The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-11-20
TENDER.HEAR JUDGE.
Truth That Proves More Interesting
Than Fiction.

Truth That Proves More Interesting
Than Fiction.
A story of to-day, more interesting than
fiction because it is the truth. The scene
is laid in New York. the principal dramatis
persona are husband, wife. an en-
ployer, an ambitious daughter and Recorder
Smythe, before whom more criminals pass
each year than any other Judge in the
world.
A visitor to his courtroom on busy day
would be astonished at the rapidity with
which he dispatches business. There is no
more bard-working man on the bench than
he, and the way he goes at the disposition
of the calendar leads the person who knows
nothing about his method of business to be-
lieve that his only object is to get through
with his work, no matter what becomes of
the prisoners.
lit is the greatest mistake you could
make" said the Recorder. II have to hurry
my work, for my court Is OvercrOwded, but
never in all my experience on the bench
have L been 80 hurried that could not give
all the time and attention that was neces-
sary to prisoners. When man or woman
comes up before me whom have never
seen before, whose looks or manners give
indication that they are not really criminals
at heart, suspend judgment in their case
until the matter is thoroughly investigated.
''Of the scores of cases of men who have
come before me and pleaded guilty, not
knowing really what they were doing. but
anxious to get out of further trouble by TAX
ing a sentence and hiding themselves away
in prison. l recall one that shall remem
Der as long as live. l could not forget it
If would, for the man in the case writes
to me regularly, comes to see me when con-
venient, and never ceases to thank me for
my good offices in his behalf. 1t was this
way: was sitting on the bench one morn
ing and had disposed of number of Ordi-
nary cases when the court officer presented
to me respectable looking man of about
fifty charged with burglary. l looked at
him very narrowly and he seemed to be
little above the ordinary grade of prisoners.
There was something about his face that ir
resstibly drew me to him. He looked me
steadily in the eye without brazen effrontery
and seemed only to anxious to have sen
tence passed upon him and get into prison.
'''You are charged with burglary. my
good man, l said to him. What have you
to say?'
HE looked up at me in an innocent way
and with tears streaming down his eyes,
said huskily: Nothing. 1 am guilty.
"'Do you know the meaning of that
word guilty?' l asked him.
'''Yes.' he replied. fully. 1 broke into
my employers store, stole his jewelry, l
pawned it, and that is all there is of it.
Pass sentence upon me if you will. Send
me to prison, and let not my shame be Wis.
tied upon my wife and daughter
"'Have you any cOunsel?' asked him.
"'No,' was the reply. L have no counsel.
and need none. am guilty. Sentence
me now
1.-The whole thing was so unusual that |
determined to remand him. You may 90
back to prison. L said to him, and remain
there for week. Meantime think over
what you have done. You are not called
upon to say you are guilty, and if you do
say so you know that there is no alternative
but state prison. Burglary is heinous Of
8fense. Better 90 back. Think it all over.