The New York Herald Newspaper, December 23, 1878, Page 5

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THE COUNTY OFFICES, Views of Lawyers on the Alleged Charging of Mlegal Fees. SOME CASES IN POINT. Mr, Gumbleton and Major Quincy Reply to Certain Questions. EXCESSIVE CHARGES DENIED. How “Skinflint Lawyers” May Help Them- selyes and Not Their Clients. Lawyers and politicians are still discussing the alleged abuses in the offices of the Sheriff, County Clerk aud Register. The interviews which follow may be accepted as representing such differing shades of opinion and assertion as really exist amoug them, and some instances of alleged illegal charging are also presented. A reporter of the Henazp called upon a member of the Bar Association, who was not averse to talking upon the subject which the committee have attempted to ventilate, but confessed an unwillingness to permit his name to be coupled with his printed state- ment, According to him the Register's and County Clerk’s offices were administered in a very irregular, not to say corrupt, manner, the Shrievalty exhibited # history of long continued extortion under succes- sive incumbents that was simply shocking. “It began a good many years ago,” said he, “‘and it seems inseparable from the office as it is constituted. Five or six years ago the Bar Association appointed a com- mittee, which made an investigation and reported strougly ayainst the illegal fees, The administration of the office, however, has gone right on in the same old way; the Sheriff has charged what he liked and has very seldom been reminded practically that the citizens of this Republic are supposed to be free- men. I know of one unfortunate man, @ client of mine, who made a default at the commence. ment of some proceedings, and before he got through with them and had procured # judgment the amount which he had paid to the Sheriff or his deputies was more than one and a half times that which he recov- ered. Once you get into their clutches, they ‘yank’ all the money you've got out of your pocket in less than no time. Suppose you are taken on an order of arrest and desire to procure a bail bond. ‘The legal charge is thirty-soven and a half conts, and they have been known to ask and receive as high as $22. The deputy charges $10, whether he renders @ny service or not. In the case alluded to above $11 ‘was the charge for the bail bond and $10 for looking up the bondsman, although the victim was accom- panied by him to the Sherift’s office. When he ar- rived there a demand was made for $21. ‘The deputy in the meantime had not stirred outside of the office. Here is the receipt for payment :— New Yors, Jano 10, 1878. Received of —— — twenty-one and ‘soventy-live-one hundredth dollars for bond, fee aud services rendered by James E. Hasson, WM. H. QUINCY.” A DEMAND FOR RESTITUTION UNHEFDED. The lawyer proceeded by saying that when he learned how his client had been imposed upon he wrote a formal demand upon the Sheriff for the resti- tution of the money in excess of the rightful perqui- sites, It was sent to him in June, but no reply was ever received.”” “Have you, personally, ever paid exorbitant fees to the Sheriff?” “have paid in excess of the legitimate fees. Of course lawyers will not submit to be coolly robbe: while their eyes are open. We pay him over and above what is fixed by law no more than we have a tiind to, and he must accept that, because he knows we have it in our power to drive him down to the mere legal fees, Still, it is necessary for us that there should exist, for the facilitation of pusiness, a good feeling toward us in the Sheriff's office. It can not be denied that the wages allowed to the deputies are utterly inadeq uate for the snpport of themselves or of their families. The whole of their compensa- tion is ten per cent of the Sheriff’s poundage and the levy fee. The rest of their livelihood they must grind out of the unfortunate person upon whose property they levy. The system amounts to nothing more nor less than the offering of a premium on extor- tion.” AN IMPULSE OF REFORM. “Can you give me any illustration of excessive charges having been made in the Register’s office ?” “Yes; there is an instance very apropos and quite Smusing. Some time ago I sent four deeds to the Register. It happened that they were exactly alike in phraseology and form and in the number of words ineach. Three were returned before the Bar Asso- ciation’s Committee had visited the Hall of Records and the fee was $220 apiece. After the committee had been there the fourth was returned, but the fee was only $1 75. The difference is twenty-two per cent.” “What do you know about the alleged irregularity in the County Clerk's office ?” “Well, Lhave a gool opinion of Gumbleton, gen, eraily speaking. He's a friend of mine, but I think that he has made a great mistake this time, He has been ill advised,”* Another lawyer, deeply concerned in real estate, Said that it had always seemed to him that too much was paid to the Register, but he had never examined the statutes to ascertain what were the fees allowed by law. For the record of an ordinary mortgage the charge had been from $2 75 to $3 25, according to its length. This was when, it was filled out upon @ printed form; but when the instrument was all in writing, as a trust deed, for instance, he had known the price to be as high as $10. “In the County Clerk's office,” continued he, “we have without ex- ception, during the past ten years, set the time when ei search should be finished and we have always paid an extra rate for it.” ILLEGAL DEMANDS, “Have you any complaint to make against tho Sheriff's office?” “Oh! That is unqnestionably the worst of them all. Every one knows that the extortions there are tra- | ditional. ‘They are so notorious that it isno use to enter into the details,” ‘Give a fow instances in your own practice.” “Well, a client of ours, a broker in Wall street, came into our office one day in a great hurry and said that he had been sued, and he feared it was too late to serve a notice of appearance upon the plainti, We told him he had until the next day in which to do it, and we sent it immediately. ‘Che answer was that we were too late, and although this Was false, the other side went on and took judgment. We caused it to be reopened, but in the meantime a deputy sheriff went down to our client's office with an exeention and demanted the sum of $100 to stay the pval of the furniture—$40 to be paid down imme- ly and $50 during the following week. He took fi not molesting the property from Saturday night until Monday morning. ‘The whole of the legal feces in the case was not over $26. A few days atter- ward a deputy again went to the office and threatened that it the other $50 was not paid immediately he would send down @ track and tear ont allof the fur- hiture, ‘The mouey was not paid and nothing more came of the matter. “In another case there were three defendants in a suit and judgments were obtained by default against two of them, but not against the third, who was our client and was perfectly responsible. Adeputy sheriff came to him in his liqnor store aud said, ‘Ihave an execution against you and unless you give me some money L will tear up your place.’ ‘Lhe barkeoper handed him something—I believe it was $25. The proprietor then came to me and was very mach alarmed for his property. T showed him that there was no judgment or execution against him and censured him for having yielded to the demand of the deputy. He was not threatened again, but never took any step to recover his mon “Tt may be a question how tar the Sheriff is sponsible for the actions of his deputies, but, as Lun derstand it, whatever monoy is obtained by them divide with him. he worst extortion of all, however, has not been touched upon at all, and that is in the Tax Office. For exch search there on a single lot the chargo is $12. It is simply outrageous.” A TEMPERATE VIKW, 2 Mr. Joseph O, Brown, of No. 7¢ Nassau etreet, is well known in the legal profession for his sturdy in- dependence of character, and he has never knowingly submitted to an extortion, Some years ago he was engaged in the Aight against illegal foes together with Fagar Ketcham and John Townshend. He spoke to the Hera.p reporter with entire frankness. “I have,” be said, “had several rows in the course of iy life with the Register. The fees were fixed before 1si0, They are all comparatively small, For record- ing a full covenant warrantee decd the charge is, I believe, about $145, On that basis Ido not think the Register could do business. ‘The law ought to be changed, Yon see, the Register is responsible for dil the mistakes which may be made by his assistants. For that reason, I suppose, he shares in the extra ings of the searchers. ch lawyer has his tavor- ne, and when he wishes a search inade he asks he be employed on it. ‘This favor is accorded his private nem Now, yer through him obtains in ten minutes information which would otherwise require a week of research the charges usually made do not seem to be too much. Clients always suy that they will not wait for an examination of title to take its course. The lawyers are thus sub- ject toa tremendous pressure, and they must get help to hurry forward such work. ‘They receive, and so do their clients in actual benefit, fourfold the sums which they pay for it. [am perfectly satistied at Ido to the Register, and my clients are Py y willing to incur the additional expense for the expedition which they desire. “In the County Clerk’s office lawyers pay the un- der searchers extra tees for quick searches. |For this practice their clients are responsible, because they will not wait. [have had no complaint against the County Clerk for the past ten years, and not more than three or four complaints during my twenty-five years of legal work, yerybody can make mistakes, you know, and I have always found the Clerk ready to correct ‘a bill and make any reasonable reduction whieh was suggested to him.’” “Do you favor any change in the organization of the county oftices ?” “L would make the County Clerk and the Register aldwied officers, to have tenure during good be- havior. I think $10,000 would then be suficient re- muneration per year for either position.” A prominent lawyer in Pine streot did not think that the Bar Associxtion would make much out of its investigation, “It is composed of very estimable young men,” said he with a smile, “but they are rather ‘tresh,’ that’s all, 1 have never had any trouble with the officers against whom the recent attacks have | been directed. Whenever anything seemed to me not right L have always gone to them und had a talk, and have found them willing to make ample concessions. Our aren lave always been satisfactorily ad- usted.”” jeeWiil these remarks apply to the Sherift’s office ?”” “Well, the Sheriff never gets less from me than he earns, I esteem Under Sheriff Cummings as a con- } seientious man and believe that he is thoroughl honest and fair. Whenever I have reason to thin! that some fevs are too high I put the case to him, He then cites before him the deputy who has made the exorbitant charge, and matters are talked over and adjusted. It always ends by my coming away well satisfied.”” “And in the County Clerk’s office—" ‘he charges are legs than they formerly were. They are sailing pretty close to the wind now.” INSURANCE MORTGAGES, In the law department of a great life insurance compatiy the reporter was shown several bills ren- dered by the Register and County Clerk, and in each of them the amounts charged were more than is tified by the explicit wording of the statutes. The price for recording a mortgage was $4, the legal fee tor which would be only $125. The record of a sat- isfaction pieve costs from $1 to.$1 25. The legal rato is twenty-tive cents. ‘The charges of the County Clerk,” said the chief solicitor, “are about fifty per cent, on an average, above what he is entitled to. Here is a bill which proves what I say. There, you see the total of the legal fees, $25. Now here is an item added. ‘Ex’ stands for ‘extra,’ and $12 50 is charged, exactly fifty percent of the first umount, making in all $37 50, These charges do not affect us. ‘hey come out of our borrowers, who are mostly poo? people, and it is a great shame that such an abuse should exist.” A real estate lawyer who does as large a business as any other in New York, said that it was not so much the specific and generally petty extortions in the Register’s and County Clerk’s offices that he objected to, but it was to the principle of the whole system by which t' their remuneration from the public. : id he, ‘has boen many times attacked by lawyers, but they have never taken any positive action about it, allowing the same abuses to continue year after year with only a passing pro- test now and then. ‘The whole thing ought to be r vised and put upon @ proper footing. As itis now there is great difficulty in ascertaining what the legal rates for the fees of these officers are. The statutes are a mass of conglomerate ambiguity, and the Clerk or the Register naturally says, ‘I will take all I can get.’ A bili should be passed by the Legislature reg- ulating the matter in accordance with the views of lawyers.”” «What changes would you have maae?”’ “Oh. Leannot be specific. I have not time. Both ‘ffie legal and the actual fees ave excessive. There is a tradition in the Register’s office which virtually we sedes, to some extent, the force of the statutes. Now, remember that ninety cents was paid for filing a cortificate of sutistaction over fitty years ago. ‘The legal allowance is only twenty-five cents. I do not think that the County Clerk has overcharged so much as the Register. Hardly one search in a hundred, you know, takes the regular course, ‘The majority | of scarches are hurried up and finished in two or three days. ‘The law allows twenty in the Register's office aud ten in the County Clerk's. For the extra work, when clients will not wait longer, it is right that there should be a greater compensation. “What becomes of the extra moneys?” “Part of it goes to the Clerk end part to the searcher. This is wrong, of course; it all should go to the latter.”’ AN AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT, A gentleman who was the Deputy Rogister in this city for a good many years and during two or three was sought by the reporter and the following w took place: “Lam informed that you have more data in your possession concerning the past and present admini: trution of the Register’s office than any one else.’ “Well, Lought to have, for I was in tact the Regis- ter. [had the full charge of the business and my superior was merely a figurehead. Why, as a pri- mury illustration of the fatness of that office, let me tell ‘you that, provided he may trust his deputy im- plicitly with his share of the fees, there is not the slightest necessity of his presence’ from one year’s eud to the ot He may as well, after he has taken the oath of instalment, take ship and go to the An- tipodes, Everything will go on as well without him, and when he comes back all he need do is to draw his money. The office takes care of itself. The deputy is Virtually the chief, and is actually the man- ” at do you believe are the profits of the office never haye been less than $69,000 or $70,000 ay r. “Do you think that the Register has a right to make any charges not explicitly provided ior in the statutes ?” “Most assuredly uot, There, for instance, is the seal of his office. In the year 18— a bill was prepared for the Legislature by the Register himself suthor- icing the use of a seal and the charging of twenty-five conts for its every impression. The bill was passed, but so amended that the clause allowing the fee of twenty-five cents for each impression was omitted. Now, mark you, from that day to this the Register has asked sapsnent of twenty-five ceuts for every im- pression made source of revenue alone amounts to more than $7,000 a year, and it is entirely illegal, I will tell you an incident which happened the other day.” A gentleman went to the Register’s office und presented a paper containing just tive pages, or two and 4 half folios. He was toid that the cost of copying would be thirty cents. ‘How so? he aske ‘there are only (wo end a half folios.’ ‘We never charge for less than & folio,’ was the reply. The gentleman was about to pay the amount when the Deputy Regis- ter sald, “There will be twenty-five cents besides for | the stamp.’ “here is no authority for any such | charge ia the statute,’ romarked the gentleman, ell,’ answered the Deputy Register, ‘I think it is worth twenty-five cents to stamp this document.’ ‘Then 1 pay the fifty-five cents under protest.’ So ented the colloquy. Li shows that the movement of I Association has aroused the public to some nse of its rights in this matter.” 0 you think that the legal fees of the Rogister's office Would be an adequate compensation tor the Register and his employés?” “Lo that question this will be a sufficient angwer. I was Deputy Register in that office for three terms, | and Lam ready to day to take it, charge only the feos which are authorized by law and pay into the elty ary $15,000 4 What would of compe ation ? “Well, I will give you the lowest possible estimate, ‘There are recorded every year in the offtve of the Keg- ister 23,000 papers. Out of the legal charges on those is aclear profit of $1 for each paper, or $33,000 he searches would bring in about $7.00, alaries of subordinates and other expenses $11,000 will suffice, leaving for the personal income of the Register from his office $29,000."" INSIDE TAL CLERK'S OFFICR. An ex-official, who is familiar with the interior management of the County Clerk's oftice, said: —"The illegal emoluments there ure far greater than thoxe in the Register’s office, They are at least double the legitimate fees. There are 9,000 searches which an industrious man can get hold of in this ip 4 and on them will be found the charges for the alleged labor performed. It 4% regular enstom to itemize the alfees and then to add about fitty por cent for extra compensation, In 1867 @ law was passed in the Legislature making all judgments to the Building Department ot the city and county of New York liens upon the property concerned. Now, under this law, nothing has ever been carried to the courts. There have been no such judgments. Nevertheless, in every seurch that is made, it is pretended that an ‘ansafe building lien’ exists, and, without open- tng ® book of record, the Cofinty Clerk's deputics charge for it the sum of one dollar, and ten cents in addition to the compensation for actual liens and encumbrances.” MAJOR QUINCY’# STATEMENT, Major William H. Quincy, the order-of-arrest elork, delivered himself freely’ wpon the imputations thrown upon the administration of the Sheriff's of- fice. He was asked: — “Can you give me the names of the lawyers who, as you assert, made an agreement to pay $LL 76 tor taking bail for a prisoner, instead of the thirty-seven and a half ts allowed by law?” “Oh, all the lawyers have been doing so for the past six years, Before Conner’s time they paid, 1 believe, int he nt not stated that certain lawyers en- tered into evieh an agreement? T would bike to learn wh they were.’ Anagreement? No, I never enid that. I only said that the lawyers gonerally had countenanced the payment of $14 75 for each bail bond,” Do you not consider that this is excessive 7 “No, Lf the prisoner's counsel presents an aps office be worth at the legal rates ¢ upon a document with that seal. ‘This | | a level in the Catholic church, which retains its hold proved bond there is no charge. But before justifi- cation the Sheriff is respousible for the amount of the bond, and $11 75 isa very small sum indeed in pensation for such a risk, ‘The statute which the fee at thirty-seven and a half cents implies the bond shall be approved.” ‘But it docs not say so.” jvanted that it docs not. It was never meant that for thirty-seven and a half cents the Sheriff should take the responsibility of a bond of thousands and thousands of dollars for twenty or thirty days. If the Sheriff refuses to ept bail until a bondsinan justifies tho bail then he will have to go to jail, The other day farrested 4 man, and after releasing him sent a copy of the bail bond’ to the plaintiff's attorneys. ‘They returned it as worthless. Their inaniries had n amore thorough than mine. I rearrested the man; but suppose that I could not have found him. I would haye been muleted for $500.”" “Ig theTe any charge on the simple execution of an order of arrest? “There is no jeg fee and we charge none. After a man is arrested if any service is rendered him he pays for it; if not, it costs him nothing.” The reporter showed to Mr. Quincy the receipt pur- porting to be signed by him for $21 75 for ‘*bail bond and services rendered by James B. Hasson.” He said:— “Tnever signe’ that receipt. My deputies never sign receipts. I have never deianded any moneyfrom a prisoner, nor have Lever rendered a bill of charges.” “Did you receive a letter from the attorneys of this man asking restitution of the exvess of the legal fee in this case?’ “I never received it. When snch letters come here they are always promptly attended to. In each in- stance in which a complaint has been made we have refunded the money, excepting part of it as they have been willing for us to keep. We say to them, ‘Pay us whatever is reasonable.” IT have never re- evived four such complaints in my life. Sometimes askinflint lawyer will ask for the return of money onthe very next day after it has been paid by his client, and when he gcts it it always gocs into his own pocket, Iemphatically deny that any man over paid into this office more money than was returned to him if it was shown by him that it constituted an illegal fee, I do not suppose that $250,000 would cover the responsibility which rests on’ mo to-day Decause of the ueceptance of unapproved bonds. T have got this month to pay abont $1,400 to the county for escapes and non-justification of bail bonds, Each of the three men whom I recently discharged had permitted a prisoner to get aw: Escapes are merely incidental to the most careful performance of the duties of this place.” Deputy Sheriff Hasson was shown the receipt in which his name appears and was asked if he had written it. “Ldo not remember the case at all. clerks may have written out the receipt.” “Did you write i “1 don't know whether I did or not.” “Are youin the habit of giving receipts for the money which is paid to you?” “If 4 man asked me for a receipt for any money he has paid to me I would give it to him.” “Does Mr. Quincy ever sign receipts of that sort?” “TI do not know that he does.” COUNTY CLERK GUMBLETON. County Clerk Gumbleton informed the reporter that when searches are completed before the expira tion of the time allowed by law the extraordinary charges are made for work done at unusual hours by the searcher, “Does the searcher receive all of the additional compensation ?"’ “No, he does not.’”* “Does the County Clerk receive part-of it?” “He does. SOCIALISM IN AMERICA. One of the THE QUESTION VIEWED FROM A CHRISTIAN STANDPOINT BY THE REY. DR, HITCHCOCK— THE PEW SYSTEM CONDEMNED. Every seat was filled last evening in the Rev. Dr. Cuyler’s Church, Lafayette avenue, Brooklyn, where the Rev. Roswell D. Hitchcock, D. D., delivered a dis- course on “Socialism in America.’” “I have not come,” said the speaker, “to give at- tention to the secular so much as to the religious phase of this question. It is that which concerns us more and more. Thirty years ago I was in Paris in a terrible period of that city’s history. Louis Philippe had been driven ont and the republic of Lamartine set up. The atmosphere of the whole of Europe was filled with the echoes of that revolution. Presently the streets of Paris were black with masses of people. It was an insurrection of labor lesping like a tiger at the throat of capital. Then camo the man on horseback. Cavaignae and I were there when the order was given to fire on the infuriated masses, ‘This was the logical result of the teaching of Louis Blane and other socialist writers, who fired the labor element with the idea that society owed labor an opportunity, and laid down the false principles in political economy which were simply an interfer. ence with the law of supply and demand. As @ consequence the whole scheme fell to pieces, and the masses, maddened to des- peration, flew at the throat of capital. On every building were the words, “Liberty, Equality, Fra- big apes simply meaning, as we understand it, license, and equality a levelling down. In- telligent Frenchmen, awed by this reign of terror, discussed the situation and resolved that the Empire should be restored to rescue France. That; country has been cured of Com- munism, she is becoming Christian, and within half acentury will be largely Protestant. Her peasant proprietary only need the light of the Gos- pel. Communisin, however, is rearing its head in other countries, notably in Germany. Bismarck, who possesses the greatest mind in Europe, has made the stupendous mistake of meeting the evil by re- pression. So in Russia are the Nihilists mot by stern repressive measures. This is little short of mad- ness. In Denmark, where a reaction toward the abso- lutism of the feudal ages was threatened, there is a loud outery against retrogression, but it’ is different in Germany. Articles, Inspired ‘no doubt by Bis- murck, are continually published in official journals favoring a return to the feudalism of the Middle Ages. But it is impossible. These men are sowing dragons’ teeth, and from the cast to the west of Europe there will arise crops of armed men. NOT AN INSTITUTION FOR AMERICA, Here, in our country, socialism has also reared its head. ‘It is not in accord with the spirit of onr insti- tutions, and let it bo well understood that if labor raises the hand of violence force will be met sy force, and 2,000,000 of farmers as well as others own- ing property wil! know how to stand on their own acres, Peace, order, family and persona! property will be taken care of. But we cannot have peace till we grapple with this estion as Christian men. Hero is the poor man’s ible. Christianity is a democratic religion. There are 500,000,000 of Buddhists in the world and 160,000,000 'Hindoos or Brahmins--that is the former constitute forty per cent of the hu- man ruce—and Buddhism is driving Brahmin- ism to the wall because the former is democratic. The Hindoos constitute a religion of caste poisoned by aristocracy. If I were an agitator and desired to make mischief I would hoist not the infidel but the Christian flag—the flag of demoer the red flag. The Bible is full of cheer for’ the poor and full of denunciations for the aristocracy. A more democratic gospel was never preached than in the Middle Ayes, even though you may call it the Modimval Roman Catholic Church, which had always to that period stood with the masses against pshors, But after the Reformation things were changed and the Roman clergy gradually linked them- selves in league monarchies and aristocracy. TENDE Are we not Taising fine churches in. this countr Masses Who constitute the two-thirds of society? It is not the fault of the Bible. ‘The Protestant gospel is degenerating and {have for some time viewed this with alarm. Don't tell me that preaching is too good for anybody; it may be too fine, and, for my part, I don’t want it fine, The plainer the Gospel the better. Religion is simply the act of living well, and every man can understand that. Pews never became com- mon till the year 1650, They aro not to be found in the great Catholic cathedrals of Europe, that have existed since the Middle Ages. All are 0! to shut out the on the masses by such democrac Don't you think the Protestant churches are losing by their pew system? The poor cannnot afford to come and pay the rent. What shall be done? Let those who oc- cupy the pews in the morning throw them open to the masses in the afternoon, Bring the light of the gospel into cellars and touch the heart, and the poor will follow you anywhere as a benefactor, even to a Protestant church, TAR RELATION OF CARISTIANITY TO SOCIALISM— LECTURE BY DR, RYLANCE, “Tho Relation of Christianity to Soctalism” ws the subject of the lecture delivered last evening by the Rev. Dr. Rylance in St. Mark's Church. Jt was one of aseries of lectures on social questions which have been delivered on the lust fow Sundays by the reverend gentleman. ‘There was a larger number of persons present last evening than usnal, and the in- terest awakened by previous lectures was well ana- tained. After his custom the lecturer chose a text from the Bible, taking Matthew, xxiii, 8, saying that he preferred to call it a motto:—‘One is your master, even Christ; but all ye are brethren.” It is not in @ logical sequence of the other lectures that Ispenk to-night, he said, but itis proper for a Christian teacher to teach the attitude of Christianity toward socialism. It is diMecult, for different rea- sons, to do this. Socialiem is differently defined. Put in general terms Christianity may be said to be friendly tosocialism, Christianity, however, has little to offer in the shape of political arrangements. Jesus accepted the authority of those who sat in Moses’ seat and also the Roman authority, while His disciples counselled submission to those who wield the sword. Tho actommodating spirit of Christianity toward the political arrangements of the time was necessary. Christianity was obliged to submit. Imagine if the primitive Christians, hav. ing heard of the schemo of Plato's republic, had NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1878—TRIPLE SHEET, tried to fored its universal adoption. Would not Christianity have soon ceased to trouble the world! Christianity works only by the higher motives of the mind, Therefore it showed no partiality for any government; much less did it originate any. What it does say is said incidentally. Its moral truths have an important bearing on social subjects. ‘Lhe fourth chapter of Acts seems to teach that commun- ism was the ordained form of Christian government. The lecturer then read the well known passage, saying that it seemed to be organized communism. 1 venture to affirm, however, that there was mo. sttch organization, ‘This was a special consequence of special circumstances, and was not meant to be of gen- eral and permanent character. ‘The men and women on Whose heads the fire descended were in no fit state of mind to found a permanent system. It {s thought that the spirit of Christ would render, such @ system possible, but is it not strange that none of Jesus’ words hinted a disapproval of private wealth? The greatest and most fearless preacher of Christianity regarded society in its structural clements at least as proper. He taught all classes, but disapproved of none as clusses. Paul gave tithes for the support of a suffering church, and so far we have communism, but this was aid asked for aud gratefully ackowledged. CHRISTIANITY NOT A POLITICAL FORCE, Christianity had something more imporiant to do than to amend the social and political arrangements ofthe world, We believe that the communisia of the Pentecost never meant to be a edent for any universal ngement of society. ‘Poatovar tends to the elevation aud benetit of mankind is in accord with Christianity in that respect. The great truths of Christianity are always available as arguments in favor of attempts to make the brotherhood of man a redlity. Auy form of government may best serve divine ends in different stages of a peoplo’s progress. As to government or revolution or changes Chritian- ity has nothing to say, but it has much to say of what man owes to ot It concedes nothing to or status. It recognizes the necessity of government, but does not insist on a type. It incnleates prayers for rulers, whatever their titles. Thold that the vialisma of to-day Las many claims on our regurd, in so far as it works for the brother- hood of men, Yet Christians generally look on socialism with at least jealousy and fear, while socialists gencrally discard Christianity. What will be the end, who can tell? The devout will g on, I suppose, singing pious little ditties in their tubernacles and looking on_ the masses of people outside as destined damnation, while those masses will grow greater by da; until you Christians change your attitude. Your ablest apologists cannot conceal the wrong you do. One danger is the con- founding of Christianity with ecclesiasticism. ‘The latter is too otten afrand ora tyranny. The fearful arraignment of it in Lecky’s “Histoty of Ration- alisin”’ is enough to make any one tremble who has to speak for the Church. ‘oo often fearful wrong has been wrought by those in ecclesiastical authority and Christianity has been charged too often with their crimes. You may say this betrays a lack of discrim- ination. Itimay be; but these crimes have too often filled men with hot anger, and the lack of discrimina- tion is not confined to the ignorant. Dr. Rylance then quoted several passages from modern books arraigning the Church and said that such things were traceable to the confounding of Christianity and ecclesiasticism. Men and women who stru, live, and who are torced to ask ugly estions as to whether the relations of li ordere as they should be, have been alienated from a re- ligion that tells them to be content. I have heard a preacher, learned and good, tell a congregation of paupers that they were blessed in being poor, that they could give thought to religion. It is such stiff from pulpits or disseminated in tracts that alicnates the people fromthe Church, hey say, “Oh, yes, your religion is good enough for silks and satins, but it doesn’t do for the poor.” It Lhave taught Christians anything of their duties in this relation in the lectures I now conclude I shall not have spent my strength in vain, to , FRENCH AND GERMAN SOCIALISTS. At the weekly conference of the French section of the socialistic labor party, held in West Houston street last evening, M. Finiel alluded to tho terrible condition of the laboring classes in England, and attributed it to the absence of a social equilibrium, which was still worse on the Con- tinent of Europe. There, he said, the principal labor now performed is the making of guns and casting of cannons, all for purposes of destruc- tion and not for production. Referring to the state of labor in this country the speaker found fault with the contract system of th said that the work there done prisons and by criminals came into sharp competition with the labor of honest workingmen. If prisoners had to be kept busy they should be put to work and cul- tivate the lauds ot the West, where they would not enter into competition with ordinary labor. A lead- ing feature of the exercises of the evening was the reading by M. Poictier of along rench poem eulo- gistic of Communisin and its defenders. It is understood that efforts have been made by Socialists of this city to induce all those expelled from ¢ermany to remain in England, as it is claimed that there is but little work for them hero; while, by engaging in some employmeut in England, they wiil be nearer the scene of operations whenever their po- litical services may be required in their own country. MADMAN OR INTERNA'TIONALIST ? A NATIVE OF FRAN THREATENS TO KILL QUEEN VICTORIA+-HE IS LOCKED UP. {From the Dublin Irish Mail.) Considerable excitement was caused in London on December 12 by the announcement that a man was in custody on a charge of threatening the life of the Queen, ‘he statement proved to be true, but there is this redeeming feature in connection with the matter, that persons who are best acquainted with the accused alieye that he is of unsound mind, and consider his letters as nothing more than irrespon- sible threats, The prisoner is named Edward Byrne Madden, aged fifty-six, who gives his address as No. 19 Duke street, Aldgate, London. It seems that he is the son of Irish parents, but that he was born in France. That the accused is well educated is shown by the fact that he speaks English without any broken accent, while his knowledge of French and German is complete. His first advent in London to tho knowledge of anyone dates from last autumn, and at that time he stayed at the house in Aldgate above mentioned, For a long time it was considered that he was not responsible for his actions, and at length the relieving officer of the district came to the house and removed him to the infirmary of the workhouse, with a view of his being confined in the workhouse lunatic wards. This seems to have been done, bat after some time the — pris- oner went to France, and it was in that country that he seems to have mado up his mind to threaten to do an injury to Her Ma- jesty, as his first letter is directed to the British Am- bassador in Paris, Lord Lyons,'and is dated in May last. Nothing more seems to have come of this as- sertion, save & communication to the Foreign Oftice by Lord Lyons, until a few days ago, when the pris- oner, who had ‘arrived in England, took upon him- to write to A. P.O. Liddell, Permanent Under retary to the Home Department. In this letter, which was duly signed by himself and dated from bis | lodgings, Dake street, he declared bis intention to shoot Her Majesty. THE LETTERS. Mr. Liddell exhibited this communication to the Home Secretary, Mr. Cross, and as a result the police at Scotland Yard were communicated with. ‘The case was put in the hands of Chief Superintendent Wil- Mamson, who at once issued orders for a thorough in¥estigation of the antecedents of Madden, while precantions were tuken, for fear that the charge should be more than idie govsip, for protecting the person of Her Majesty by doubling the pohve force at Windsor Castle. At first the authorities were of opinion that no reliance contd be placed upon the statements of Madden, who it was discovered had for the past twenty years been in an un- wound state of mind, who had threatened to commit suicide, and who had more than once been = placed under —_ restraint. Considerable coloring was given to the threats in the possession of the police from the fact that when Her Majesty was passing through an intermediate station on het way from Scotland’ to Windsor report of a pistol was heard, Whether there was any intention of firing at the royal carriage or not of course docs not appear, but the fact of a discharge being heard lends consid- erable importance to the charge now laid against the prisoner. Those who haye seen tho letters, some of which are in French and the others in English, state that in them there wis adirect threat of violence against the person of Her Majosty. THE PRISONER, prisoner, when apprehended and charged with the offence, suid in reply to the accusation that the letter he first wrote on subject was in the French language, but he would not yvouchsae any further information to the officers. Inspector Butcher aud the staff from the Criminal Investigation Department aro endeavoring to ascertain whether the accused had any accomplices, but nothing has Ween elicited criminating other persons, and it is believed t! the prisoner acted on his own responsibility, The ac- cused was brought before Sir J. Ingram, charged with “feloniously sending « threatening letter to A. F. O. Liddell, threatening to shoot Her Majesty the Queen.” No one appeared to conduct the ease for the Treasury, and the prisoner, who has a care- worn appearance, and looks quite his le, sixty yours, was not represented by counsel, Tho case was conducted by Chief Superintendent Williamson, of Scotland Yard, bat the proceedings lasted only a few minutes. Sir James Ingram suid it would be desitable to have the letters read by a professional interpreter, in accordance with the wnsual practice ot the court, avd he should remand the prisoner for a Woek for that purpose. The thrrat was naderetood to be a demand tor inoney of 8 visit to, Balmoral, to “change the form ot government.” During the period which will elapse prior to his further examina- tion every effort will bo made to discover whether he has accomplices, or whether, a8 those he has asso- ciated with him declare, ho is of weak intellect, and is uot resgonsible fol his actions, A COTIETS PROMISE Charlie Fisher's Wretched Life of | Nineieen Years, HIS MOTHER'S APPEAL Touching Letters Written On Her | Deathbed in Germany. REFORMED AT LAST. Starving, But Steadfast, He Finds a Friend in Justice Otterbourg. It is written that heaven rejoices over the peni- tence of one sinner and that angels glorify Him who gave redemption to the world. All men, even the worst, aro filled with satisfaction when they hear that some oue hitherto deemed irreclaimable has done something noble; for human nature, weak though it may be, is not altogether bad. It has chords that can be touched by goodness and im- pulses that can be awakened by generosity. So, therefore, hundreds of hearts will beat quicker and many eyes weil tears over the following recital of a mother's love and her erring son’s repentance :— One Saturday morning about two weeks ago a youth, tall and taciturn, stood in rage before Judge Otterbourg at Jefferson Market Police Court. The charge against the prisoner wax simply stated by the ofticer who had arrested him. His name was Charles Fisher, He was an ex-convict, only two months down from Sing Sing, and he had jusst committed an- other illegal act—he had smashed a.pane of glass on Broadway on the previous night. ‘xs the business of the court was heavy that morning the officers, who regarded the case as one of ordinary interest, hurried Fisher before the Judge and expected that he would be disposed of immediately. The inmgistrate exam- ined the complaint against the youth and, raising his eyes, scanned himefrom top to toe sharply. “You broke a glass,eh?” observed the Judge, look- ing straight at Fisherover his spectaclas. “T did, sir,” Why did you dovit 2” I might be-arrested.” “What did yourwant to be arrested for?” “I was starving to death, and could get neither work nor food.” “You're anex-convict; why didn’t youssteal?” “Because Lpromised my mother, whovis dead, that when I got out of Sing Sing I would lead an honest life, and never steal again.” ‘To putit mildly, the Court was silemred for the moment. “What do you want me todo with you?’tthe-magis- trate asked in a low tone, taking off his espectacles and leaning over-the desk. “Give me a plave to sleep and-some food,’* : All this was said by the prisoner in a cast-iron sortof way. ‘There was no acting or attempt-to conceal emotion. In fact no emotion was visible. He wis sent:into the Jefferson Market prison,His confession taken, and he became the ward of .the Commissioners of Charities and Correction, A PROBLEM TO BE SQLVED. Judge Otterbourg left the bench next day, for the ensuing weck was his own. So Charles Fisher went down in the abyss that yawns for the reception of criminals at the bar of the police court and waa for- gotten by all but the magistrate. On the following Monday a Heratp reporter was sa#untering through the prison when he saw Judge Otterbourg m earnest conversation with Fisher. Keeper McDermott stood by and heard what was going forward. The Judge related it to the Henatb reporter-afterward. “Now, Fisher,” said the magtetrate, “‘‘you-told me on Saturday that in consequencesof a promite given to your dying mother you would. not steal, but pre- ferring to starve had almost @one so when despair drove you to break that glass and throw yourself once more into the hands offthe police. Is this really true?” “It is, Your Honor.” ‘an you prove this tome?’ “Tecan.” “Howt” “I have letters from folks at my last boarding or lodging place, in Pitt street. They are ina box, tied together, and if T can only get them they will tell you all you want to know aout me.” “Write for them and have-them sent to me.”’ “f have no money to purchase paper or stamp.”* The Judge took out a two dollar bill to give him.. After he handed it to Fisher he remembered that the young fellow was not a prisoner. He was simply self-committed to the Commassioners of Charity. “Why cannot this chapgo out and bring the let- ters and proofs of his trugéhfulness himself?’ said the magistrate to the keepersin a whisper. “He's got your $2 now,"**replicd the latter, “and imight not return.” “That shall be the test,” hastily rejoined the Judge. Then turning to Fisher, he added, “I'll let you go for th x with you and bring back your box.” Not another word passed between the parties that day. Charles Fisher went to Pitt street, brought Ins letters buck and gave himselt-up to the keepers at the prison again. He did not see Judge Otterbourg for two days, When he did he turned over to him the package of old epistles, stained by tears and time, and , rendered an account of what he had-done with the , money tutrusted to him. HIS OWN ACCOUNT OF HIMSEEW. During the two weeks which have elapsed since: that time the man has been working hard in the prison and the Judge has been investigating his state- ments with a view to ascertaining whether lie ts really penitent or only shamming for base purposes. The first step taken was to read the correspondence and inquire into the early history-of the subject. The Judge accordingly sent for btm andasked him to write a brief «ketch of his carcen, and healid #0, stick- ing vuly to those things which would paint him in his true colors and teceive nobody-with daims to good qualities which might be fovwsl wanting in him hereafter, Here is what ho penmed for Judge Otter- boarg:— NewYork, Dec. 18, 1878. Twas requested by a gantleman togive w brief history of iny life. F wax born areh, TA in Germany. When nt to a public schoal, and remained When 1 was seven yoats of age my When { left the public Iny father busine in w Latin fehool. Twas there years, and whilo 1 was there I wax bo t with about sixty others, every day we used to get a pint of al months before [ was able to drink two quarts in as many hears, [only remarked this to let you Detter afterward that knew how to spend mc man three times my are T made iy exami Ahighor class in 1870, but T failed, being Into: night before | made it her would not at depeat the clas Wealthy as thowe ‘oluners. grandfather jwactived as county doctor and there L wout every Sunday agd stole $ or $8 from hint avery tite. Twas not found oe forn your and a half, whou T was detected wt hast (th ist scool was’ just ended) and sent home to my from the school my father, who gave me oa sound — thrashing and locked me up for some weeks in my room, Whyin TL stole from futher Estwle for the fest time, My fathor friend of his, a wholesale druglat. There s who had been my forimor eoupanions. ip iny repatution as a tust bog. and 7 not do it with my allowance of pocket money. Thad raudfathor to steal from now, but bad + an othor way to get it, A part ol my werk was to deliver and receive the nail. I cashed different money ordars, tho wwount always being betwoen $20 aud $50, Twas distected After two months’ scealing and sont home to myyfacher. Whon L arrived at home I wax astonished to see my thor s face cali, bat icy. Next day he told mo that T wan guing to the United wichough \e1 mast of my Felativ t re dy fer departure he too daar otadhip. He gave me $29) did wot take tof out those free and assy places along the Bower sat atroot, The {nitancesf thiares— tenales y le with them, bat until my arroat and convicsion tm the Heuse of Refage stopped it rather saddeniy, Atter ving ono and a hall youre was dischargod.. Waving behaved mypele very badiy | had quite « repdtation among the young thieves of New York, Lwasouconly simonth aed 1 con monced the old carcer over again. “T etoile mteaitily from Detober, IN and vot along Brst rate On thé Mil of October, | ISTH wee nrroted for grand larceny, pleaded guilly and, was son tenced to Stace Prison for two and « ‘hmlf years. T took it ts easy as any man roma inke it, “Bho first fo months T hohaved nirsel( BAAS, Welng partatiod no le than fire times in three months. When L roapived latte from home and heard that my mother was dying LW wacching for opporty nition to escape, but the r had Tis eye an ine. juaily on Account of MF bad behavior, My mother béeged me to lead an honest hfe Bpromised her to do so, and T meant it at the time T made it, and £ moan it yor. My mother bereed my fatter to take me home after 1 had. served my term. When I was discharged from Sing Sing Prise fath Trad not he mo 5 s @ references, and it would never do to show! pe I was discharged on the [1th of nd L have dived on bread and a cup of coffee oncm ‘A while, watil 1 caine here. My object. of getting. ar rested was to get a place to stay until 1 could get relie® from Is mother after that she spi imothér hag BLES FISHER, LETIRNS FROM HOME This doenment as well as the letters which the boy had received were corroborated by the investigation made » Otterbourg. Indeed, it was learned, nduet had been se good in State Prison. after his mother’s first letter to him that his sentenca had been commuted to two yeurs instead of two and, ahalf. The young man was sent tor to call upon the magistrate, by whom he was received the oi day in his private ro “Read those letters for me,” said the Judge, hand- iny Lim his mother’s and father's letters. Fisher took them up and with tremulous voica read in beautiful German what is here translated My Dean Sox—Your lottor with the news of your convir~ tion to State Prison has pained me very much. Yor it Urings comfort with (t, too, in thut it tells me you are alive. and well. Teaunot describe to you, my darling boy, how E suffered with anxiety and suspense because you had u tten ty me during fifteon months, You say in your letter to me that you long forme. My darling sou! Take age, doar, A man who loves bis nother still, no matter ne has fa eeply he hus sinned, fs not lost wy son! follow the better in- I lead an honest, upright life nment bas ‘expired your father is to send w home. ‘Try to remem. * ber that you ¢ respect Later on she wrote to him (he was still in prison): My BrLoveo Boy—f am too feeble to write you a long: letter, day, ay [may ‘od alone, My only more and to clasp darling child! 1 b ex you, L n honor. r father promise me, in the event of iy doath before your release, to take you home aud havo you taught a trade. Oh, my ‘sont my, best beloved! om my bended knees 1 beseceh you to become ht again. Tadjure you not to disgrace your mother ‘ave, Hour me! sister are very mueh attached to yon, Whe ath rdered you a, to lend a My boy. and when I am desd I pray T may be re- inisery T now endure. send thousands of kisses and blessings to OUR LOVING MOTHER, ou. Avnet 15, 1877. HS PY i ‘Yo this letter C it back an answer in which he solemnly promised never to steal again while he lived, Then on the 12th of May, just betore she died, she wrote him another letter, which is thus trans- lated :— My Dearty Becoven Cniip—T will not live lon am sure you on earth again, ure free Ls you the following words of irewsure up in your heart. sh'the extravagance af your father our cireumsta: evory much altered for It seems to me that he is not satistied unless be beggars us altogether, Moreover, he treats me and his other children most bratally, O8, L shall rejoice when death releases me trem my inisery! When you regain your liberty write to your fat ome home. ff he does not keep his promise, th your grandfather. I will give him a sum of money which [hive saved for you by sorely pinching ourselves. “It grieves me to have to tell and warh you, my son, that you need not rely upon your father. He bias no sympat ity for you, Al the money you have ever received froin hoine came from me. L would hot desert or forget my erring boy. Oh, my darling? are yor still worthy of such love? Have you any love or feeling lor me? Tmost solemnly command’ and beseech you here on my honest man, If you will not do it for wn, When your sentence own hands.” You ean be- rage and perseverance. If riues you will fall step by step: Make it the aim of your lite good name, Oh! there is time yet to do so, Y tis young and not hardened, Lam certain, Be- vin life anew. Be ho Try to re 1 what you learned in your childhood. Refresh your former studies. Recall as much of them as you ean and be brave. You und your brother must build up your futures. Grand= father will take caro that you have something to start with, 1 always enough money to pay postage to your or do you eurn it by over work? How your last let gladdened my heart! T only wished that it was longer and less zloomy. Be of good chver, my darling, and promis me tobe honest. Ldream whole nights about you. Last night I dreamed that you were being punished and I woke with acry. Lweptall night and slept no more, Lnpro your character duily, I pray yon. YOUR LOVING MOTHER. May 12,1877. Once more the captive boy wrote from his prison. on the Hudson to that dying mother his solemn pledge that never, never, so long as he lived, would he steal again. The letter may or may not hava reached her. His first promise she received—this she did not; hence in his eyes it is more than sacred, Shortly after this second letter was despatched Fisher received a letter from his father, telling him that his mother was dead and that he had been her only sor- row and solicitude during her last illness. Further down in this same communication the father cast hin owSand upbraided him for his folly. ‘a word of kinUiess came to encourage the poor boy prisoner in his‘Joneliness and bereavement. Subsequent let- ters frcw the youth’s brother and sister told hing that his father was not going to take him home or fulfil the promise made to the dying woman, LEADING TO CRIME. ‘The trials aM dificulties of him who would reform were related yeterday by the prisoner to the Herarp reporter, Judge Qtterbourg and » number of other gentlemen who arddecply interested in his fate. Phere are many Shivgs, geutlemen,” said the stal~ wart young fellow to the assemblage, “not mentioned in my briet account of ymy guilty career which I may tell you. After 1 had bven sent to the House of Ret- uge in '74 by Judge Gildersieeve I made the acquaint- ance of persons, some of whom I have met in every thieves’ den and prison in which I have been since. They met and hailed me as one of them at every turn. There was no escape for a weak-minded boy from a@ life of villany. Theve is no use in talking about it. Not a boy goes to the House of Refuge who does not not come out werse than he went in. The discipline is wrong. Not a moan, from superintenaent down, can punish a refractory inmate without show- ing temper. It is him, not the law of right, thas the delinquent feels he has offended, for which there- fore he ia punished. This doesn’t help the iguorant. Every one that goes to the Refuge had not the same advantages ot education that I had. left the place finally with 4 Mr. Nufer, who had received $150 tor me from my folks at home, and told the superintend~ ent that he could get me work outside if I were re- leased. I went forth with him and was placed in a aper factory at $5 a week NS pee left to myself. ‘ork only lasted ten days and I was idle. Isought out my former companions and frequented the old. haunts in the Bowery and Chatham .street. I joined the gang, over which one man ruled Like aking. Ha does now, too.” “What's his name?” asked one of the gentlemen. “1 won't teil that. Iwill not betray my compan- ipms of former days. They were my eorurades, but [ am not one of them now; still you must not expect mae tu be so base as to traitorously betray them now.” ‘This, Jike the rest of his remarks, was said in excel~ lent English, but with characteristic firmness. “Never imind that,” suid Judge Otterbourg, ‘tell the remainder of your story.” “Well, sir, [went to Sing Sing, as you know, in 1876, and worked.in the hat shop. My mother’s let- ters came to me. I made my promise to her, and was released on the 1th of October last." ‘TWO MONTHS OF TRIAL. “From that “t to this I have suffered what few men could bear. Yes, I'll tell you, as told the Judge, I have often been sorry during that time that Lever made that promise to my mother; not because C wished zo steal, but because I was starving and could get no work to do. I tried day and night to get something, no matter how hard it might be, to work at; but tute and everything were against me, and now, T Before you Theretore L want so lay before pgounsel, whic n 1 beg you to your mothe is served y come an he you do not nel come t nothing was left me but the prison. My old com- panions—mahy of whom I had known in prison— came to me avd offered to let me in with them in jobs, but I refused, because. my mother willed it so, And she is dead! ‘They asked me what was the matter. They thud known me in othor times as ‘Charlie the Stick’ (because I am so tall), who would never weaken at anything; but here I was a man completely gono back on my old ways. I hadn't the moral cow to tell them that I was trying to be honest because promised my dead mother I would do #0. a tolu them that Iwas broken up. My courage. had wiven out and I was too cowardly now to un o funy such work as they were engaged in. They sym- paihized with me, although they could not under- ‘wand me, and offered mo @ piace as ina clan frequented by them in Chatham street, I de- eRned.”” “Where did you look for work IMPORTANT TO THE PRISON ASSOCIATION, **A day or two before I was discharged Dr. Harris, of the Prison Association, came to Sing, ae imal, to see those about to bo set free, Among the rest he sought and met me and asked me if I wanted to work when I got out of jail, Ltold him Ldid, He inquired what | thought I conid do. L said, anything, no matter how rough and heavy it was. He asked me it I'd like to have a situation as 4 porter, and my rep!; waa, ‘Pll work at anything I can ge Weill, when got down to New York I went tw the office of the as- sociation, in the Bible Hoase, and received a list of wholesale druggists down town who wanted porters. Bosido this list | received a sort of recommendation. £ visited each one of the firms, but got noemployment, so Lrotumued to the Bible House next day and was L@oid Dr. Harris was sick. ‘The third day I called fgain and was coolly advised to try and do something tor myself. And that ended the aid 1 was to receive dvom the “Prison Assuciation, I had pawaed my clothes, and from that day forward lived on $2 week—seventy cents a week for Jodging and Ofteen cents a day for bread, My best meal from the I left Sing Sing until f£ entered this prison was and dry bread. I washed my own gatments in my misetable lodgings at night and — them out the window to dry. For upward of sixty hours 1 broke that window to get arrested I had been fast~ ing. Unnger was killing me and I had to do some- thing, [had been well cated for fn prixon, so that it, had no*terrors for me; but my mother was dead and she hadimy promise to be honest.’ wfea,* aa Julge Otterbourg, “and 1 vouch for the perfect truth of every word that Iisher has said, T have iravestigated it all and am convinced ond @ peradventnre that he is right. When UC gave him my and as @ follow man the other day Ltold him that C hat so discovered, and my object. now is to something; for pim to enablo him to gratify the dy wish of that angel mother or bis, 1 felt no man could have been reared by such & mother and be lost. I shall ack the aidor right minded, charitably disposed mot to send thie.boy out Wost and to give him watt in life. Ithe ves by his conduct bereatter that he ia. industrious nd steadfast, I shall ask the Governor of the State of New York to grant his oe and save his citizensbtp. T feel in my soul that this boy will live MT nee his father that he was saved, not de- stroyed, by hfs mother's gentleness, and to the workd uit a {nll of courage and hope, wt largo that there is much good to be done among J young crlmiagels.”

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