The times., 1899-10-30

The National Prisoners Aid Society di-
rectcd the evening services at the First
Congregations. Church. corner of Tenth
and Streets northwest. last night THIS
society was organized and incorporated in
this city six months ago and has been en-
gagged in active work ever since for the
benefit Of the prisoners in the worShouse
and jail, and especially Of the younger eIe-
ment OF The criminal classes that have just
started On their careers of lawlessness.
The services were opened by the Rev.
S. Il. Newman. D. D., pastor Of the church,
IN the usual manner, and after the reading
Of the scriptuTaI lesson for the evening,
L. s. Emery. President OF the society, was
introduced and made short address He
spoke Of the work Of the various members
and gave detailed account Of their or
ganizstion. Following his address came
The reading of a report prepared by Dr.
!. II. Bradford, Vice President OF The So
ciety, which presented fully the objects
and methods Of the work carried on by the
agent and members. The report in part is
as follows:
The National Prisoners Aid Society has
been Incorporated about SIX months. Its
design is TO prevent the young from be
coming criminals and assist prisoners dis
charged 10 lead honest lives. The method
OF work is through an agent to keep watch
Of cases in police stations and the city
courts and obtain information which VIII
prevent injustice, and a system of vista
ti0n.
This society by no means opposes the
adequate punishment Of crime, but its aim
is 10 protect the innocent Our task is a
very delicate one, TO 50 state these facts
connected with the criminal courts and
police precincts as 10 defend innocence and
yet not antaEoniZe the officers Of justice.
We hope 10 be able TO tell The exact truth.
our agents have so far worked without
salary. The object Of the report is 10 let
The phianthTopiC and Christian people Of
Washington know what the society is do
ing and what il aims TO do.
Scores and even hundreds Of cases have
been looked into by the agent of this
society during The six months Ct It's ex-
iste0ce. and dozens Of boys and girls, TOO,
have been sent 10 their homes. Unless these
children have some friend who viii en-
Quire into their cases, and as long IS the
reputation and advancement Of policemen
are made 10 depend upon the number Of
cases they bring into court, there is I.os-
sibility OF very great injustice, both 10
the Young people concerned and 10 the
public as wen, for criminals Of the worst
sort are produced by being wrongly com
mitted to Jail In the first place, and shut
up with 10 possible thing TO do. day after
day, as IN cur jail except 10 listen TO the
stories OF older ones hardened in crime.
The society has also considered the
matter CT the transportation Of people of
both sexes locked up iudiscriminareiy in
he Black Maria 10 be transported for
miles through cur streets. Cases have b-en
reported c- young women, landed at the
jail and wOTkhOuse, in perfect terror from
such transportation with vile and drunken
men. We must do much Of our work il
lnls world through others. and The appeal
OF this society is for help from those who
desire 10 have some hand in saving the
youth from a criminal life and who want
10 share the reward.
Some Of as have seen the need Of this
organization for nearly twenty years as
we have known that 800 persons were
yearly turned loose upon the city from
The jail and wOrkh0use with hard a hand
stretched forsh TO save them, and we re-
loice most heartily in the work under
taken
The society wishes to testify with all
emphasis TO the aid and sympathy receiv-
GO from the judges OF the Police Court
end from the chief Of police But for their
kindly cooperation little could be accom-
plished They are men OF kind hearts 4
and large sympathies. But when no one
Is interested in a case sufficiently 10 lgoz
up al the facts the judge must de i5e tie
cases in accordance with the testimony
presented and persons friend 'ess. un-
known, or weak through sickness. OF
Young children uerrorized at the prospesr
Cf jail. and even men who have been
tempted by companions to take just one
drink are liable 10 be very uujustly used
There IS nothing like injustice as a
factor IN producing criminals. Nothing
like true sympathy 10 redeem those who
are IN danger OF slipping away from The
path OF recLtude. Who Of Us could have
lived the life We have II absolutely de-
serted by friends This society is ma
u0ual- We want 10 extend its beuchcent
aims into every city and town in the land.
Washington is probably not exceptional +
a few thousand dollars invested at once in
This work viii pay q large interest-in
BOYS and girls, men and women, redeem /
ed"
AT the conclusion Of the reading Of the
report Mrs I. B Russell. field secretary
Of the society, made short address Mrs /
Russell is well known throughout The /
country as member Of reform oTganIza- 4
tiOns that have been started with the OBJ
1ect of alleviating the condition Of The
inmates Of the various penal Institutions +.
she purspes her work in the alleys aud I
courts. visiting the homes and attending .
10 the sick families of those who have
fallen into the hands Of the law. Mrs
Russell has become very well known I
among the lower classes OF this city and is +
recognized as benefaeor in almost every I
alley and court She related several Of her I
experiences in this and other cities in con- 1
nection with the work Of helping the
criminals. and gave il as her opinion that 4
many young men are ruined through be- /
Ing allowed 10 remain in Jail under the 4
tut6lage Of the older criminals, who could
be saved ~ judici0us help from an orgaui- I
cation such as the Prisoners AID Society /
W. j Downey made an interesting ad- 4
dress. giving an account of the relief
work done il this city during the cold
weather among the men who would other /
wise have been driven 20 crime in order +.
10 keep alive. AT the conclusion OF Mr. /
DOWney's address the meeting was brought 4
10 a close. During the evening a quar- 1
tette. lead By Miss Edna Scott Smith. rem /.
dered appropriate music
IMPRISONED BY A WILDCAT /