The Washington times., 1904-04-03

/ Mayor Low and asked for an appoint
ment as city magistrate to fill out an
unexpired term. and he got it. Suisse
quently, Judge Barlow was appointed
for a full term.
In national politics Judge Barlow is
a Democrat On the bench of the police
court he is "out of politics" and indif-
ferent to the pull Of the bosses.
Beside Judge Barlow.
The city magistrates of New York
take turns in the various police courts
/ Of the city. Recently I found Judge
| Barlow in the Tombs Court, and was
/ permitted to sit beside him throughout
a session and observe his methods OF
dealing with delinquents and the miser-
able.
There is but little formaIity in the
/ proceedings of a New York police court.
and the speed with which business is
! disposed Of is astonishing, and a httle
| bewildering at first. Policemen, prison
ers and witnesses gather in a compact
group directly in front Of the judges
high desk, and a few words Of ex-
PLANTATION, a few sharp questions and
| answers cut short. all inaudibIe to per
sons a dozen fet away, constitute the
average trial
Decisions are tabloid curt word
or two. understood by policemen, court
clerks and old offenders, and interpreter
later to bewildered defendants as they
are led away. Half a hundred cases
heard and decided in ninety minutes IS
quick work. yet Judge Barlow made
careful work OF ii. and in no case DID
he make any apparent mistake. His
judgment was prompt, but never did Il
seem to be hasty.
What appeared 70 be wonderfully
quick intuitive perception Of the trut1
behind a hating story doubtless wai
generalized knowledge Of the habits Of
a class, applied. according to tests found
to be accurate, to the special case II
other words. the Police Judge know,
his East Side and its ways of getting
into trouble, as well as its ways of try
/ ing to squirm out; knows his police
men and their mental habits; and see,
more in the faces and manners Of wit
nesses than their tongues tell him. ~,
What he deals with is human natur,
rather than the cold logic of the law.
The Early CuIprits.
Early culprits at the bar are tn,
DRINKS taken in over night and sobere,
up enough 10 be presentable. The Judg
sizes Up a prisoner, asks two or thre
quick questions and the case is disposet
Of in half a minute. The man is
workman, has a family and is not IL
b. -, !. e a
To put him in jail would be to discour
age him and lower his self-respect an
other degree.
But the next is a palpable "panhand
Ter" Poor, weak-faced creature, desti
tUte Of pride and Indifferent to punish
ment. Better for him ana for society G
take him on the streets for a time ant
compel him to work for his food. Tw'
months I'm the work-house.
Several italian pushcart peddlers ar
brought up for Obstructing streets ant
crosswaIlzs. and most OF them disclaiu
all knowledge Of English and profes
entire innocence of intent 10 violate TIL
law. They know the law as well a.
the policemen do. however. and haVI
taken chances. knowing that the polici
do not like 20 be bothered with thei
cases. and make arrests only as a las
resort.
One smiles with infectious good hu
) NOR as he faces the Judge and explain
volubly in some provincial Italian dia
Iect that ii was a very little street" h.
was obstructing. "a Dutch street" n
I thinks. The interpreter chuckles as h
translates. and his honor's mouti
witches suspieiously as he says: ''Tw
. dollars"
p Another argues angrily with the 20
3 liceman. who explains that he warne
2 the man several times to move ava
e from a crossing, and a larger fine i
} imposed upon him to impress upon hir