The Portland daily press., 1892-01-15

strap until the poor little thing droppeu
insensible to the ground. The prosecu-
ton in this case was in the hands OF the
lawyer of philanthropic society,
whose agents told in few words how
they rescued the little girl from being
whipped to death. The judge, who had
shown but little interest in the preced-
ing cases. listened with interest to the
testimony and viewed with horror the
wounds and stripes on the tender body
of the child. The testimony brought
out the fact that the girl had eaten an
apple which the mother had given to
her own child, and for this offense she
was punished with incredible cruelty.
The judge fined the woman fifty dollars
and costs and turned the child over to a
charitable organization. The prisoners
husband and father of the abused child
paid the fine and, accompanied by the
demon who looked as meek as an
abused angel, left the courtroom.
The next prisoner brought before the
Judge was fat woman charged with
misleading young girls. The old hypo-
critic carried handkerchief in her
right hand for the purpose of wiping
away the few tears which were occa-
sionallv allowed to meander down her
feshy cheeks. She pleaded persecution,
and persuaded her attorney to laud her
as one of the most disinterested bene-
factresses in the city. Her 'sindigna-
tom persuaded none of the habitues Of
the court, who knew her as an old Of
fender, but she managed her case with
such consummate skill that she had to
be discharged. When the judge an
nounced his decision, the crocodile tears
gave way to broad grin, and leaning
on the arm of her legal adviser the aged
sinner left the courtroom.
Just before the court adjourned a
comparatively young-looking woman en-
tered the court and asked for war
rant for the arrest of her husband
who had amused himself the night be-
fore by getting full and knocking his
better-half under the bed When he
had her in this undigniied position he
wound up the days enjoyment by
kicking her with great vigor and ours
ing her in the choicest phrases known
to the lowest elements of society. The
warrant was issued, but unfortunately,
the judge could not enter decree of
divorce for which the woman pleaded.
She was told that to secure legal sep
aration from her loving spouse she
would have to file a bill in a higher
court, bit of information which called
forth flood of tears. "She's moved
just now," said an officer to me, "but
when her old man is brought into
court she won't be here to prosecute
him. It's always SO with women"
For four hours the grind continued,
and then the court adjourned. In the
afternoon the ''Black Maria" came
around to take the convicted prisoners
to the bridewell. The cells vacated by
them were made ready for the next
nights ''catch." Men with brooms and
buckets of water cleaned the filthy
floors of the cells. The nlatron and her
assistants made preparations for new
consignment of female malefactors.
The Judge and his clerk, tired out by
their disagreeable work, repaired to an
other office where his honor transacts
business as justice of the peace. The
habitues of the courtroom went 10 the
nearest saloon to talk things over"
Not one gave second thought to the
causes which lead SO many promising
young men and women to perdition,
and yet there is no school in the world
where the folly of wrong-aoing il illus
trated so forcibly as in city police
court. 6. W. WEIPPlERI.