The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy, March 1912: New Series No. 51Pennsylvania Prison Society
History
The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy, March 1912: New Series No. 51
Pennsylvania Prison Society
Charities -- Periodicals; Prisons -- Periodicals
No. 1.--A young man from Martinsburg, W. Va., arrested for being on the
streets without a home; the Magistrate held him for ten days to give me
an opportunity to look into the case. I learned that he had been from
home eighteen months. I wrote to his family and obtained his discharge.
He wrote on his arrival home:--
“My dear friend Mr. Pooley:--
“I arrived home safe last evening at 6.30 P. M., and was met by my
father at the station. My father, mother and sister welcomed me at
home and even my little dog also. I just arrived in time, thanks to
you, for my folks were about to move to Mexico City, Mexico.
“Thanking you for your great kindness to me,
“Very truly yours,”
No. 2.--A young man from New York left home without consent of his
relatives--found himself stranded in Philadelphia--was arrested and
given ten days in County Prison. I wrote to his mother, who came on to
this city and obtained his discharge.
No. 3.--Case of a woman arrested for spending her evenings in Broad
Street Station. I questioned her closely and found that because of an
unkind word with her sister, she left home and spent her evenings in
the Station, not having anywhere else to go. She told me who she was
and where her sister lived; I visited the sister, who was delighted to
know her sister was found. We obtained her discharge and she went home.
No. 4.--Two young men charged with larceny from a department store. At
the request of the Magistrate, I investigated the case and found the
young men were from New York City; at once a letter was sent to their
people; father came on; the charge was withdrawn; the boys discharged
and their father took them home.
No. 5.--A young man from Louisiana arrested for stealing; said he had
nothing to eat for three days; was committed for court; said he would
not disgrace his family as his father had a nice business in the South,
but he would not tell his address. During his conversation, he told
me his father came to Philadelphia twice a year to buy goods, and
mentioned one of the places where he bought them. I went to the place
he mentioned and found his father was then in the city; I left a note
asking him to meet me. He did so, and was deeply touched to learn where
his son was. He at once went to the prison and took an attorney with
him, and when the case came to court his son was discharged, and he
went home with his father.
No. 6.--A young man from Massachusetts charged with robbing, who told
me he had not written home for six years. I wrote to his father, who
was delighted to know that the lost son had been found. When the case
came to court, the young man was discharged and he went home with his
father.
The cases mentioned are only a few of the many, but they indicate
the character and importance of the work of the General Agent at The
Central Police Station.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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