The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-06
WOMEN AID WOMEN
IN The NIGHT COURT
Lawyers Form Organization to
Defend Prisoners who Are
FriendlcsS.
MANY EVILS UNCOVERED

Does the woman offender get a fair
and square deal in New York city
Many who have been investigating
methods of dealing with her declare
most emphatically that she does not.
Their wrath and indignation centre on
the night court.
THE procedure there Is n disgrace
to the community, a mockery Of Jus
tlce,'' says Miss Anna M~oscowitz. one
OF New Works. most energetic young
lawyers. You can: EXPECT reforma-
ton except as +, follows Justice"
Miss Moscowitz and a group OF CO.
workers, all members of the Women
Lawyers Association. OF which Mrs.
Olive S,ott Gabriel Is president. have
not been satisfied with mere criticism
OF untoward conditions. They have
J sought to remedy defects. They believe.
hrs. and foremost. that there should he
women on the bench OF the night court
Just as they advocate women Judges for
the Children's Court. They found the
mos, CRYING need at the Jefferson Mar
ket court and they promptly set to
work. They are providing free counsel
for the unfortunate women hailed there.
VINO until this experiment was made
some two months ago were dealt with
by men only. Aside from the police
matrons there was only one m Off
cially attached to the court. a probd-
ton officer. and she could hardy be ex-
pec,ed TO do everything.
Miss N%oscowits ns Lender.
Many n girl or woman brought there
has no money TO hire a lawyer. II Is a
curious and most illogical fact hat al
though according to the Constitution
every one is considered innocent untiI
proved guilt, the state provides a pun
lie prosecutor bu, not a public defender
Moreover. in this jefferson Market night
court tile Magistrate on the bench is
obliged TO be prosecutor. jury. defender
n judge ali in one. a Judge OF the law
and "A judge OF the facts, a regular
judicial department store. as some one
pu, 1t. What lawyers have appeared
TO defend those women who could pay
have frequently exacted from them
every penny they possessed.
SO a group OF women lawyers with
Miss Moscowitz rs chairman nave
formed A lega. committee and have
taken up this work OF defending these
women offenders free o: charge. They
have now A list OF thirty attorneys VINO
volunteer their services two nights a
month each Ia look out for the rights
OF the girls and women brought into the
night courts. This committee works IN
conjunction with the prison committee
OF the public forum OF the Church OF tn
Ascension. Mrs. II. +. j. Porter and
Mrs. Frederick Muller. president and
vlce-pres!dent Of his committee. with
their coworkers visit the prisoners IN
their cells. listen TO their stories. inNesti'
cat. them As far as possible II SEND
their data TO Miss Moscowitz. She gets
from the court the date OF hearing fo'
each prender and sends the list OF case.
with tahulsted information 70 tn at
,orneV whose night of duty comedies.
Among the women lawyers who have
volunteered for this service In addition
70 Miss Noscowitz and Mrs Gabriel are
Miss Amy Wren. Mrs. Jean II Norris
Miss Bertha Rembaugh, Miss Sarah
Stephenson. Miss Dorothy strauss, Miss
Margaret NJ Burnett and Mrs, Mary NJ
Lily. Several men lawyers have also
volunteered their services, among them
:. Mrs. I.illy's son. Joseph j Lilly George
Gordon Battle. Charles Robert Coulter
Francis Gallatln. Charles r. lie Barber
/. Frank Rinaldi and George Wolf
Every night for more than two morths
now there has been one or more OF these
volunteers In the court TO defend free o'
charge the women who needed the!i
services,
Some OF the magistrates have merel,
tolerated US others have been inter
es,ed in our work. Magistrate Nurphy
has been Hne, most Kind ard helpful an,