the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第32章
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race to…day is not in the tight little island； but in the New World overseas；
where are the sons and daughters of Mrs。 Thomas Mugridge。 The Sea
Wife by the Northern Gate has just about done her work in the world；
though she does not realize it。 She must sit down and rest her tired loins
for a space； and if the casual ward and the workhouse do not await her； it
is because of the sons and daughters she has reared up against the day of
her feebleness and decay。
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
CHAPTER XVIPROPERTY
VERSUS PERSON
In a civilisation frankly materialistic and based upon property； not soul；
it is inevitable that property shall be exalted over soul； that crimes against
property shall be considered far more serious than crimes against the
person。 To pound one's wife to a jelly and break a few of her ribs is a
trivial offence compared with sleeping out under the naked stars because
one has not the price of a doss。 The lad who steals a few pears from a
wealthy railway corporation is a greater menace to society than the young
brute who commits an unprovoked assault upon an old man over seventy
years of age。 While the young girl who takes a lodging under the
pretence that she has work commits so dangerous an offence； that； were
she not severely punished； she and her kind might bring the whole fabric
of property clattering to the ground。 Had she unholily tramped Piccadilly
and the Strand after midnight； the police would not have interfered with
her； and she would have been able to pay for her lodging。
The following illustrative cases are culled from the police…court
reports for a single week：…
Widnes Police Court。 Before Aldermen Gossage and Neil。
Thomas Lynch； charged with being drunk and disorderly and with
assaulting a constable。 Defendant rescued a woman from custody； kicked
the constable； and threw stones at him。 Fined 3s。 6d。 for the first offence；
and 10s。 and costs for the assault。
Glasgow Queen's Park Police Court。 Before Baillie Norman
Thompson。 John Kane pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife。 There were
five previous convictions。 Fined 2 pounds； 2s。
Taunton County Petty Sessions。 John Painter； a big； burly fellow；
described as a labourer； charged with assaulting his wife。 The woman
received two severe black eyes； and her face was badly swollen。 Fined 1
pound； 8s。； including costs； and bound over to keep the peace。
Widnes Police Court。 Richard Bestwick and George Hunt； charged
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
with trespassing in search of game。 Hunt fined 1 pound and costs；
Bestwick 2 pounds and costs； in default； one month。
Shaftesbury Police Court。 Before the Mayor （Mr。 A。 T。 Carpenter）。
Thomas Baker； charged with sleeping out。 Fourteen days。
Glasgow Central Police Court。 Before Bailie Dunlop。 Edward
Morrison； a lad； convicted of stealing fifteen pears from a lorry at the
railroad station。 Seven days。
Doncaster Borough Police Court。 Before Alderman Clark and other
magistrates。 James M'Gowan； charged under the Poaching Prevention
Act with being found in possession of poaching implements and a number
of rabbits。 Fined 2 pounds and costs； or one month。
Dunfermline Sheriff Court。 Before Sheriff Gillespie。 John Young；
a pit…head worker； pleaded guilty to assaulting Alexander Storrar by
beating him about the head and body with his fists； throwing him on the
ground； and also striking him with a pit prop。 Fined 1 pound。
Kirkcaldy Police Court。 Before Bailie Dishart。 Simon Walker
pleaded guilty to assaulting a man by striking and knocking him down。 It
was an unprovoked assault； and the magistrate described the accused as a
perfect danger to the community。 Fined 30s。
Mansfield Police Court。 Before the Mayor； Messrs。 F。 J。 Turner； J。
Whitaker； F。 Tidsbury； E。 Holmes； and Dr。 R。 Nesbitt。 Joseph Jackson；
charged with assaulting Charles Nunn。 Without any provocation；
defendant struck the complainant a violent blow in the face； knocking him
down； and then kicked him on the side of the head。 He was rendered
unconscious； and he remained under medical treatment for a fortnight。
Fined 21s。
Perth Sheriff Court。 Before Sheriff Sym。 David Mitchell； charged
with poaching。 There were two previous convictions； the last being three
years ago。 The sheriff was asked to deal leniently with Mitchell； who
was sixty…two years of age； and who offered no resistance to the
gamekeeper。 Four months。
Dundee Sheriff Court。 Before Hon。 Sheriff…Substitute R。 C。 Walker。
John Murray； Donald Craig； and James Parkes； charged with poaching。
Craig and Parkes fined 1 pound each or fourteen days； Murray； 5 pounds
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
or one month。
Reading Borough Police Court。 Before Messrs。 W。 B。 Monck； F。 B。
Parfitt； H。 M。 Wallis； and G。 Gillagan。 Alfred Masters； aged sixteen；
charged with sleeping out on a waste piece of ground and having no
visible means of subsistence。 Seven days。
Salisbury City Petty Sessions。 Before the Mayor； Messrs。 C。
Hoskins； G。 Fullford； E。 Alexander； and W。 Marlow。 James Moore；
charged with stealing a pair of boots from outside a shop。 Twenty… one
days。
Horncastle Police Court。 Before the Rev。 W。 F。 Massingberd； the
Rev。 J。 Graham； and Mr。 N。 Lucas Calcraft。 George Brackenbury； a
young labourer； convicted of what the magistrates characterised as an
altogether unprovoked and brutal assault upon James Sargeant Foster； a
man over seventy years of age。 Fined 1 pound and 5s。 6d。 costs。
Worksop Petty Sessions。 Before Messrs。 F。 J。 S。 Foljambe； R。
Eddison； and S。 Smith。 John Priestley； charged with assaulting the Rev。
Leslie Graham。 Defendant； who was drunk； was wheeling a
perambulator and pushed it in front of a lorry； with the result that the
perambulator was overturned and the baby in it thrown out。 The lorry
passed over the perambulator； but the baby was uninjured。 Defendant then
attacked the driver of the lorry； and afterwards assaulted the complainant；
who remonstrated with him upon his conduct。 In consequence of the
injuries defendant inflicted； complainant had to consult a doctor。 Fined
40s。 and costs。
Rotherham West Riding Police Court。 Before Messrs。 C。 Wright
and G。 Pugh and Colonel Stoddart。 Benjamin Storey； Thomas Brammer；
and Samuel Wilcock； charged with poaching。 One mo
