THE SEAMY SIDE.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16947, 9 November 1926, Page 4

THE SEAMY SIDE.

TALES TO MAGISTRATE IN NEW YORK. (By R. E. Corder who has gone to the United States to describe in London Daily Mail the seamy side of life e.s disclosed in the courts there). Recently I returned to the caged prisoners of the Tombs, New York’s chief police court, where the procedure would make Sir Charles Biron shudder. Uur senior magistrate is severo on mumbled evidence at Bow-street, but ten minutes of the Tombs would drive him to despair. The only way to hear evidence is to share the magistrate's bench or to stand behind the witness’s chair.

11. is :i common sight to see reporters pushing their way to the Pencil and holding a eoulidentiol talk with the magistrate. I have seen offenders tried and lined without hearing a single word of evidence, 'ihe system lias become so bureaucratic that justice is quite a contidonti.il affair between the magistrate, the lawyers, and the shorthand writer.

Policemen, chewing gum or tobacco frequently use slang in giving evidence. One recently rcinraked, “I got a smack in the ‘pug,’ ” translated by the district attorney into a ‘•inmeli in the face,” Seated beside the liridgeman, whose position is similar to that of the gaoler in British courts, 1 was fascinated by l.lic casual manner in which lie defied tlie law.

A notice is prominently displayed announcing a line of t'loo for expectorating on tin: Hour, in live minutes ttie bridgeman had made himself liable to a line of i'.'iOO, and as tie seemed able and willing to go up to £I,OOO 1 moved tlm chair away.

(iliiiK'inu: rnuii'l Ihe court I failed In see ;i single Anfrlo-Saxoii fare in I lie cosmopolitan collection of jlalkins, Creeks, Hebrews. Poles, and Irish —a babel in New York's Bow-street.

Prisoners continued to arrive in Ihe till "'0 rage ami Were permitled In sprawl anyhow. A well-dressed youth charged with forgery set with liis heail in iiis hands staring inio vacancy. Next him a typical Irish lrump pressed his nose against the wires and made faces at die policemen. A large Italian with bandaged head talked .morosely to himself and several drunkards, picked up by Hie patrol wagon, slumbered, Idissfuiiy unconscious of llieir ponding trim. police eoiir! lawyers here are not (i oltieienl hut mure aggressive Ilian ours. The complainants and 'the accused usually choose lawyers of their own naiionallly Jo iv|>re.-<mt them, and several conversations in ditforcnl languages were going ‘ n at IPe same lime. A si ranger would conclude on hearing a case ihat the magistrate, the district aitorney, and ;.u• lawyers were having a violeiil quarrel, iiul it is only (he customary procedure in New York police courts where rudeness spells eliicieney. in Hie absence of a responsible 11oIi<• o ol'iieial lo ruloree <iiscijipne as in Hrilish courls everybody does prelly mueli as lie likes. i voiing Italian machinist had a

dispute with his elderly Greek employer, who alleged that the Italian, through bad workmanship, had spoiled furs. The Greek could not speak English and said so. The Italian was also unable to express himself in English but thought he could. The Italian continued to exclaim “Scratch, kick, hitta da nose.” The Greek, through an interpreter, made a long oration during which he suggested the Italian should confine himself to selling peanuts as in two hours he had done more damage to l'urs than could he made good by months of profit. The case was dismissed the Italian retiring still reciting “Scratch, kick, hitta da nose.” Americans rightly pride themselves on cleanliness in preserving food and a policeman was very disgusted when he found a Pole using a dirty Icechest titled with contaminated butter and cheese. The Polo, who was fined oOs., said iiie collar had been flooded. The same disgusted policeman obtained a similar line against an Italian who had milk cans uncovered. The police arc very strict on maintaining clean food conditions. At this stage the bridgeman incurred another fIOO penalty. They seem to be shorS of official cuspidors in the Tombs.