The second annual report of the managers of the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism, in the City of New-York : read and accepted, December 29, 1819. To which is added, an appendix, on the subject of pauperism.

  • Society for the Prevention of Pauperism in the City of New York.
Date:
1820
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The second annual report of the managers of the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism, in the City of New-York : read and accepted, December 29, 1819. To which is added, an appendix, on the subject of pauperism. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In the mean time, the complainant and witnesses attend from day to day at the grand jury door. The com- plaint is at length either dismissed, and the party com- plaining may return home, after having spent some days or a week in fruitless prosecution. If the indict- ment is found, then another scene takes place. The party complaining is then subpcened, with witnesses to attend court from day to day, until the cause can be determined. Many days may have elapsed before the cause can be heard. In the mean time the other party, the defendant, employs counsel, and also attends court until the trial ensues, and is then either cleared, or fined, or imprisoned. If the prosecution fails, all has been done to no avail; if it does not, a heavy expense occurs in a pecuniary penalty, or the demoralizing ef- fects of a prison are suffered. Where there are cross complaints, two trials from the same quarrel often en- sue. Over this picture we may indeed pause with re- gret. The source of pauperism here pointed out, is lamentably obvious. These law suits most generally occur among poor laborers, who depend on daily em- ployment for their bread, with large families of children relying on their industry and prudence. Fees must be paid at the police office, to the district attorney, and to the clerk of the court; and that too by poor laborers, whose families may be in a starving: condition. If conn- sel be employed, here is an additional expense. If the party convicted be too poor to pay costs, then they be- come a charge against the people. But the great source of pauperism is not the money actually paid out by the parties—it is the time wasted, the habits con- tracted, and the crimes and outrages liable to be com- O mitted in the course of these long and tedious prosecu-