Judge — July 25, 1885 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes Superintendent Murray's overzealous police enforcement, likely referencing New York City's controversial policies during the Progressive Era. The judge (depicted as a stern official at his desk) is mocking police priorities: they're so focused on arresting women found alone in public that they ignore actual crimes visible in the cityscape behind him—including establishments marked "Opium Joint" and "Sam Lee Opium Joint," plus what appears to be "S.F. Murray" signage suggesting corruption or complicity. The satire suggests the police are enforcing morality laws against women's independence while tolerating organized vice and drug trafficking. This reflects contemporary debates over women's freedom of movement and questions whether police resources were properly directed at serious crimes versus social control.