New-York tribune., 1907-09-01
JUDGE LANDIS'S WAY.
Humanity q Characteristic Of His
Sentences.

Judge Kenesa,v Mountain Lands. of Chicago.
who recently fined John D Rockefeller and his
associates S29,000,0OO, is really kind hearted
young man. with keen wit, ready tongue and
an appreciation of the hunor in everything He
is remembered in Washington as the secretary
of Walter 9. Gresham when the latter was Sec
retary OF State under Cleveland and for his
original way of doing things and the unique
manner in which he carried out the instructions
of his superior. But in his two years on the
bench in Chicago Judge Lands has already
made q record for himself by his administration
of the criminal laws and his theories that men,
even though they have broken the ironclad stat
utes of Uncle Sam, are still reclaimable If the
occupant Of the bench takes the time 10 impress
it upon them that once they have paid the PEN
atty for their offence they have discharged their
debts to society
Here is d typical case, in which negro clerk
in the postoffice found guilty of having
taken a registered letter and was up for sentence
before Judge Landis The little drama is COM
mon enough one to officials of the United States
courts 1t merely meant to them the melting out
of Justice to a man who had broken the law and
must pay the penalty. To Judge Lands it was
the first step in tragedy which might mean
the beginning of a criminal career for the
involved or his reclamation as a useful member
OF society.
There was a hush in the courtroom as the
negro summoned to the bar He had the
detected air of who knew he had trans
gressed and must pay the penalty.
els your name Simpson," asked the judge.
Yes. sir" said the prisoner.
Did you get this registered letter you are
charged with taking?'
Yes. sir
What is your occupation"
4 have been clerk in the registry division Of
the postoffice."
How long have you been clerk in the Of
f1ce?'
Three years.
How old you?'
''TWenty-three years.
"Have you family?'
NO one but my mother.
What your salary in the registry d.
vision?'
4 worked there three years and only got one
raise. was getting S5S month
What did you do with your money!" The
Judge was putting his questions in manner
which had already changed the somewhat sullen
demeanor of the man.
.sYVell the last six months had good deal to
battle against" said the negro with just
picion of moisture in his eyes. Il had been sick.
and it kept me from work, and consequently /
lost my money, and having 10 SEND money nome
10 my mother
How much did you send to your mother?"
We'll / spent $40 a month for my room-that
didn't include carfare and incidentals-that
would allow me TO send about SlZ month TO
her"
Not until six months previous to my arrest,
because [ owed so many bills here. didn't get
enough money to buy my clothes and so had to
buv them on time, and paid a higher price for
them that way"
The Judge by further questions ascertaineo
that the prisoner had sister whom he was
sending to school -,
why did you take this letter. anyway
asked the Judge.
''WeIl. / was driven to desperation because L
hadn't any carfare to go to work. L asked the
cashier to let me have S5-I had worked two
days and had about So cOming-asked him TO
let me have So TO tide me over until next pay
day
'Of course they wouldn't do that-he couldn't
do IT,
mo he couldn't do it. and therefore didn't
have anything at all. Then / owed money at
the drug store for medicine. and. all this coming
on once. / yielded to temptation.
Under further questions from the court the
prisoner finally admitted he had probably taken
$50 in all. He admitted that he had confessed
what he had done to the postoffice inspectors
and that he probably handled S5O.OO0 month
Under the law which governs this case am
obliged to enter punishment" said Judge Lam
dis and in fixing that punishment have got