New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-01
BOW STREET POLICE COURT
THE FAMOUS TRIBUNAL BEFORE WHICH
DR. JAMESON WAS ARRAIGNED.

NOT MERELY METRoPOLITAN. But IMPERIAL AND
EVEN INTERNATIONAL IN IT'S SCOPE.
Bow Street Police Court is the oldes, and most
celebrated institution OF the kind In the British En-
pre- and in spite Of the restricted character OF Its
accommodations regards courtroom and cells
may be regarded the headquarters and centre OF
that particular branch Of British Jurisprudence
which Is nown in France as the police correc.
tionclle k" Not only the Bow Street justices in
trusted with the magisterial control Of Of the
most densely populated and criminal districts OF
London but II is 70 Bow Street that brought
all the extraditon cases. all the criminals who are
wanted by foreign and colonial governments. or
by the provincial authorities. II differs from the
other police OF London in that it Is not mere
~ .tropolitan but imperial aud even internaton'
al The present building has been in existence only
a few years and previously 10 thai the court con-
sisted OF private houses knocked Into one on the
opposite side Of the street TO where the present build
ing stands. II those old walls could have takes
what dramatic stories they would have had II in
their power to relate. Nearly every celebrated
crime of the latter half Of the eighteenth and all OF
the present century has figured on the records OK
this court and distinguished men OF every grade OK
society even to that OF royalty-foreign OF course
have stood in front OF It's BAR either ds prosecutor
accused
In former times, before the organization OF the
present department of Metropolitan Police at Scot
land Yard. the Bow Street Police Court was the
held
men and detectives used 10 BE- known by the name
NJ the Bow Street Runners" While all other
metropolitan courts have but two magistrates who
are each paid the rate OF 5000 year Bow street
has three the senior OF whom. now Sir John Br'ise'
enjoys salary OF $1,000 and acts as the president
and chairman Of the entire board OF s,ipendary
police magistrates.
Every criminal arrested within the limits OF the
British metropolis is obliged by law 10 be brought
before one OF tn police magistrates within t"e"'y'
four hours after his capture by the ponce ana -
the Justice stipendiary as he Is caleo 10 o's-
tnguish him from the unpaid Justices OF the ieaee
in rural districts and provincial towns VINO there
upon decides whether or not there Is any csss
against him. II he Is in doub, he can remand ths
prisoner to the House OF Detention for a period ho'
exceeding fortnight. at the end OK whcn ,'e y rs,
IL il Is only for the sake OF having the case rename
ed for another two weeks me rrei i nrs,eS ~.
fanama scandal was remanded by Sir John Bridge
at tho Bow Street Police Court no fewer men n,bs
S eSs" Sir John finally decided in OF his extra
don to the Partisan pSdcs tina, there Is no case
for holding the prisoner ne can SET MN a,
another " mags,era warrant for the rearres
Inasmuch the public prosecutor ana me ~, ~, ,ba
S Spdsrs Of R' the sscretary Of state Home
Department.. there is as rule i,te the case
against tho prisoner is merely an ordinary pon ro
affair the spendiary has II IN his Re"e or 10 10 com
denim him 10 Imprisonment, with hard labor Tor ~, q
neriod not exceeding six months maAlinu',i ~.
can also bind the prisoner over In heavy sufsues
bonds 10 keep the peace. II. however tne on - ,hs
ore calling Tor heavier punishment OF e.s ~
m,ris ate does not care take upon MS s
the responsibility Of determining me gui., OF ~
nrisoner ne commits him FOR trial py july AZ .,e
s.slxes either accepting bail or else conssninS "
defendant 10 prison for the period desnea 20 eaPS'
h heusen thn Commitment and the trial By jury
II is therefore only in the customary Ur.et ,he
,b,ncs that DR. Jameson. whose arrest dates VI
oorntic,,iv only from the moment when he reachea
London should he brought in the hrst pace Ssrt
Sir John remandsd him for fortnight SO as 10 az
the Crown prosecutors time 20 perez ' ma,ntms
to bail in the sum OF $1,000 Al the END OF more, sms.
tn,a Ia meson may possibly he remainder One h.r
nd than sir John will commit the doctor tor us
at the criminal court Of OLD B1 ioSn Who can Ss
described as trying the case. nor yet can BOW ,si
Police Court be referred TO as the scene o. .ne Isme
! Of the participators in what Is now known as JAIN"
| sons ride"