When Mercy Tempers Justice - Production & Contact Info

When Mercy Tempers Justice (1912)
Short | Drama, Short

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When Mercy Tempers Justice (1912)

Short | Drama, Short

The judge had a long calendar, he was weary and inclined to be short in his answers to those who came before him. He brightened up for a moment when a well-known banker was brought before him. This man was an old clubmate, and the charge ...See moreThe judge had a long calendar, he was weary and inclined to be short in his answers to those who came before him. He brightened up for a moment when a well-known banker was brought before him. This man was an old clubmate, and the charge of crooked dealing, brought by some ragged depositors, seemed to the court ridiculous. He said so and fixed the bail at a trifling figure, and at that almost apologized to the dignified prisoner. The next in line was a wretched-looking man who had stolen a bottle of milk from a dairy wagon. He did not deny his guilt, but stated that his wife and children were starving. Many times before had the judge heard that excuse, and it only wearied him now. Impatiently he ordered the wife to cease pleading for the man, and he sent the self-confessed thief to Blackwell's Island. That night the judge sat in his well-furnished dining room, smoking a cigar after dinner. Idly his thoughts went to the courtroom, and he lightly remembered the statue of Justice which adorned the chamber. "I wonder," he mused, "I wonder what that figure thinks of my decisions, and what it would do in my place." Then it seemed that the courtroom was right there in front of him, and that the figure of Justice was alive. It came down from its pedestal, and in a moment was in the dining room opposite him, Justice did NOT like his court rulings. That was clear at once, and the judge found that Justice was a most unpleasant companion, who insisted on taking the jurist out to see the victims of his decisions. It was a most uncomfortable night. The judge was not interested and politely hinted so. Then the anger of Justice was aroused and the unfortunate judge found himself alone in the streets, his fine clothing rags, and he himself as friendless as many of the unfortunates who had appeared before him. When he tried to re-enter his house he was rudely turned away. After wandering around for many hours the pangs of hunger assailed him, and he stole some rolls which he saw left at an areaway. He was promptly arrested, taken before a judge who looked and acted as he had done himself on the bench, and despite his pleas for mercy, was sent to Blackwell's Island. In misfortune he learned humility, and found one friend, the poor man he had sent away for stealing for his starving family. Soon the judge realized that strict unswerving justice is sometimes as bad as injustice, and that only when justice is tempered with mercy can it be rightly entitled to that name. Then he found himself back in his dining room again, a kinder, better, less arrogant judge, one who had learned the lesson all judges should know. He secured a pardon for the man who had stolen food, and from that time was more careful in his decisions, more thoughtful of the unfortunates who came before him. That was why, in the course of years, he won the title of "The Poor Man's Judge," and bore it with honor during his career on the bench. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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6 cast members

Name	Known for
Mignon Anderson The Impoverished Wife and Mother The Impoverished Wife and Mother See fewer	The Mill on the Floss (1915)
Marie Eline One of the Daughters One of the Daughters See fewer	Jane Eyre (I) (1910)
James Cruze The Impoverished Father The Impoverished Father See fewer	The Covered Wagon (1923)
William Russell The Judge The Judge See fewer	The Roof Tree (1921)
Florence La Badie The Spirit of Justice The Spirit of Justice See fewer	The Million Dollar Mystery (1914)
Helen Badgley Actress (as The Thanhouser Kidlet) Actress (as The Thanhouser Kidlet) See fewer	The Fires of Youth (1917)