The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-20
A CRUEL JUDGMENT.
How Poor Prisoner Was Used In
President Hadden's Court.

President David Park Hadden is SEEM
ingly never so happy as when he can give
scope to the despotc instincts OF his
nature by exercising his arbitrary powers
upon victim too friendleSs or too tinid
to strike back, President lIadden is neyer
so thoroughly in his glory us when teach
ing his blue.coated and brass buttoned
sevitors that they are above public crit
icism or reproach and owe allegiance to no
power on earth but his mighty will. If
any one dare question the inialiblity OF
any OF their acts, he is treated as in con-
tempt OF the throne itself, and the heavy
arm OF the law is laid with relentless
severity upon the head of the hapless
victim. Like the soldiers of the Cardinal
in the days when Richeleu's hand con-
trolled the destinies Of France Iadden's
police must not be molested or criticised,
and when they mskc arbitrary arrests, or
beat people till the blood flows
or drag a sick colored girl TO Jail for pick
ing up charred chips OF worthless wood
from the ruins OF fire, he gives the seal Of
approval TO their conduct by shrug of
contempt at public protest, or holds out
encouragement 10 similar deeds by inn
posing the heaviest of fines upon the vic
tim whose wrongs have excited the atten.
ton OF the press. Such a case was he-
fore President MADDEN yesterday and he
disposed OF il in manner that not
only demonstrates the cruelty of his own
nature, but furnishes striking evidence OF
the way in which prisoners are ilecced in
the Adams Street Court in order that the
Police Department may show rich
revenue yielding record at the end OF the
fiscal year
On Saturday TuE APPEAL mentioned
the case of Frances Palm, aged eighteen
aud black, who was imprisoned Friday
on charge preferred by Officer Foord,
who entered upon the docket, Larceny OF
Wood" Her crime was that she picked up
few sticks OF charred wood valued at less
than one cent THE APPEAL took up the
case and denounced IL us an unwarrntcd
and outrageous arrest. THE APPEAL's in
reference aroused the indignation OF the
irresponsible despot and lac fined her $40
for "trespass,' rs lac called II. "Trcspass"
is word new TO legal lcxicography in the
sense in which IL is used at the Adams
street court Whenever prisoner Is
before the court wlo has commit
ted no oflense known to the
law, and who can be pinched for a fine
OF S or $40 on general principles, the Of
Tense is called trcspass and the fine is
regulated according 10 the dclator's
mood. II he happens 10 be angry it is
made very heavy, and as the victim is
usually helpless creature without rich
friends TO furnish appeal bonds, the fine
stands.
II Frances Palm had money enough 20
appeal 10 the Criminal Court Judge Du
Bose would kick the case out OF court in
three minuteg; but, having neither money
nor friends. her father, a laboring man,
will have TO raise IL by depriying his
family OF some necessary Of life.
The onormity Of the tine impressed even
the prosecution, who, when summoned
before Justice Barry TO testify against the
same girl on the "larceny" charge, ex-
pressed the opinion that the girl had been
punished enough. SO also thought Jus
iicc Barry, who promptly discharged her,
but the trespass fine OF $40 will have 10 bc
paid, II 1t takes the iamily's flour barrel.