New-York tribune., 1905-01-22

vicious-with beings foul in person as well as speech
who perchanCe also their way to trial penal
punishment l recall this experience with
an overwhelming sense of wrong of unutter-
able repuson, of indignant protest, because it
to me than it did then a wholly gra-
tuitous form of torture What such infliction
TO a sensitive and delicate woman IN my position
preparation for the ordeal of trial in court may be left
to the reader imagination In the last days because of
a threatened collapse the recommendation of the
prison medical officer | allowed a carriage and
against this concession to the humantes there
almost universal Outcry in the public press
As | entered the spacious courtroom where the
trial OF the young woman was proceeding | could
hardly trust my eyes. 1t fairly flooded with
light, and all its belongings seemed in Cheerfuest
keeping, One could imagine easily English
courtroom place for the display of decorative art
yet here the walls in sofest colors picorally typed
Justice in such various ideal forms only the fancy
of poet and painter might portray.
On the other hand, anything more soucrushing than
the impression that an average English courtroom.
with its SOmber fittings, its solemn ceremonals its
black gowns and antiquated wigs makes upon anyone
unfortunate be arraigned its bar difficult
conceive. In England everything possible has been
done to magnify the position of the judge and the
same time to degrade and reduce to utter ignOminy
the unfortunate wretch in the dock Whatever the
intention theory of the setting up of legal machinery
in England may be- 1t is certain that in practice (at
least far my observation and experience stand
in proof strict justice has little part in it. the only
apparent object and aim of it all being conviction
for it is stigma the police if person brought
into court for trial by any chance slips through their
meshes.
Accordingly arrangements are so ordered that
conviction if possible follows nOIenS U0enS for aside
from the supposed disgrace that attaches to fail
ure. frequently also loss of fees and rewards
to nearly all concerned in the prosecution.
To properly impress the community with the
of the task before him, the justice before
opening the assizes soennly proceeds in state in
official carriage. to special divine service. How this
a mode of preparation the Judicial side. contrasts
with the prisoners by way of her unspeakable
journey hardly need be pointed out And. to
bring the accused wretch still further into fit and
proper state of mind appear in the presence of the
personed majesty of the law, arrival at the court
she is detained for good part Of hour in the goo
est of subterranean cells fanked by ever-silent
guardians.
And when finally the fanfare of trumpets makes
proclamation that the arber of life and death in all
the panoply of his exalted office has taken his seat
the prisoner after threading various dark passages
ascends to the upper region by long, stone stairway.
suddenly find herself in what is technically called
the dock an elevated and inclosed platform situ-
aed nearly in the of the courtroom From this
unenviabe vantage she literally looks down upon
everybody except the Judge. who occupies
equally high place facing the prisoner while the
benches" of counsel (and such they are) and the
bar of the circuit. well as members of the press.
occupy the floor space between these two rOstrum-