New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-18
PROFESSIONAL uEN IN THE GUTTER
SOME STRANGE CASES OF WRECKED LIVES
AMONG ENGLISH "DosSERs.v
From Casselrs Saturday Journal.

From Casse.rs Saturday Journal
There is no more saddening feature in the homes
OF wrecks Of professional men to be met with at
every turn. Some of these men not beyond
hope, but Others might have been born In a ditch
and never strayed beyond the borders Of beggar-
dom, so Wretched, dopraNed and irTeclaimahle are
the conduct OF such members Of the wholly sub
merged m Iis class .ndeateS happy past They seem
1t Is strange how long and in what manner men
of this kind claim or exercise the PRIVILEGES OF their
professions. Not long ago man died in a "doss'
house number OF the otner lodser>-determned
that their comrade In misfortune should not be
search Of wood and. having obtained suici"Ht TOR
their needs and borrowed the necessary tools set
body with loving care. \ grave then secured
in the free portion of certain cemetery. and SUBJ
thther on handcart On the way one Of the
funeral party entered rectory When the sraye-
mans surplice, after which. puus prayerboon
from his pocket he began to read the burial SER
vice. Staggered AT what he regarded a Disgrace
full burlesq ie. the registrar mierfered with stern
dignity: Come. can't allow this,' he exclaimed:
said the 'dosser' quietly Il am minister Of ne
Church of ENGLAND, With that he contin9ed
Of doing all he could FOR his departed friend The
prayerbook, they were borrowed from clergyman
A similar declaration To that made by the las,
resting place OF the homeless man, was ence ntatl
in the kitchen OF Liverpool clearinghouse There
had been stopping At the estabshn ent for several
months a qulet sad-featured man. dressed for The
most part IN the rustiest and ragsedcst Of black.
who was in such straits that be was glad 10 accept
the lcaVings Of other "dossers" one night this
harmless. .unonendng Individual unwittingl{ Of
Tended A drunken irish Virago. who squared" up
10 him with the intention Of knocking HIM A. far
With only four words what strike priest?'
he said Something In the mans tone and manner
instantly carried conviction ~ the brain, muddIed
as It was. OF the nebrl1ted vixen. Her hands
dropped and she mutt'rad an apology; Before
she had recovered her ama9em'nt ana while there
was sth Sensation IN the hitcheh. the my si'iioJ'
ledger rose, walked to the door ana disapptatcu.
The landlord heard afterward however, that ne
had entertained disgraced Roman Catholic priest
unawares.
Broken-down solicitors also insist Of their pro-
fessional rights In queer circumstances. only
few months back several men. on meeting together
In "A public house. bemoaned the fact mat they
could not raise the lee of a 'mouthpieCe' q de-
fend a common friend How much have yoa
got?" asked one OF the frequenters of the cstab-
lishment Pockets turned out with the re-
suit that four shillings Was pooled at Isn't much;
me and IN see that he's defended" On the fol-
lowing day this willy individual hunted up solci'
but who then not respectable enough Tor any
profession except that of sandwich board carrying.
'So.and- Sos trial Is coming OF to-day he said -
the poor wretch. You might az Well appear for
him can't give YOU anything for the JOB, o9t Ut,
with burst OF noble generoslty-'come ana NV
a drink" For that glass Of beer the solicitor , o
actually defended the prisoner referred to- me GO
between. OF course. pocketed the four shlilihnss.
on another occasion the landlord OF a doss
house defended-and cleverly defended Toy
one OF his own dodgers. Nobody In the estaoInsni
r1ent referred 10 knew that this individual nag
ever been In any way connected with tie law IN
and ri appear for YOU said he Never mind q
hat-the magistrate Won't see that-and I'm not
particular about waistcoat, II YOU can ger NC
frockcoat but must have fairly decent yo1 host
was rather incredulous as To whether the uoseia
was entitled To appear IN police court l
inquiries. however and, as tht sc were satsAee 10
he borrowed some clothes for the solicitor. VINO
duly acted as his advocate.