The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-21
HERE'S A SERMON,

HERE'S A SERMON,
And it Wasn't Preached from a Pull
pit. but Delivered by q New York
Police Magistrate.
New York World: It's a great pity
that many penoIogists, that many Of
those phllRnthropIsts who try to turn
their erring brothers back to the right
path, were not in the Jefferson Market
police court yesterday. Magistrate
Crane would have given them some
points from his personal experience,
which none OF those worthy gentlemen
has had, which is valuable and practlc-
al.
Louis H. Wilson, eighteen years old,
O tall young fellow, whose manner
proved he has been well reared, was
charged with stealing 1880 from the
| ScoYIlle & Adams Photograph supply
| Company, which employed him. HIS
| appearance won him sympathizers in
| court, and on their advice he foolishly
! pleaded not guilty. But when Mr.. Crane
put the question direct, Wilson frankly
answered:
eyes, Your Honor, stole the money.
am very sorry. Will never again 90
| such q thing"
what have you to say to that?'
asked the magistrate OF Henry Scott.
the assistant secretary Of the photo
graph supply company.
There are many clerks In our estap-
lIshment, and an example should be
made Of this young man." answered
NOW much do you pay hlmP"
"Five dollars week"
THAT Is not enough for this boy to
live on, answered the magistrate feel
ingly. ITS no great wonder that he
stole.
''It's not much money" said Mr.;
Scott, but began on g q week and
swung myself up to 1900 year.
'FYou can't tell me anything along
| that line that do not know" the mag
lstrate broke In. u have passed
through that experience right here in
/ New York. / have heard OF n number
Of exceptional cases like yours. but my
4 experience was entirely different. got
50 week for long time. Your par
ents were here to help your
"Yes, sir" said Scott.
"WeiI, had nobody" the magistrate
continued. II had to get along on the $2
q week the best way could. MY en-
ployers paid no more attention TO me
| than II were a dog. knew that my
services were worth at least IS week
to them, and they paid me 81, Ihere
were days when did not eat at all.
There was one day. shall never
forget it-when handled $500 In cash
for my firm when did not have the
price Of a meal all day. A..
II confess that that day only the
knowledge that had mother who be-
| lIeYed in my absolute honesty restrain
ed me from stealing. The arm was one
Of the largest and most influential IN
this city. was pretty near the rock
upon which this youth before US foun-
dered, you see.
shall now condemn him because
managed to steer clear OF II?
You are O business man. 1 can un-
derstand your position, but am q
magistrate, and am magistrate who
has passed through the hardships
against which this boy Is now battling
for hts life. hesItate-I hesitate as q
man and u magistrate to put upon this
boy the stamp Of criminal"
Tho magistrate paused for q minute,
apparently expecting that Mr.. Scott
would withdraw the complaint against
WilSsn.
i WELUL Itlt 10 AhNG u w "NtN 49,
oner. am not?" Mr.. Crane asked MI
Scott.
Eyes, sir" said Mr.. Scott,
care you a member OF chufch?"
Eyes, but 1 have not attended church
very regularly lately"
II am not" said the magistrate, I'm
a pretty bad man, generally, sup.
pose. But / think the best kind OF
Christianity IL that which prompts an
employer TO give his employees enough
to live on. try to be fair with men as
/ meet them. I'm a magistrate just
now, and I think the police court Is the
beat place in the world TO do good,
but outside OF this court, wherever
have been, whenever have mad &C.
CASTOR to hire a man, have always
given him enough to live on, and little
more sometimes"
and is willing that the law take its
course" said Mr.. Scott, reluctant to
withdraw the charge.
as there anything else against this
HE came to us highly recommended
from the Young Mems Christian Asso-
II viii pay the amount of his pecuIR-
ton" said the magistrate, almost
pleadingly.
Mr.. Scott was silent,
"BrinE the president OF your COM
pany to me-" Mr.. Crane ordered.
Mr.. Scott returned with Mr.. Adams
president Of the company. He. Mt.
Scott, Mr.. Crane and the prisoner were
cioseted for awhile.
Then Mr. Adams withdrew the charge
against the grateful Wilson.
|