The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05

VStdbIISntu soIne years dsO III a VI
cerc effort to deal more effectively
with one Of the oldest offences known
TO the human family.
The Night Court for Women con-
tinues to attract the attention of great
numbers of people. not only here but
throughout the country and In foreign
lands. 1t is the only court In the
world held exclusively for women and
for certain offences. II is therefore
a difficult task to free 1t from mere
curiosity seekers, idle, vicious and
visionary people. 1t would be unjust
to the unfortunate class with which
1t deals IL they should in anywise
be exploited by those who really have
no heartfelt interest in them or the
causes that produce them.
There has. however. from the OPEN
ing of this court been a band of de-
voted women. official. organized and
individual. who have rendered great
public service not only in their hui
name and disinterested interest in the
defendants, but In the proper. decent
and orderly conduct OF the court itself.
No defendant could have the slightest
injustice done her without the active
interposition of these unselfsh and
devoted women. Rescue missions ana
temporary homes have been provided
by them. and the amount Of good
they have done cannot well be calcu-
lated.
II would he invidioun to make dis
tinctions among those y equally et-
hcient and charitable. When u woman
stands convicted before the Magistrate
presiding in the night court. with the
return marked mo previous record
which means that she has not been
convicted in that court hitherto. 1t Is
n danger signal to the Magistrate that
her case should be most carefully in
vestigated II the outlook Is at all
promising. And that is where these
women, and the institutions and re-
ligions they represent. render the
greatest possible service. With the
experience too which Miss Smith, a
most excellent probation officer, and
these volunteer assistants have gained
since the court was established,
their judgment has become more acute
and their handling OF individual cases
more effective.
The presiding Magistrates in this
Night Court for Women are entitled to
the highest degree OF public common
dation. They perform a most difficult
and delicate task. and are subject mt
times to unjust criticism. and at all
times to the largest degree OF public
scrutiny. They are most careful 10
guard the rights of defendants. espe-
cially where they are not represented
by counsel. In fact, in no case does
the woman need other counsel or de-
fence than that which the Magistrate
is sure to accord her. Out OF the
twenty Magistrates In this division
but four are assigned TO sit in this
court.
have never attempted. although
the power Of assignment Of Magistrates
10 this court is vested in me. to lay
down any ironclad rule as to punish
ments. because individual cases eX-
ceptional in their allure so often
arise. and furthermore the Magistrate
who presides and has the woman de-
PENDANT before him and the trained as
sistance OF Miss Smith. is much better
able to judge and exercise a wise dis
erection than those who only read the
minutes of the case as they appear on
the record. In this court particularly
the exercise of judicial discretion
should be accorded full play.
| am glad to he able to report. how
ever. that through conferences be-
tween the former Magistrates as.
signed TO this court "A greater degree
of uniformity OF punishment has been
worked u in this court than in any
other court in the city. This uni