HOW THE LAW AIDS VICE.
In Packard's Monthly, for September, 1868, the reader will find a deeply interesting article on this subject, by Mr. Oliver Dyer, from which we take the following illustration of our remarks.
There is, probably, not a police reporter in the city, of much experience, who has not seen one of these girls arraigned at the Tombs, or at some other police court, on a charge of theft; because in fleeing from the intolerable servitude of some den of vice, she had had to wear clothes belonging to the keeper—not having any of her own wherewith to hide her nakedness.
"We will give a scene of this kind. Place, the Tombs, time, six o'clock in the morning; present, police justice, officers of court, about thirty prisoners, policemen attending as witnesses, and parties preferring charges against prisoners. The name of the girl against whom complaint has been made having been called, the following examination took place:
"Justice.—'What is the charge against this girl?'
"Policeman.—'Felony-stealing wearing apparel.'
"Justice.—'Who is the complainant?'
"Policeman.—'This woman here,' pointing out the keeper of the den from which the girl had fled—a most villainous old hag.
"Justice (to the keeper).—'What did the girl steal?'
"Keeper.—'Every rag she's got on; bad luck to her.'
"Justice (to the girl).—'Mary, who owns that shawl you have on?'
"Mary.—'She does, sir;' pointing to the woman.
"Justice.—'Who owns that hat and dress you have on?'
"Mary.—'She does.'
"Justice.—'Havn't, you any thing of your own to wear?'
"Mary.—'Nothing, sir.'
"Justice.—'This woman owns them all—all the clothes you have on, does she?'
"Mary.—'Yes, sir.'
"Justice.—'If they are hers you should not have taken them.'
"Mary.—'Please, sir, I couldn't stay in her house any longer, and I couldn't go naked into the street.'
"Justice.—'It is a hard case, Mary, but stealing is stealing, and I shall have to send you up for twenty days.'
"And so Mary is sent to the Penitentiary on Blackwell's Island for twenty days (and sometimes for a longer period), wearing the 'stolen' clothes; and the hag of a keeper goes back to her den and tells the other girls of Mary's fate, satisfied to give the shabby garment, in which the victim was attired, in exchange for the 'moral effect' of the girl's conviction and imprisonment on those who are still in her clutches.
"Justice Dowling, we believe, never convicts a girl of theft under such circumstances, but gives her accuser such a scoring down in open court as sends her back to her den in rage and shame."