Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10

He is hustled along the street to a patrol
box and there, amid the jeers of promls-
cuous and unsympathetic crowd he awaits
the coming of the patrol wagon, with its
changing bell calling attention, it seems,
to his humiliation. Roughly searched at
the station house, the prisoner is led back
to one of the 3xa cells. After the barred
door clangs shut and the lock clicks the
prisoner begins to feel hts helplessness- OR,
perhaps, that unquenchable thirst mas again
overpowered the mans reason and all the
proceedings of arrest are unknown until
the spell is over and he wakes up in that
dingy. damp. foul-smelling, narrow cell.
Then comes the reaction. Not sympa-
thetic friend around the station to bring
even drink of water apparently forgot
ten by the station keepers, with no way
of reaching a relative or friend, surrounded
by groaning and weeping unfortunates, with
little light and only an iron bed without
blankets to lie on. the offender naturally
has feeling of detection. After a night
with little sleep the prisoner is led to the
closed van outside and jolted to the Police
Court There he is put in ten by ten
foot cell, with thirty or fifty others. to
await the opening of the court Every
weekday of the year this occurs, and the
same spirit of detection and hopelessness is
manifest each day.
x
1t is at this dark period that Mr.. Massie
arrives among the prisoners Every morn
ing that the court convenes he is there,
CHEEKY and cordial He pulls his notebook
out of his pocket, and then begin the heart
to-heart talks. The tales of woe, of hard
luck and hardship, and the appeals for help
of all kinds that fill up that hour before
court, Is to begin.
A white man, whose callous hands shows
marks of hard work, has wife and three
children at home. with no one to provide
for them he took one too many drinks the
night before, but now he is penitent; could
Mr.. Massie procure his release for the sake
of those children? One man has 81 coming
to him from his employer; could Mr.. Massie
get the money? Another young man has
a father; could Mr.. Massie send word to
the parent without letting the mother
know to come to court? Still another has
not cent, his clothes are ragged, his shoes
full of holes, his face covered with beard,
both face and hands dirty; he wants money
with which to get out, and he promises to
pay il back as soon as he goes to work.
II have $40" says another. please get
the Judge to let me pay that and go, and
1 win never be in trouble again.
II hab SO seeck,' is the wall of Ger
man, as he rubs his stomach with both
hands. This is so terrible elm platz.''
There are explanations of the cause of
arrest. A son complains of a harsh father
who caused his arrest; an Irishman was
only sick, when he was picked up out of
the gutter and accused Of being drunk;
colored man, upon whom a razor had been
found was only carrying the weapon for
a friend TO the barber to be honed. Each
OF those prisoners tells his story to Mr..
Masse.
He hears all of them patiently, 1ots down
their names and the names of friends where
aid may be expected. and then starts out
on the errands- He proeures medicine at
the drug store for his sick German friend,
he telephones to the employer to send down
the 81 for his employe, who needs it now
more than ever before; he sends word, IL
possible, to fathers, mothers and to friends
according to the requests OF the prisoners.
He investigates the story of the man who
was carrying the razor and other tales that
may have been told him; he looks up refer
ences as to character. In fact. In that
brief time before court begins he sends
messages to all parts OF the city, summons
ing aid for the prisoners. or learns all he
can about them, in an effort to find out
IL his aid win do any good.
After these various errands have been
attended to there remains one thing more
an appeal to the judge. To his honor he
presents only certain unusual cases. and
those just as he has found them. II an emf
ployer has said a good word for prisoner
the judge Is so informed; the results of In
vestigatlons of character wherever favor
able are made known to the Judge. Then
the Judge takes these facts into consider
alton when trying the case in court.
u X
When the court begins Mr. Massie takes
a seat in court near the judges bench.
Within a short time an officer asserts that
q prisoner has been in court before
do you know this mann" asks the judge,
turning to Mr.. Massie.
Yes judge, he was here about six
months ago. but he has been doing pretty
well since them" is the reply
This man speaks good word for you.
says the judge TO the prisoner. Can't
you keep on doing well 2"
Mr.. Maseie viii not shield 4 frequent of
fender. and for that reason his statements