Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-03
FOR HELPLESS PRISONERS
VALUABLE WORK OF MR.. MAS
SIZE IN POLICE COURT.
Ninety Per Cent of Fines Paid Have
Been Returned-A Labor
of Love.

1t is far cry from the San Juan bat
tie field to Washington's Police Court
and yet the Cupban war brought about
one of the most interesting phases of
| work in that court
one used to the ways of courts. but
| ignorant of this special phase. wonders.
| perhaps, to see quiet ununiformed
| man in a gray suit moving in and out
| among the people in the courtroom,
passing unrestrained through the pris-
oners' cage. talking with one or another
OF its occupants, consulting with the
judge. and whispering with attorneys
and other court officers. In fact, while
manifestly not Of the court, yet he has
free access everywhere and receives at
| tention
This is Mr.. Massie. the agent of the
prisoners aid department. a man who
mas the unqualified confidence of the
Judges and whose word is equal to and
valued as any bond.
During the Cuban war Mr. Massie.
with others, became interested in the
soldiers. The telephones of the District
were put to their use. Late one night as
MI Mass1e was using telephone at
police station he saw there two children.
girl and boy, who had been brought
In from the street. Interested, he made
inquiry and found that for children in
this plight the station house was the
only place for detention. This incident
led to the formation of the prisoners
aid department. This consists of men
and women who are banded together to
assist by their encouragement and con-
tributions the work Of aiding those
charged with offenses in the District But
the real work is carried on by the agent,
who gives himself entirely to this work.
He is at the Police Court before it
opens, visits the accused. hears their
ST. IF
judges takes charge of such cases as they
give into his hands. First offenders. es-
pecally the young; misdemeanors. viola
tons of municipal ordinances, cases more
of misfortune than of intentional wrong
doing and the like are turned over to
him. Cases of peculiar features in which,
If the law were enforced. hardship must
ensue the court itself calls to his at
tentiOn.
Valued by Court.
In fact. Mr.. Massie is regarded as
valuable adjunct to the court. enabling
the judge to carry out the dictates of
mercy in cases where justice would de-
mand a penalty and where the judge him.
self would be compelled to enforce the
penalty.
Mr.. MaSsie takes the accused person in
charge, if there must be fine pays 1t
and where the offender lives outside OF
the jurisdiction sends him home. In this
work there is required much diScernment
and judgment, and these he possesses to
an extreme degree. This is shown by the
result. In the last seven years, of money
advanced to pay fines and to send per-
sons to their homes 80 per cent of the
fines has been returned. OF the unre-
turned 10 per cent it is safe to say that
most of it, If not ALL has been given to
persons who were unable and not to those
who were unwilling to repay.
A Work Of Love.
This work, while receiving the CRATE
full acknowledgment of all the court Of
ficials who are cognizant of it. has never
received nor sought aid from the govern
ment. With Mr. Massie it has been a la
Dor of love for his fellow-man.
10 However, there is connected with the
work. despite the 80 per cent returned
a portion of unreturned expenditure.
The beneficiaries must be cared for, fed
and sometimes clothed while awaiting
advices from home. Returns are not al
ways promptly made. Ten per cent is
perm anently invested. The needed mar
gin has been supplied by the members of
the department who know of the work.
Others who learn of the work come for
ward from time to time and render as
sistance.
The summer is the season when out
side help is most needed. Many of the
members are away from the city. but
the unfortunate and the unhappy remain.
In the bright season as we'll as in the
dark, distress is in the prisoners cage of
the Police Court and Massie goes his
round
Mrs. Mary F. Case, 2O7 New Jersey
avenue, Is treasurer of the society of
which Mr.. Massie is the agent.