Daily Republican., 1880-09-22
Refsruaa.aoa for You ax Grlmsna ais

RefOFma1aOn for You nS Grimm alS.
Yesterday thres boys ranging In age
from twelve 10 sixteen years were ar
raignei sss petty theft, and one, ths
smallest OF them, for An additional
srims whish should be unmsntionabLe
to refined ears, and We are informed
that there ara other boys back in prison
who have not yet besn brought ont and
Arrsigned for ths crimes with which
they are charged. 0as OF the three boys
alluded to was discharged without a
trial ON account OF hlS youth and want
of direct evidence, though this was not
the first tims he had bseD arrsignsd
before the same court on similar
charges. The hoy charged with q
double crime had both his cases post.
poned for trial until next court, and he
Wis remandsd to jail to await that
tin .. The larger and older OF the
three only was tried. Tie evidence
against him was positive and direct,
but he was only Istty thief and the
good, kind hearted jury ever leaning to
the side Of mercy, rsvolted at, the
thought OF sending tina. Roy to the
whipping post to have his back dashed,
and afterwards to go through perhaps
. long life Of degradati N and crime,
for what other results ever follow the
degradation Of the whipping post. The
jury very properly had no other alter
native than to bling In q verdict Of
guilty or not guilty. 1t was not for
them to take q thought OF the after
consequences, though It were impossi-
BILE for them to diVsst their minds of the
punishmsnts which were to follow q
verdict of guilty. In the rstirrm snt OF
their chamber they no doubt argued
that II this boy who is clearly guilty,
should be let of this time he might
take warning by being brought within
the shadows Of the whipping post, and
reform himself; if convicted all hope
is gone, for over the whipping post,
should be written the inscription, "who
enters here leaves hope bshind." There
is not the least doubt of his guilt, that
has been plainly proven, but look at
his youth; look at the long life ahead
Of him II he should live to mans al.
lottsd age; look at the shadow Of a
blasted young life which must follow
him If convicted; II let off he has
another chance to commence life anew,
and to reform his ways; II convicted
he has no chance. II there was q
house Of correction, a house Of refuge,
q work house, soms reformatory insti-
tltion some place within the State We
would know what to do, but unfortu-
nltely for Delaware there is not re.
formatory institution within the State
ia which the State has one dollar of
interest, unless the jail and rillory are
considered reformatory institutions.
No matter hew young the criminal Ia
NOR whether be ii guilty Of the theft o
q pigeon, a PITT Of cider, or a horse or
q gold watch, he must be sent to the
whipping post or cleared. There is no
half way ground in the case upon which
a fumane and kind hearted jury can
stand. Under these circumstances then
we do net wonder that young lads are
never punished by the courts for crimes
OF wbicn they are clearly guilty ere
they arrive half way to the years Of
maturity. We need not wonder that
u view of an awful and degrading pun
.sament for boys that Jury will hest.
tate, and rather than bring in a verdict
OF guilty will in effect say TO the aoous-
ed: ave know you are guilty, but
you are too young 10 be brought to the
whipping post 60 and make a better
man of Yourself"
Where is the man who could in his
heart find fault with such verdio. :