The Clemency of the Court

"Serge, a man who was brought up by a Russian woman after his mother died, kills the babushka's husband after he kills Serge's dog. Serge is then sent to a borstal. The story ends with the rationale that even though life was tough in Russia, the United States cares for their children no better." (Wikipedia)

First published in the magazine The Hesperian, Oct 26, 1893.