The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy, January, 1863Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons
History
The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy, January, 1863
Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons
Charities -- Periodicals; Prisons -- Periodicals
She was then allowed to depart for a few days, at the end of which the
constable visited her, early one morning, and told her the bail was
about to give her up unless she would pay some more money. She gave him
all she had, a half-dollar, which she at the time actually needed to
get food for her children. He took it, but said it was not enough, and
he must, therefore, have her husband’s coat, which was hanging within
view. She gave him this, and he then further insisted on having some
breakfast, which she also gave him.
He left, but not long after returned, and declared she must go to
prison, as her bail would incur no further risk unless he received more
money. She replied that she had no more money to give; but, instead
of this, she gave him her husband’s pantaloons and drawers, which he
took, and thereupon insisted on having her husband’s razor and shaving
apparatus, which she gave him. He concluded his call by demanding his
dinner, which she also gave him, and he went away.
A few days subsequently, his brother-in-law (the bail) called, and told
her he was going to surrender her to be sent to prison, unless she
either gave him more money, or complied with certain infamous proposals
of his. The latter she promptly refused, with the remark that she
would not dishonor her husband and son, who were then enrolled for the
defence of their country.
He then left, and went to the alderman and had her sent to prison,
cruelly separating her from her sucking infant, who was left at home
with her other two young children, and no one else.
The Agent, on learning these atrocious facts, at once saw that the
prisoner was released on bail, and permitted to return home to her
family.
6. Another case was that of a woman, the mother of a large family of
little children, who was committed by one of our aldermen on the vague
charge of misdemeanor. Her husband is a soldier in the United States
Army. It seems that her landlord wished to remove her from the house
she tenanted in a summary manner, and he appears to have formed a
conspiracy with the prosecutor for this object. She refused to leave
till she got a remittance from her husband. A quarrel ensued, and the
prosecutor struck and beat her most shamefully. A proof of this was
that her person, when she entered the prison, was black and blue with
bruises. After the prosecutor had done this, he went to the alderman
and sued her on the charge above named. This he did to secure himself
from being prosecuted by her for assault and battery.
Let the community arise! Let our City Councils and our State
Legislature act, and perfect such legislation as will remedy this
crying evil, and rid our beautiful city, so distinguished for progress
in arts, science, and benevolent institutions, of this polluted sore.
C. C. L.
For the Prison Journal.
IMPRISONMENT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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