The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-03
ONE SIDE OF LIFE.

Few readers of The Forum realize
what pathetic pictures are presented
day by day in the police court in the
city. There is much which does not
get before the public and strenuous
efforts are made to reform many times
instead Of punish. Under these cir
cumstances the following o of
this court will be read with interest:
Judges, police officers, attendants
and REGULARS in court seemingly be-
come hardened to the sight of weeping
eyes and the hearing of pathetic tales.
These accompaniments of misfortune
are so often manufactured to suit the
occasion that only the most expert
enced observers are able to differen-
tiate and those who sit in the court
room for the first time usually consid-
er all pleas for ~leniency or mercy
worthy ones.
There is a world Of diversity in one
day of action in the Fargo police
magistrate court. The cases called Of
ten sound the gamut of human life
and vicissitudes. Pleasure and pain
intermingle. Often the gavel is nee
essary to suppress a ripple Of merri-
ment, only to have it followed by a.
hush that contains more of sorrow
than could be described with a hun
dred pens.
Usually the day opens with a long
bench filled with men who have
against them no more serious charge
than drunkenness. However. it often
he nF1n11G tho . anN ~ 46n.a . 49,
police records, and in such cases they
may expect but little clemency. Often
in the case of some intoxicated mar
picked up in a doorway the police un-
earth a criminal who may be notori-
Gus throughout the country.
Men who have been doing nothing
more serious than drinking are seldom
given severe sentences and often on
making a good explanation, or being
regularly. employed and having others
dependent upon them, are sent out
with some sound advice by Judge
Miller.
Often there come before the court
men whom it is almost impossible to
find guilty. They are seldom accused
on anything more serious than being
intoxicated or disturbing the peace.
These men are more trouble to the no
lice than all the big crooks in the
country. They seldom really violate
the law against vagrancy and yet bang
about and do all manners of petty things
that worry the life out of a policeman.
When such a mar is seer to commit
any offense that verges on l~awlessness
the policeman arrests him and
breathes easily until he is either re-
leased or sent to Jail. In the latter
case he feels that he is free from him
for a few days.
Petty thieves rarely get Ieniency
for they rarely do any better when re-
leased. Every day witnesses several
Of these cases. Some of them are 40
more serious than the theft of a few
cents worth of goods. Others may GA
for such offenses as breaking into the
bank Of a little child or stealing Of
food from a bakers wagon. From
five to ten days in the city jail is the
usual fine for theseacharges.
Many cases arise ia which the ac-
cused are children and it is always
hard for the court to put on a just
punishment. Where the offender has
q ~ereditable past he is usually placed
on prohation and kept for a limited
time under the eye OF the probation of
ficar. In case he behaves himself, at
the expiration OF probation he is re-
aeased from all w~atchfulness and the
former charge dismissed against him.
Judgss dislike very much to send
boys II the r-eforsnatories on 5aiIs. and
do 81 In their power to give the young
meI1 encouragement toward keeping
within he law in ali things. Many
times the court viii cali the boy over
to tina bench and listen to the entire
taIA told by the boy to no one but the
court. and then impose such sentence
as fe sees fit. Attorneys Tor the state
on city seldom object to such methods
but seem DESTROYS Of helping children.
Family affairs form a large part of
the troubles aired in police court.
Frequently 4 wife viii nave her hus-
! md arrested for abusing her and they
-AAA
.NAI EA& IM