St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-26
A JUDGE EXPLAINS.
The Police Bench Has Some
thing to Say in Reply to
Chief Clark.
No Guilty Persons Allowed to
Escape Their Proper De-
SertS.
Judge Twohy Pertinently
Adds the Guilt Must First
Be Proven.
Want Of Convicting Evidence
Responsible for the Dis
charge Of Cases.

Judge II. w. Cory, the senior judge of
the police court, is at present i'll ltasca
county on fishing tour. In his alb
SeRee reporter yesterday waited upon
Judge Twoby, the junior judge, and re-
quested an interview respecting the
charges leveled against the municipal
court in regard TO the failure TO secure
conviction of alleged disreputable wom-
en-. Judge Twohy expressed desire to
furnish all details possible, and from
his point of view, explained the matter
as follows:
The articles which appeared in the
morning papers of yesterday and to-day.
based upon statements made by the
chief Of police of this city ID reference
to the prosecution of woman charged
with keeping and visiting houses of Ill
repute, do me and our municipal court
great injustice. | have never before got
entangled in newspaper controversy,
or made any explanation as to any
criticism directed against me in the
press, but in this case the charges are SO
far removed from the truth and so UNI
warranted by the facts in the case that
| feel called upon to state a few
words. Now instead of the
class of offenders referred to in
other persons, | am sure the records of
the court will show that the proportion
of such persons convicted and punished
to the number Of persons complained of
is greater than in any other class Of
cases presented. The chief appears to
say that fifty cases of this nature were
brought before the court in the last
month and that but four convictions
were secured. Instead of this being so,
the fact is that of the forty or fifty per
SONS brought before the court in the
month stated, and charged with those
otlenseS, only five Of them escaped con-
viction, fine or Imprisonment. 1t is my
opinion that duriug the past year not
one out of every ten of the persous SO
charged escaped conviction, fine or i'm
prisonment. During the past month,
being the time referred to by the chief,
only one person out of the many brought
before me, so charged, was dismissed
by me, except on the motion of the
prosecuting officer of the city or
the officer having the case in
charge. In another case suspended
ninety days sentence during good be-
havior. On the 18th of May there were
four women in court charged with. this
offenSe, in the case of whom. by agree
ment between the city attorney and the
police officer having the matter in
charge and the attorneys of the defend
ants, a ninety days sentence was i'm
posed upon each and suspended in con-
sideration of their leaving the city that
day.
1t is well known that the chief is
making an effort to abate this nuisance
in the city, and that he is well sup
ported by his officers, but it is In very
bad taste indeed for him to make such
an attack on other officials who are
working as faithfully and conscien-
tiously IN the discharge of their duties as
he is.
This court does not convict persons
without evidence to support the charge
against them, although some people
seem to think that convictions should
be had on general principles or on the
suspicious of some of the officers.
Il notice the chief is reported as say
ing that he would make no more arrests
for this offenSe and that he has IN
StrucIed his officers to that effect. |
don't think he will pursue any such ill
advised policy; it might uot be APP
proved of by the power from whence he
derives his authority.
at would be as sensible and appro-
pirate for him to order his officer to as
Sist no more in experimenting criminals
of any class, because in the district
court judge or jury had seen fit to
discharge or acquit person charged
there with crime"