The sun., 1903-09-02
A Revolving system Of "Graft."

One of the recently appointed Police
Magistrates seems to have come upon
one form of police scandal, which he is
diligently investigating. What he thinks
he has discovered is, unfortunately,
something already so well known among
those responsible for it that it would be
a pity if, for its correction, more general
knowledge of it should not be diffused
A vile method of extorting money,
under color of official authority, from
wretched women in whom womanhood
is degraded has been, and still is, by
the means of what are called sta
tion-house bail bonds Under police
rules, as required by statute, there
Is a limited number Of police stations
in which women can be imprisoned.
Connected with each OF these stations
as designated for the temporary incar-
ceration Of women, there is an unofficial
but recognized adjunct, the station
house bondsman,' who furnishes on de-
mand either from the prisoner or the
police a small bond for the appearance
of the former in court next morning.
The established rate Of such bonds
where the monopoly of furnishing them
exists varies from IS to $40. adjusted to
the cash, or means Of obtaining cash, of
the prisoner. These bonds, seemingly
furnished through the procurement Of
the captain or the sergeant, are accepted
without question or scrutiny; and these
officers are reputed to divide with the
bondsman the proceeds In the case OF
fifty arrests Of an evening for instance.
the minimum payment for bonds would be
$3.50, and the "station-hOuse bondsman'
would receive of this $l25, and the other
SIPS would go to some one "higher up
So general has this Infamous practice
become that sporadic investigation by
Magistrates, from time to time. has re-
vealed that the bonds are frequently
made out in blank in advance and signed
by the surety, who, contrary TO the re-
olirpments of the law, does not see the
prisoner, or the prisoner the surety, and
Identification is prevented should the
DOD1 De forfeited.
The miserable women who pay for
bonds become, to the extent OF the
moiety of the payment, contributors to
the fund of graft and when arraigned
In court for the violations Of order with
which they are charged, there being no
complaint against them, they are llber-
ated: and therefore they thus secure by
one and the same payment freedom from
Incarceration overnight in station
house and immunity in court. a Police
Magistrate being, Of course, unable 10
impose fine whore there is no legal
complaint On the other hand, where
willing 10 pay the toll OF the Station
house bondsnau," and fail TO get other
bonds, they are confronted in court with
IA charge which, II accepted and believed
by the Magistrate, entails fine or term
Of Imprisonment
10 break up such system, no gross a
reprOach 10 decent community, the
complaining Magistrate who has come
upon II proposes that there should be
established what IL called "blaoklist
oi rtatlOn-hOuge boDdsmen, 10 the end
thai those who have, ia the past, made q
practice Dt giving these bonds should be
eIcludod hereafter from the privilege
It s4eIas u he wholly insufficient
remedy, for II opens the opportunity for
the sasy s,Ibstitut ION of other profession