Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-14
''None So Blind as Those Who
Don't Want to See," Banker
Says of Prosecutor.
ALIENS HAVE POOR CHANCE
IN COURTS, HE DECLARES
Antonio Petr0ne Cites Cases to
Prove Point at Charities
Conference.
Especial to the Newark star.l


CAMDEN. Feb. 14.-In the course OF
an address today at the State Con-
ference of Charities and Corrections,
Antonio Petrone, of Newark. took oc-
casion to bitterly arraign Prosecutor
Wilbur A.. Mott, of Essex county.
Mr. Petrone's subject was 1.-THE For
eigner Before Our Courts" and he en-
deavored to show how small Is the op-
portunity of one of foreign birth under
such a system as is in vogue in this
country.
The conference got down to business
in the First M. z. Church at $3.50
o'clock this morning. Tho conference
opened yesterday afternoon with a
public meeting in the Camden Theatre,
which was notable for the largest at
tendance of any initial session in con-
ference history.
Registration headquarters were
opened today at TIE First Church, and
a steady stream of visitors passed the
clerks. their names being recorded, and
those who came from a distance to at
tend the conference being provided
with accommodations In private houses
or hotels by the hospitality COMMITTEES.
In the interest airead, displayed and
the attendance recorded the conference
of 1910 promises to surpass any gather
ings of this character held in New Jer-
sey In the past nine years. Camden
people have displayed an interest and
enthusiasm In the matter. which has
agreeably surprised some of the, con-
ference officials.
Visitors can be distinguished wherever
they go by the souvenir key.of the city,
which they wear as a badge. The de-
sign on one side shows the city coat Of
arms, with the dates "1s2s-l9l0," the
mayors portrait and picture of the
City Ha)l;son the other side Is the In
sqfiption. welcome to Camden, New
Jersey, February 10, ~ Is, 1910. is cor
siiaily extended to New Jersey Confer
ei1ce of Charities and Correction. c. H
Ellis. Mayor"
Among the attendants at the confer
spce are many officials from New Jer-
sey public institutions. Thirty per cent
II the States expenses are charged up
to the care of deiinquents, detectives
and criminals, which are cared for in
institutions costing over $14,000,000. and
these officials are able to give their
experience as a guide to reform ideas
The Rev. Alois M. Fish. moral in
structor at the State prison, Trenton.
was chairman of this mornings session,
when the delegates dealt with "Delin-
uuents-Prevention and Reformation
This afternoons session was devoted
to THE Insane-Mental Hygiene" DR..
Henry A. Cotton, medical superintend
ent of the State Hospital for the In
-te, at Trenton, who has 1,400 pa
Its uIder his care, presided. The
ference will continue tomorrow.
beg to say" said Mr.. Petrone, after
ing an incident to illustrate the
ant Injustice which he claims is
4 the portion of the foreigner, ITO
acutor Wilbur A. Mott that none
SO blinn as those who don't want
se.."
Mr.. Petrone said in part:
in a cosmopolitan community, with
composite people of many races.
speaking different languages, possessed
of variant characteristics, and for the
most part unacquainted with our
" language, customs and institutions, the
infractions of the criminal law by the
foreign element occur with painful fire.
quency This criminality lis social
phenomenon which manifests itself in
all such communities during the period
new environment AS the sources OF
emigratory currents have varied ac-
cording to the political, social and
economic conditions of Europe so has
the tide of immigration to this ,coun-
try changed its racial complexion; first
the Scandinavian, then the Celtic, later
the German, and now the Latin and
the Slav. Each of these races has con-
tributed IT'S share of criminality and
against each a cry Of alarm has been
raised But after the period of transit
ton, after each race has become Amer
icanized, experience teaches us, the
wave of criminality subsided and the
undesirables of yesterday are become
the cherished citizens of today. What
each immigrant asks for is Christian
charity, humane consideration and JUS
tice.
Does this foreigner receive humane
consideration and justice in our crimi-
nal courts when he comes in conflict
with the law?
Under the present system of penal
ogy which considers only the crime
while ignoring the criminal. and deal
ing with him only as an abstract
prob EN-. 1t is impossible for anyone to
get Justice and especially the foreigner.
There are. however. other factors
which operate against the foreigner in
our courts. In the majority Of cases.
the foreigner who falls In the clutch
of the law does not know how to
speak English When he is brought to
the bar of justice he mel her under
stands the judge. the prosecutor or his
counsel. nor can they understand him.
An interpreter is the only means Of
communca ion, and not infrequently it
happens that the interpreter is inefi-
cient.
ssIueanc Man Convicted"
Some two years ago one Giovanni
Mentesana killed little girl in Cald-
ysr,apfsnucd ou Second Page.