New-York tribune., 1899-07-26
TOUCHES A JUDGES HEART.
CASE OF A BOY IN MAGISTRATE CRANES
COURT APPEALS TO HIM.

THE LAD PLEADS GUILTY OF THEFT. BUT THE
EMPLOYER is PITILEss-cRANE OFFERS
TO PAY FOR WHAT HE TOOK
Magistrate Crane took time enough in the midst
of the watch" which is the police vernacuai lo'
the bevy of petty offenders against the Ia" ""o
are arragned in the police courts every ilo' mus
TO preach a practical sermon yesterday ms "u
dtors were two Chicago lawyers VINO were P'eSe'''
In court 10 watch the procedure of cases IN the
lower courts of New-York: all the clerks and all
the prisoners who were forgotten by their Keep
ers for the time. outside Of the raIlng ue fo'iOe
Court benches" craned their necks 10 near
The arraignment OF Louis L. Wilson whose nine
,eenth birthday is close at hand. on the charee oi
nettv larceny prompted the sermon. The boy mas
teen In the employ Of the Scovill & ADAMS Ooiii.
pany dealers in Photographic supplies OF Nus ="
and 50 East Twelfth-st., for two months anu no
was accused Of stealing SIS % from his employers
The principal witness against him was JuIlhh Neo-
vter a private detective. who charged that 10
bought a camera from Wilson for which the nrn
did not receive the money Henry Scott. an elderly
man who shvers If with palsy. appeared tor 'he
company He is It's assistant secretary.
The Magistrate began the hearing by asking me
accused youth TO make statement. The pris-
oner's appearance was in his favor Through
somebodys advice-for everybody seemed 10 De Ill
his favor even the policeman who arrested MIN
Wilson pleaded not guilty. To the Maeistid'e'
however, he Immediately oroppeu an "''NF>
legal subterfuge.
'.Yonr Honor. | did IT," he began. Il am very
sorry for IT, l will never do 1t again
''yVhat have YOU got to say to thatY' the Magls-
frate asked Scott
scott replied by saying that there were many
clerks in his establishment. and II was oes'doio ~
make an example Of Wilson
How much do you pay him weekY the Mag
1strate wanted 10 know
give dollars a week" was the prompt reply.
The Magistrate swallowed a lump in his throat
give dollars a week is not enough for this boy
20 1.-Two unon II Is no great wonder that he stole"
he said.
Scott admitted that It was ntde. but added: Il
began on 81 a week and swung myself up TO N'HV
year"
"You can't tell me anything along that line tna'
I do not know" the Magistrate broke In i have
7,assed through that kind OF experience right mere
in New-York l have heard of number of excep-
tional cases like yours. but my experience was en-
tirely different. l got 81 a week for long time.
You probably had your parents here in New-NorK'
didn't yOu?'
Scott nodded.
"Weu l had nobody" the Magistrate continued.
81 had to get along on the 2 we the best way
could In my case my employers paid no more
attention to me than II were dog. l know that
nv services were worth at least so a week TO them,
and they paid me $2. There were days when l
did not eat all. There was one day-I shall never
forget it-when I handled $500 in cash for my firm
when | did not have the price OF n meal all day.
/ confess that only the knowledge that | had
mother who believed in my absolute honesty ie-
strained me from stealing. The firm was one OF the
largest and most influential In this city l was
pretty near the rock on which this youth before us
foundered YOU see. Shall I now condemn him
because managed TO steer clear Of It? You are
business man. understand your position: but
] am a Magistrate. and ! a Magistrate who
has passed through the hardshps against which
how ie hattlinE for his lie. j leStdle-I
hesitate as a man and Masistrate-to send ibis
boy downtown with the stamp Of a criminal upon
The Magistrate paused for minute, apparently
expecting that Scott would withdraw the com
plant against Wilson.
Il am taking the position that you would want me
SG akg II 9R ReS Teie Scott the prisoner am e
Scott replied that he was.
"You member of church. are you notY
the Magistrate followed up.
Scott replied that although he had not attended
regularly Of late he was member OF church,
"I am not" the Magistrate added. I'm pretty
4be 1ne be9t s kind Of Shrsanty is that KIND which
prompts an employer TO give his employees enough
from M day TO day. am Magistrate just now and
i think the police court is the best place in tEe
Wherever 1 have been. whenever have had occa-
to toll i've on. .T and i1 little emo more someiimSs
There was still no desire upon the part OF SCOTT
into this matter. and has decided that the law
should take its course he said. 80
There IS nothing else against the boy is thereE
Scott replied that there not; that Wilson lad
come them from the Young Mems Christian
Association well recommended.
Il will pay the amount of his peculations,' the
Magistrate ventuTcd.
Scott would not assent to this proposition,
The Magistrate then asked that the president OF
the company be brought before him. This was
agreed TO by Scott who promised 10 bring the
president IN the afternoon.
Wilson was held as a prisoner until that time.
President Adams of the company, appeared IN
the afternoon and after a private talk with Magis-
trate Crane which was listened to by Scott ard the
prisoner Mr. Adams consented to withdraw the
charge