New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-06
Four Justices Give Up
Evenings to Hear Cases
of Poor.
ALL SEEK TO GET
BACK SMALL SUMS
Aaron J. Levy Explains Purpose
of Experiment in City's
Judicial System.

Hymsn, Samuel and Moishe climbed
four fights of stairs 20 the dim court
room at 264 Madison Street last night
to collect debts. LYMAN said Shulem
Moskowitz owed him 1919, Samuel
claimed the price of n dozen brooms
from Micha Cohen and Moishe insisted
on being paid his sections fee by Mrs.
Schmettena, who runs candy store
in the heart of the lower East Side.
SO Hymsn, Samuel and Moishe seated
themselves in front of four justices of
the new civil nigh. court, which opened
last night
Through the open windows filtered
the many noises of the swarming
Ghetto streets. A hurdy gurdy pro-
claimed its presence and pedlers shout
ed their wares, for the night was grow
ing late and the housewives fingered
less and less the bananas and laces and
turnips displayed on the stands, illumi-
mated by fiaring alcohol lamps.
Court is convened" shouted the at
tendant. The backs of score of i'm
migrants Strengthened. The judges,
one or two Of whom had also knocked
at the gates of new country, consult
cd for q moment. Then Chief Justice
Aaron J. Levy announced that inasmuch
as there were no names on the court
calendar no cases would be tried.
Can't Come in Daytime.
But Shulem Moskowitz yves me
S219," muttered Hyman. IL want JUS
tce."
by day | can't come" complained
Samuel. He was little man, with
ssgging shoulders and a pinched, high
boned face. 81 come here tonight
because Micha Cohen owes me for a
dozen brooms. ! work in the daytime.
Should lose an hour even | might get
fired. who knows? Please, | should
want my case tried"
"And BY me it's the same way" sa;d
Moishe.
Other compliments drifted N. too
a weakened East Side pedlar, who de-
manded S1.S5 from a debtor housew ifc;
collarless painter who condemned all
real estaters" as thieves; you're
cigarmaker who had brought his sictcr
and sweetheart as witnesses. They
watched closely every move If Chief
Justice Aaron J. Levy. He was one Of
their own people, member of the
"mispoche Of Yahudim" They knew
the three other justices who we're seat
ed next to him Benjamin Hoffman,
Leonard Sntkin. Gustave Hartman.
They were not afraid of these men, for
they were dressed in civilian clothes
and not in rustling black robes.
1--WE will get justice" whispered
Samuel and Moishe and Lyman to one
another. and shook their heads affirma-
lively. Somewhere they had read thst
these four men were sacrificing their
own time to grant justice TO the shop
keeper Of Hester Street, the redler #
Rutgers Square and the housewives Of
the resking tenements. And Their,
measuring his words to suit the knowl-
edge of English of his immigrant audi
ence. Justice Levy said:
Court Only Experiment.
This court is in its experimental
stage. All cases involving $50 or less
will be tried here. Every Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we
will be here"
Then Assemblyman Nathan D. Perl
man, who introduced the bill creating
the night court in the Legislature,
turned to Justice Levy and suggested
that the plaintiffs be instructed to use
the court II was his belief that the
poor folk who might employ it did not
yet understand its purpose. His CONVEX
sation was not couched in legal terms.
and the immigrants who heard him
smiled at the pleasant bantering ex-
changed between the justice and AS
semblyman.
"Quit it for the present. Nat" sug-
gested Justice Levy. And his eager
listeners sighed. Here was a Judge
that was human.
Justice Levy gave the signal to Court
Attendant Rosenstock, red faced man
of robust physique.
Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear vel"
shouted Rosenstock. Court is ad-
journed until O'clock, the night o.
June Is"