The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-01-27
"WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 81. 1892.


WEDNESDAY. JANUARY ~. 1892.
Buck" McGinnis and the Moral.
The young man, William McGrann,
alias Buck" McGinnis who broke E.
L. Hanf's show window on Monday
night, distracted two gold watch cases
was arrested and held for court, is not
the only subject that should arouse
the people of Delaware to sense of
the duty they owe TO tho eriminally In
cl ned classes Of the population. Nc
Ginnis is well known here from his ill.,
fancy. His whole life has been one
that could not well help but lead him
in the paths OF crime. A wait cast up
on society, he never had anybody that
was capable of teaching him right
from wrong. He may be said never to
have had home and was one OF the
poor cast-away boys left TO SHIFT for
himself and get along in n cold, UNI
friendly world MS best he could. A dry
goods box, an empty hogshead, or an
empty box car in summer, or foot
space at the gas house or place over
some friendly bake oven in winter,
were about the only places he had to
sleep. His parents were nearly as I'M
fortunate.
What wonder is II that this boy
should grow up to be criminal!
What wonder that others like him in
our city to day are growing up TO be
criminals! The class to which this
young man belonged whom no WAS
a boy is larger i'll our city now than
it was then. AS tho class was but q
feeder for the avenues of crime, the
same class, multiplied by four are to-
day in training to become thieves.
midnight burglars, probably midnight
assasslns, A question arises in this
connection whether there's like Nc
Ginnis are really morallyiresponsible
or what they have made themse Ives.
Had he had the proper training his
whole life might have been turned in
to different channel, instead of now
spending most OF his time in jail
for the commission OF crime. II is
quite probable that all his home sur
roundings naturally trained him to
become thief, and yet there might
have been some latent string in his ma
ture that could have been touched al
some cross-road In his life that might
have changed his course to better
ROAD, but these Influences were want
ing. they did not come from the
home, for his home was devoid OF
morality, and here comes the part
that concerns the people OF Delaware,
they did not come from this State.
A serious question arises is low fal
is the State responsible for Buck
McGinnis being a thief, and hundreds
of others like him becoming thieves
and often worse? What has tho Stat,
done to keep such waits of society
from becoming the trained criminal.
OF the future? Simply nothing. W,
have Deen boastins OF our TIN bon
that contains surplus OF s63;Ouu, an.
yet the whole State of Delaware does
not own an institution to WHICH way
ward boys or girls can be- -ent to pre-
vent them from becoming criminals
There are no houses OF correction, II
houses Of refuge, no moral eul roful
matory Institutions Of any Kind /
which boy, girl or man can b
sent for the purpose OF reformation
Nothing in Delaware loomsap againg
ln44ty l.xr htlt iltIa -
and lately an insane asylum. SN3
600 Surplus in the treasury but Il
house Of refuge, no reformat0ry il
situations OF any kind Tor tho reel.
nation OF criminals either yunng c
old.
We're it not for some private refol
matory institutions, su Ii as The Icsr
Reform School. the Catholic rrotec
DRY aud Childrens Homo. not a ray ,
hope would hasl out for the poor mi
guided and uufortunate Youths OF th
State, ana even these arc now crowdc
TO their utmost CT. nc t.ns. The Sta
has condescended to give them cha
ters OF Incorporation by the paymeI
OF go each. but with SIS, oa0 oyerpi,
In the treasury, not dollar has be-
given to support these institution
The State seems to care rot what b
comes Of the young who are GROWN
up to be criminals.
1t points to crowded jaiI5 where a
young breathe in the very pes.tleu
OF crime as the only places where III,
can DO sent, Yes. Buck HTc6aa..
will be convicted al the February teri
and will be sentenced to a long il
prisoment with fellow,thieyos in NJ
Castle jail, but the State is in part
blame for his crime II is guilty
eoutributory participation IN crime
long as it provides 10 means FOR {
reformat.oni Instead Of the punlshme
of criminals The state mods ref,
matory Institutions, How long will
be without them with Sos. 600 sarpl
In the treasury? #
THE assessors al the cours lou
have a big job Before them. III
were crowded all 4ae yesterday W
persons anxious to get assessed, u