THE PENALTY OF POVERTY

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 265, 14 November 1885, Page 3

THE PENALTY OF POVERTY

Extraordinary Case In England,

The following roport of a case hoard at Dartford Potty Sessions, before Mr C. S. Umfrieville (in the chair), Captain Palliser, and Mr J. Flower Jackson, is taken from " Dartford Express " : —

George Field, a bricklayer, was summoned for non-payment of £1 2g, being arrears at the rate of Is per week, of an order of the Court mado against him, in common with his brothers, for the maintenance of his fathor, an inmato of the Dartford Union Workhouse

Mr McLood, tho rolioving-ollicer, stated that tho caso had boon adjourned two successive months, to cnablo the dofendant to pay. Defendant: Yon know very woll I have not the moans to pay ; I want it settled one way or tho other, and the sooner you send mo to Maidstono Gaol again tho bettor.

Tho Chairman ; If you go on in, this way you will very soon find yourself thero. Defendant: Why don't you send mo to gaol at onco ? Whon you havo taken all my traps and loft mo penniless, with a wife and nino childron, you could sond me thero for thirty-ono days. The Chairman : Can you keep yoursel quiet ? Dofendant: Wo aro all Englishmen, ain't wo ? And law is law. I havo been laid up for nine wooks, and can I bo quiot whon I havo had thirty-one days in Maidstone (laol for nothing ? Tho Chairman (emphatically): If you are not quiet I shall certainly commit you. Dofendant : If I don't open my mouth no one else will for me. Lot mo havo what I ought to have - justice.

Tho Chairman : Ifyou don't bo quiet you will havo to suffor for it.

Defendant: I havo suffered onco. and I can suff'or again. You wero all mombers of tho Board of Guardians who sat on the bench and sent mo to lha Maidstone Gaol for thirty ono days : prosecutors and judges too. Do you call that justice? I may as woll "do" six months for nothing as thiry-onc days for what I novor owed.

Mr McLood : Tho caso was adjourned in consequence of his boing out of work. Ho wont to work last Wodnosday woek, but his wifo would not toll mo whero. She sont mo 43, but I told hor I could not receive it, as tho cbec was in tho hands of the Court.

Defendant: She wont and borrowed 4a off her father to koop my fathor bocauso she thought I should go to Maidstono Gaol.

MrMcLood: lie has boon at work since last Wednesday bricklaying, but his wife would not toll mo what ho has bcon corning.

Dofomlant: I have mado 105 hours einco I was horo, a month ago to-day, and havo a wifo and nino childion to keop.

Tho Chairman : What doos ho earn ? Mr McLeod : lie is a bricklayer, and oarns 9d an hour.

Defendant : Whon I can pot it I can command fid an hour an a mechanic, but if I can't got work what am Itodo ? Thero aro thousand? of us starving. I would as lief be in Maids tone Oaol as out of it at tho present time. Yaii have had tho cose boforo you times out of number, and when 1 had not got a chair to sit upon you sont me to Maidftono Gaol for thirty-one days, and loft my wifo and nino children penniless.

Tho Chairman : I havo looked upon your oaso and dealt with it most leniently. When you wero not ablo to pay it was ad journed for a month, then it was adjourned for a second month, and now you como hero ami bohnvo yourself in this manner. I toll you, you are a diagruco tn tho class to. which you belong. Defendant: 1 have £0 to pay for back rout. What am I to do? I may just as well go to gaol.

Tho Chairman : You behavo yoursolf in such a way that I will send you to Maidstone Gaol for a month's hard labour.

Tho Deputy-Clerk : Havo you any ques turns to ask tim relioving-ollicor?

Pofendant: I havo nothing more to say, only that I havo a wife and nine children.

The Chairman : You stand committed to Mnidstono Gaol for a month, and tho noxt time you como here I hopo you will know how to behavo yourself. You aro a disgrace to your follow men. Defendant: Why? Bcoauso 1 speak tho tluthV la that tho reason why I am a disgrace ?

Tho Chairman : Yes

Tho defendant was then lemoved in custody ; but somo timo alter he again camo boforo tho magistrates, and, addressing the chairman, said i—What am I committed for ? I havo a wifo and nine children, and suroly you aro not going to tako me away from them again ? Tho Chairman : You should havo thought ot that boforo, instead of bohaving like a madman. As I havo already told you, I havo tried what I could to bring you to reason, and what havo 1 got for it ?—tho qua dians abused, tho law abused, and evei v pors'on abusod. As you havo chosen to dv this, and bring it upon yourself by your misconduct, you must boar tho effect of it and go to prison. Defendant (in a beseeching tono): But what for ?

Tho Chairman : Nover mind that; you will go to Maidatono (Jaol for a month. If you had behaved reasonably you would not havo had to go. Dofondant : Aro my family to starvo for anothor thirtyono day* aftor all that wo havo suil'ered ?

Tho Chairman : I will liavo no moro talk with you ; you aro committed for a month. Defendant: And you call thia English justice ? The Court then rose, and tho defondant was removed in custody in tho presonco of his wifo and daughter, who wore crying bitterly. At the 'rising of the Court Field's wifo had secured sufficient money to prevent hor husband being taken to prison. Of courao this fact does not bru.-h asido tho cruel soverity of tho bench.

Tho Dartford Liboral Club liold a meeting, at which a resolution was pn.-fi il calling for his immediatereloaso.andnsirnilarresolution was passed at a public mooting, nt which a small subscription was got up for the destituto wifo and children.

Mr Chamberlain has forwarded £5 to the fund being laisodby tho public; for tho man named Goorgo Field, who was fined by tho Dartford magistrates for neglecting tho support of his father. In the letter accompanying the remittanco Mr Chamberlain says" ho has road with groat indignation the proceedings, and says ho cannot doubt that tho Home Secretary will at once take steps to repair tho injustice that has been done. In tho meantime ho encloses a choque towards tho support of his family.