Known to the Police

as not sure that I had done wisely or well, and was troubled accordingly. I missed more than words can express the miseries that had hitherto been inseparable from the routine of my

ke. Still less was it a marvel to find that my mind refused to accept all at once the fact that I was no longer a Police-Court Missionary. I must in truth confess I felt a bit

name and title, for the words "Police-Court Missionary" meant

am getting old, and dead officialism might have crept upon me, and whatever power for good I may have might hav

w lapsed, a length of time that allows sufficient perspective, and enables me to calmly take stock of the twenty-one years I spent in London police-courts. I do not in t

n a right direction, and that we are all still progressing. Two days of those yea

ned my eyes to wonders of humanity, and humanity bein

g

only for the sake of comparison and encouragement do I attempt briefly to portray some of the most striking features of those days.

sgusting. There was no female att

g, pure and impure, clean and verminous, sane and insane, awaited their turn to appear before the magistrate; for the insane in th

ugh sometimes well dressed, vaunted their obscenity before her. Deformed beggars, old hags from the workhouse-or from worse places-thieves, gamblers, drunkards, and harlots, men and women on the verge of delirium tremens-all these, and others that are unmentionable, combine to make the[Pg 4] prisoners' roo

lic-house and drank at their expense. Hundreds of times I have heard prisoners ask the prosecuting policeman to "Make it light for me," and many times I have heard the required promis

a conference with their prisoners in the waiting-room, and it is now a

; now they are sergeants of the police, and under police discipline and authority. The old civil servant gaoler looked down from his greater altitude with something like contempt upon the com

reatest change of all. Doubtless the magistrates of those days were

g up to give sentence. Once while the justice nodded his false teeth fell on his desk; he awoke with a start, and made a frantic effort to recover them. No doubt the

d what payment had been given in advance. Here they would remain till their clients were before the magistrate, and would then appear just in time to say: "I appear for the prisoner, your Worship." Horrid old men they were, the fronts of their coats and vests all stained and shiny with the droppings of beer. Frequently the [Pg 6]magistrate, unable to tolerate their drunken or half-

ly and insult witnesses or prosecutors, and cast scurrilous and unclean imputations on the live

the power of speech-he, too, has gone. One wondered at the strange fate that made solicitors of such men; wondered, too, how they passed the necessary examinations; but wondered most of all why people paid money for such fellows to defend them. Invariably they made their client's case much worse; they always declined to let "sleeping dogs lie," and were positively

fied, and its administration more refined. Magistrates are up-to-date, too, and qui

hance to-day. In all these directions great change

has taken place in the appearance of the pris

enty-five years ago they were numerous, b

in the prisoners' waiting-room, I have heard the expression, "He's got them on"; and I have seen poor wretches trembling violently wit

be permitted to reply, I would say they do, and very much

g

this: people are more susceptible to the effect

drink or to physiological causes in the drinkers I do not

ot much doubt about the guilt of a man or woman who was charged with being drunk. If the policeman's word was not quite sufficient, the appearance of the prisoner completed the evidence. But now men and women are mad drunk one hour and practically sober the next. Red noses and i

pected results; for some men, when released on bail, rush promptly to their own

lice state that the man was mad drunk at 1 a.m., while, on the other[Pg 9]

onfirm the police evidence; still, he cannot conscientiously say that the man is drunk. "He appears to be recovering from the effects of drink," is the testimony that he gives, and his opinion is attached to the charge-sheet for the magistrate's guidance. "No," says the prisoner, "I was not drunk; neither had I been drunk; but I was excited at being detained in the cells on a f

but discharge the prisoner?-and "Another unfounded c

upon the police, when they have but honestly done their duty. It ought no longer to avail a prisoner who proves sobriety at one o'clock, sobriety at three o'clock, to contend that he coul

ent myself with stating a fact, that must be recognized, and which is as worthy of

sily disturbed by drink. All sorts of things are possible, from silly antics to frenzy and murder; but, as I have said, the varying stages pass so quickl

k, and personality, but now these qualities are not often met with. Formerly a good number of the vagabonds were interesting vagabonds,

or both[Pg 11] youthful offenders and off

afraid, been accompanied by loss of individuality, and the processions that pass through London police-courts now are not so striking as formerly. They are devoid of strong personality, and the mass of people in many respects resembl

chievous and disastrous in its

oral principles, and though the majority of them appear to know right fro

led into philosophic inquiry or speculation as to the causes of this

there is less brutality, less debauchery, less drinking; but-and I would like

g

gage in some attempt to answer the question-Are we as a

have closely studied our criminal statistics, and I can say that personal experi

hat the temptations to, and opportunities for, dishonesty multiplied also. For years a large transference of boys and young men from the labouring and artisan life to the clerk's desk or to the shop-counter has been going on. The growth

ent payment for arduous and responsible services. Still, I am sure that we must not look for the reason of this grow

ney not honestly acquired. Some people to whom I have spoken on this subject have said to me: "But these are the faults of the rich; surely they are not the sins of the poor." And I have said: "Well, you know more of the rich than I do, so maybe they are characteristic of both." Though I do

heless, I am afraid of this growing dishonesty, for I have seen something of its consequences. Sneaking peculations, small acts of dishonesty, miserable embezzlements, falsified accounts, and conte

dishonesty is more certain and deadly in its effects among educated and ignorant alike: for it begins

is, and must be always, equally interesting. It may not be as picturesque, but that is a surface view only, and we really want to know wha

formerly, and that greater care is taken of them. This undoubtedly prolongs their existence, and consequently adds to their number. But whatever doubt I may have about the actually insane,

y can steal,[Pg 15] and they can beg. They have animal passions, but they have less than animal control. They can perpetuate their species, and pile up burdens for other generations to bear. Nothing in all my experiences astonishes me so much as the continued neglect of these unfortunate people. Prisons have been revolutionized; dealing with young offenders has developed into a cult; prisoners' aid societies abound; the care, the feeding, the education, the health, a

they are not fit to be detained even in prison, provision should be made for their being permanently detained and controlled in institutions or colonies, with no opportunity for perpetuating their kind. In ou

ed[Pg 16] by the verger to speak to a man and woman who sat by the door. They had c

im scores of times at London police-courts, where he had been invariably committed to prison, although certified as "unfit." He had been in the workhouse many times. In the workhouse he had met with the poor wretch that sat by his side. They wer

ncreased largely during late years, and the list o

conclude that female intemperanc

lusion, and are very apt with figu

ual. And to get at approximate truth, we must ascertain the number of separate individuals who have been charged. Nor will this give us the whole truth, for it must also be ascertained who are the

r to supply the

owth of London accounts partly for this increase in the number of "unfortunates," and the growth of provincial towns supplements the growth of London. In all our large centres we have, then, a large army of women who

per cent. of them are demented old women, who spend their lives in work

elieve that less rather than more would be a fitting description. I want it to be clearly[Pg 18] understo

r women: they are no longer ashamed of being seen in public-houses, for respectable women are by no means careful about the company they meet and associate with in the public-houses. In police-courts I have noticed this growing change. Time was when few or no women

ges. Sometimes, when the order is given for women to leave the court, some women are ready to argue the matter with the us

poor and the tradesman class that excitement and relish the

diminishes. This is the more remarkable as opportunities for dishonesty have become much more numerous among women. Still, in spite of multiplied opportunit

yself here with a few reflections and statements. During the years covered by my experience the rents of the very poor have increased out of all proportion to their earnings. I have taken some trouble to inquire into this question, and when speaking to elderly men and women living in congested streets, I have obtained much information. "How long have you lived in this house?" I asked an elderly widow. "Thirty years. I was here long before my husband

n't know who it is now, but a

et anything cheaper, and I like the old place

t me be explicit. By the very poor I mean families whose income is under twenty-five shillings weekly-women whose husbands have but fitful work; women who have to maintain themselves, their children and sick husbands

yet been attempted. Yet for them the need is greatest, and

-houses, and for them no gaol deliverance is proclaimed, so they huddle together, and the more numerous the building improvements, the closer they huddle. The new[Pg 21] tenements are not for them, neither is any provi

teen to receive a sentence of imprisonment. The birch, too, is more sparingly used, and only when there appears to be no other fitting punishment. One magistrate quite recently, in ordering its infliction, declared it was t

ke to place on record the fact that I have never known it

ught against them, for the kindness of the Force to children is proverbial. And this kindness is reflected in police-courts. Nowhere are children more considerately[Pg 22] treated. I agree with the movement in favour of separate courts for children, because I wou

years of age, who, having little or no home accommodation, crowd our streets, especi

ptly paid, or imprisonment in default of payment, still prevai

hanged. Rags are not so plentiful as they were, and child offenders are very much better dressed; for civilization cannot endure rags, and shoeless feet are an abomination. Veneer, then, is very palpable to-day in police-courts. This may be indicative of good or evil. It may have its origin in self-respect, in changing fashions, or in deceit; it may be one of the effects of

llusions. This method of expression is not confined to the poorest, for even well-dressed men

icative of scorn or to impute immorality. Magistrates have tried hard to preserve the good old word and give it a proper place, but in vain. "Another woman" always

man of the worst possible character an officer will refer to her as "the lady," not as the prisoner. Sometimes, as I have already hinted, the m

g

me, for I hear them all the day, and every day." The magistrate was correct, and, more the pity, his words are true. The old oaths were far less disgusting and far less demoralizing. The invocation of the Deity, either for confirmation of speech or for a curse upon others, argued some belief in God, which belief has probably suffered decay even among the coarse and ignorant. Still, if police-court habitués and their friends continue to embellish their speech with obscenity, then their last state will be worse than their first.

g

ly and earnestly appeal to all my poor and working-class friends to set themselves agains

e moot points. It is, of course, true of social problems, and peculiarly true of humanity itself, that evil defeated in one direction is certain to manifest itself in another, so that standing still in social life, or in individual life, must and does mean retrogressio

magnitude without some evil attaching to it, for we have not as yet discovered an unmixed good. This beneficent Act has been much talked of and widely advertised. The public generally ha

een admonished by the magistrate; he has also been in the gaoler's office, and bound in recognizance to be of good behaviour. But this is all, for nothing else has happened to him. He has not been made to pay back the money stolen, neither has he been compelled to make any reparation to those he has injured. The law, then, has considered his offence but slight, and his dishonesty but a trivial matter. In his heart he knows that, though he has purged his offence as far as the law is concerned, he has not absolved his own conscience by any attempt to

stened around themselves the deadly grip of dishonesty that the law considered dishonesty a most serious matter. Many of the young offenders could not re

ourse, which is both just and merciful-just to the person who has been robbed and just to the robber; merciful because it compels the wrong-doer in some degree to undo the wrong, and enables him to break the chains of his deadly habit. It will also prove to him that the

y avail themselves of this permissive power, and make young rogues "pay, pay, pay." It matters not how small the instalments nor how long a time the payments may be continued, for I feel assured that nothing will stem the onw

ained in the suggestion that in England, with its humanity and civilization, after a thousand years

ith brutal husbands, but from pity to ill-treated wives, for it was recognized that sending brutal husbands to prison only made matters worse. Briefly, the Act empowered married women who had persisten

ems just, and I have no hesitation in saying it is right, whatever may be the consequences, that decent suffering women whose agony has been long drawn o

the majority paid nothing. The "other woman" became an important factor, and the money that should have gone to the support of the legal wife and legitimate children went to her and to illegitimate children. Such fellows were, then, in straits. If they left the "other woman," affiliation orde

unremitting toil and partial, if not actual, starvation. On the whole, this Act, which was quite necessary and inspired by good intentions,

's satisfaction, he could get his order, give her a few shillings, go home and close the door against her, leaving her homeless and helpless in the streets. She may have borne him many children, she might be about to become a mother once more; in fact, the frequent repetition of motherhood might be the root-cause of her drunkenness. No matter, the law empowers him to put her out and keep her out. Such is the law, and to such a point has the chivalry of many husbands come. But Darby may go still further, for he may call in "another woman" to keep house and look after the children. In a sense he[Pg 31] may live in a sort of legalized immorality, and do his wife no legal wrong; while, if she, poor wretched woman, with all her temptations and weaknesses, yields but once to a similar sin, all claim to support is forfeited, and she goes down with dreadful celerity to the lowest depths. Plenty of good husbands, and brave men they are, re

ut the grossest women even civilization can furnish-women whose only hope lies with the Eternal Father-and we put them in inebriates' reformatories, and keep them there, at a great expense, for two or three years. Money without stint is spent that they may have the shadow of a chance for reclamation. Organized societies are formed fo