New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-25
WOULD KILL DEBT LAW.
BAR SOCIETIES NAY AID.
Sheriff ErLanger Tells of HARDSHIP
of Unjust I'm pTisOamenfs.

Sheriff Erlsnger announced yesterday al Tue
THANKSGIVING dinner FOR Ludlow-st jail pris-
oners that he was carrying on an active cam
paign FOR the abolishing OF imprisonment for
dent Tie had taken up the subject with the
state Bar Association and the New-York Bar
Association. and had received assurances that
they were interested in the reforms he sought
The subject will be taken before the state
Bar Association at the next meeting in January
Charles F. Hughes. Of the law firm of Houghs'
Rounds & Schurnan. has consented 10 prepay
a paper on Arrest in Civil Cases" which WIZ
be read this meeting
Sheriff Granger yesterday quoted the follow
ing letter which he had sent the bar associd-
tons:
Ny position on arrests IN hers eH VI t causes 6, and
lieve is likewise known 10 citizens OF oIn S 5
The subject has been quite SenefaiIF u-s,Is bc,,,
1g me last several months. not alone throuS hods
our State. but throughout me 'ou..r ,?r-t 0f fha
eTtstnr law. nut on the contrary. the voice seems
The misery which has confronted me since taxing
,fT5ee inspires me with the hope that When YOU or
sssocsfons shall have become acquainted WIN tr
details respecting the wholesale al 1fsIle9 upon
poorer citizens, and the ceprlV'1 loh 5Sa,y
,beir families whose support has been sud i
S.,,- Ilotes viii be ioned with mine in an eforJ 10
remove from our statute books Jaw "l M de-
grades the standard of our State and deoaseS us
EneIsnd from whom we inherit the law has
am Informed, abolished arrests since le'V IN ~
fTart even though the debt was incurred by fraud
and many Of our States there IS no law Mnicn
while am hrmiy of opinion that the rights ana
he thew operate must be safeguarded. do not
believe that arrests IN ciyl causes serve a. z az
nor liz aitScr convert propertv obtain il by
sons VINO sIS-lci - l. mon the owners
demand drastic amendments should be offered, so
that swift punishment will be melted out to SUCH
Offenders OF course I do not intend to include IN
the scheme of ahoishing arrest cases OF 20
Of court or of persons taken on attacnm n 20
punish for contempt. but. with their exception ana
Journeymen. laborers or other eHployes an
laws should be swept from our statute BOOKS as
cannot a within the limits of letter, attsmpt
70 describe the lnLoeraoie cohuloT Ii nerhaps
lamar ! Of this year have been without legal
justification and men and women have been thrown
into prison for months without trial and II counsel
expense TO them Ludlow-st jail would be hrimfu
to-day Of citizens unlawfllly and unjustiy deprived
It occurs to me that :? long, orders Of arrest
with the ease allowed by existing laws, just so long
viii the law be used as means not alone OF fo 9P
action SHOULD he taken in the prsSt IN view F o or
state and with that end in view. ] shall be glad
70 confer on the subject with the proper conirlee
Of your association ct such time and place as may
be convenient
Two years or more ago The Tribune took up
the abuses of the power to imprson I'm the Lud-
lowest. jail by instalment dealers on the East
Side The dealers had the assistance of certain
city marshals and much injustice was done.
Jevvelry household goods and even provisions
were SOLD at outrageous prices to ignorant for
eigners on the East Side on the instalment plan.
When the purchasers discovered that they had
been defraudeG they refused TO make further
payments. Then the marshals stepped IN ana
Sent the purchasers 10 the LudlOw-st Jail until
tbe,- returned the property or made good the
payments. As many twenty instalment pris-
oners were confined in the Ludlow-st Jail at
one time The Tribune took up their cases and
brought about their speedy release.
Charles Z Hughes said last night that he was
in favor of certain reforms in arrests in civil
cases.
In cases Of contempt Of court and cases
where Imprisonment is necessary TO assure the
presence Of q defendant about TO leave the State
the Ludlow-st jail has mission 10 fulfil he
said imprisonment in debt cases should be
abolished
Sheriff Erlanger said he had managed TO get
the number Of the prisoners in LudlOw-st Jail
down FIVE.