New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-10
ASKS FOR MORE SEVERE SENTENCES
1t Would Help Prevent Insult and Crime
in Street, 1t Is Urged

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: young girl writing to a morning paper
some days ago says:
We are working girls. end live on East one-hun-
| moved by a crowd Of toughs who hang around the
corners OF Third-ave and One -hundred-and- thir-
maze insulting remarks TO US and attempt TO catch
other afternoon and there not a policeman in
! the neighborhoOd 10 be found
robbed. Il was only ESQ O'Clock and we could not
md policeman. There seems to be no police up
hard all day. be insulted and robbed on our way
nome by young lcafers
This is fair sample Of what IS going on con-
stanty all over the city except that probably such
occurrences are more frequent in some localities
than in others Not only are "toughs" both young
and old, constantly and wantonIy insulting people
a crime punishable by a term not exceeding year
IN the penitentiary, fine not exceeding $780, or
both, but vast number OF other crimes are com
mitted every day with little or no attempt at con-
cealment, and often IN the sight and hearing Of
police officers. and these crimes such that they
cause people an immense amount OF loss, pain and
sickness, and Indirectly result in many deaths
Is this condition unavoidable that must
last until people naturally grow better? I think
not ! an convinced that practically all Of this
crime could be put end to in a week by a proper
administration OF the laws.
The girl who writes the letter quoted above says
that no policeman hand or could be found
on either OF the occasions she mentions 1t seems
TO that there IS nothing IN that fact for which
the authorities can properly be blamed. A police
mans beat necessarily covers many blocks It
would take an immense force 20 have q man always
on the spot whenever a crime Is committed. A
hundred thousand would not be sufficient for
that Even II policeman could be found on
entire beat Il would not necessarily prove neg
lect OF duty. there many things which will
call policeman temporarily from his beat The
trouble is that where policeman is on hand. or
when he is found. when crime is committed he
is so likely 70 let the offender 60 OF course II a
crime is committed. and the victim insists f.
the policeman will probably arrest the Offender but
as an arrest may make him extra work and
trouble he is likely 70 try prevail the victim
not 20 press e charge against the offender.
And even IL offender IS arrested for wantonly
Insulting ard annoying conduct toward another. or
for many other crimes he IS likely, II punished at
all. 10 be fined a tr!fiing The result OF the
slight probability Of arrest for such offences. and
the strong probability OF a trining penalty.
penalty all. if arrested. Is that the laws have
little deterrent effect upon those disposed TO COM
NIT such offences To tell such persons that they
violating the law is likely 20 them 10
spond with insulting remarks. or possibly make an
assault upon the person who demonstrates with
them. II it were well known that any caught
in wlful violation Of law, especially after notice
desist meant practically certain arrest and fine
OF least fifty dollars, a term BlackwelTs
Island, crimes that are committed thousands OF
times every day would become rare.
Man is very prone to go to extremes Formerly
persons guilty OF small offences were hanged. or
sent to prison for long term OF years; now such
slight penalties often inflicted have prac-
tcaly deterrent effect whatever upon those dis
posed 20 have regard for the rights Of others.
II penalties not necessary TO keep people from
infringing upon the rights OF others. then police
and criminal courts not needed: and IL penal
ties necessary. then they should be sufficiently
certain and sufficiently severe 10 make people
afraid 10 commit crime. Z. L. d.
New-York City. April g. 1904.