend of The
family OF DAVID Mendes. and pleaded that
the lad he permitted to visit his mother, who
lies at the point of denth III Brooklyn.
fNplIt JIG flpRfbNtu lDhl plll'tI Illu
brandt might take the hoy to the bedside of
his mott Ell, who lad been calling for him
constantly for three days.
At this the lnnk Elmlran grew more inter.
estcd and eagerly agreed. But Justice Duffy
cast n dampener upon his hopes by saying
lint he would be violating the law il he per-
mitted Dave out of the jurisdiction of the
Jefferson Market Prison.
Officer Hildebrindt says he has the power
to take or leave parolled men. exercising his
" Judgment; brt he will not listen 10 the
pleadings Of Davie Mendis' friends that he be
permitted TO remain beside his mother bed
side, although it is a not infrequent thing for
the courts to suspend sentence in similar
situations.
Mendes pawned his mothers watch in
1888. lie was seventeen years old. HIS
father had hin arrested, and Recorder Smyth
suspended sentence. rs the boy was a small,
nnocent-looking lad.
a little later. ON May 6, the father brought
DAVE INTO court nGa'n, AS he had
continued in his wild and loose
Tue maximum term for which he might have
been held was five years, but after fifteen
months Supt. Brockway, pnroled him in
Elmirn. getting work for him In a brush fac
tory at Sc "A week.
Three weeks laterthe boy visited Mr.. Brock
way carrying n letter from his mother, Mrs.
David Mendcs, of 81 Carmine street, in which
she pleaded that he might come home. is she
was i'll and in n dangerous condition.
The boy was sent home with printed
instructions to personally deliver n written
report each month for six months to
Secretary kimbnll, of the Prison Association
in East Fifteenth street. and if at any
time he desired to change his place of rest
dence or his employment, he was to ask per-
mission of Mr.. Kimball.
He lived md worked in his fathers second
hand clothing store ut 81 Carlnine street. On
Oct. and Nov. | Davis reported properly.
On Dec. / he mniled a written report. say
Ing that he was too busy. his father being
away from the store. But Clerk Fisher. at
Mr.. ,Kimbnlfs office, says nothing further
| was heard from him.
The lad SAYS that his aunt, Mrs. Bessie
, Abrams, of Brooklyn, wroie II report for him
Jan. and n note JAN. &, asking Mr.. Kimball
if he had received the report.
A reporter saw Davie Mendes at the Jefrer-
son Market Prison. The lad Is thin and not
very strong. He said tearfully that he had gone
TO Brooklyn to live with his grandmother,
Mrs. Rosa Jacobs. in order to be near the
Long Island Hospital, where his mother lies
in n critical condition.
His aunt wrote his report for him Jan. !,
because he was i'll with IA kidney trouble. He
says that in that report these facts were
stated.
"The next ] heard of it," sobbcd the lad,
"a big man came there and arrested me and
put handouts on me. Grandma protested
and he took them off, and | came to New
| York with him.
II worked in n toy store in BROOKLYN
during the holidays, and had fixed to learn
the plumbers trade with Donaldson Bros, in
Brooklyn. bnt | was too weak to carry the bag
of tools, and was waiting. | have done nothing
wrong and my mother told me that Mr..
kimbnll said | need only send u written
report to him.. NV mother may die. I know
she would il she knew l was going back to
Elmirn."
There are some inaccuracies in the lads
statements, but he seems to be not ut all
vicious, but rather shiftless.
IL he is finally returned to Elmira it will be
the result of his boyish carelesSness and
shiftlessness. for he has behaved properly
since his return.