DRUNKARDSIN THE POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 14214, 13 November 1909, Page 1

DRUNKARDSIN THE POLICE COURT.

HOW JUDGE POLLARD DEALS WITH THEM. At the last session of (he International Congress on Alcoholism, held in the Imperial Institute on July 24, it will he remembered that the subject under consideration was ‘Alcoholism in the Eight, of the Study and Treatment of Inebriety by the State.’ In (his connection Judge William -Tell Pollard. 01 S(. Louis, who was present, as (lie olikially-appointcd representative of the United Stales Government, made a speech which excited very marked interest and appreciation from the fact, no doubt, that it was the Judge himself who was eloquently explaining his own fa mints way with police court diunkard. - -. This is what he said : “ I shall speak of the victim of intemperance who is not thoroughly poisoned by the virus of drink. I believe in reformation as against punishment, in ihe pledge parole for the vietinv. <;1 drink as ngainM the gaol, in protecting Hie innocent, helpless wife, mother, and children, instead of making them sufler for the d’linkennesr. cf the bread-winner, who, if incarcerated, tilings distress to those depending upon him. I shall net fo-.get Ihe poor habitual drunkard, who needs a physician am! mil a police judge. It hj 's la en said • jj L about as hopeless to line and im-■risen them into sobriety as to prosecute lu ia.;s into sanity and f,. H-contrd.' The sots should bo treated as their afilicHon demands, by being placed in car; of ph-- icians, or placid upo 1 a fsim uiiere tie.v can provide for tiic.ixeiv-.is and Improve ih'.lv condition. I i oAeve a Judge of a <o\m should txltnuFt every means io reform a victim I,l' dri - k before lie send) h ;, ,i to gaol. Sending him to g,;ol as a rule aids in his dev-tru- Hon, ana i."meutiv destroys the family ii;vle. ami t> . rufl'Ting upon the help!-'.-s r.::d triMl'e.-td v.hoc3 cause I advue:.tv. R t- rurelv a iicly cause to rjacak for Hr: wayward 'ami his innocent victim l , and especially in view of the fact that the tale of intoxicatin'' liquors is licensed nearly everywhere. In the Police Court of the'city of St. Louis, Missouri, United States, several years ago I began the plan of releasing these convicted on charger- of drunkennoci, 11 p 02

Uicir signing a. total abstinence honor pledge in open court, and requiring them to keep it or suffer the penalty. This plan gave the offender an opportunity to 'york out his own salvation and to reform himself, and gave the Slate a. wober and hotter citizen and protected an innocent family. 1 required the defendant lo reI'oil. to me a.t. my residence after working lours, and so acted as my own probation officer. ] was enabled ,hv I his plan to save 95 per cent, of those put on pledge paiole; if any of tins 95 per cent, returned to drink, (hey did it so adroitlv and moderately as i„ „ o t, again disturb the public; pence or that of their family, and m tins respect. I won a victory. Signing n ( J'. c . c B E ' p defendant is visible* evidence s Promise to lie a sober and better {1 17,011-.I 7,011- . ;in< us a moral stimulant and a h’gal restraint, because of the nunishhiei that will follow if the pledge is Token, ioi Ko court* | l;ivc , ns a . rule. .1 nisr irtion over cases of drunkenness a.nd lu.'tiv offences. Therefore wo should begin a ‘he hemmimg. T| lo effort to reform ic In -( offender should commence before he becomes a habitual drunkard or hardens ei inmial : for this reason I advocate salaried probation officers for all police TT., 'Judge T want to know more about the defendant than the mere charge on Dio docket, and to discover (lie moving cause his airest. and remove it it possible. I beg yon to advocate on vonr return home that (he less demoralised a.nd suchiened slaves of alcoholic excess should not no imprisoned. Imt rolcur'od on their Mgnim: a pledge not to drink, and he put, on probation for a. staled period." before the Congress separated move than drl^ ;,,p , s ' representing even- nation in Ihe civilised world, signed a declaration recording _ t heir recognition of the Pollard scheme in the statute law of Great. Britain. \ let or, a (Australia), and Vermont lU R t and recommending its adoption throughout tl '- T orW - 'Judge Pollard reeentlv reeened a eommnndatorv address front the temperance section imimhering over 100 members) of ti,e Swedish Legislature.