Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-09
THE REFORM SCHOOL BOYS.



Five small boys. Paul MIddlesworth, Lewis
Van Reuth, Kirby Cook, Bud Nelson and
Lemuel Miller, were arraigned. yesterday
morning In the Police Court on the charge
of throwing missiles. Van Reuth, Cook and
Nelson were fined, and Miller was released
on his personal bonds. but Middlesworth, at
the request OF his father, was sentenced to
the reform school. This was early in the
morning, but the boy was not removed from
the Police Court until o'clock in the after
noon. During the greater portion of that
time he was confined in one of the cells. in
company with all sorts and conditions of
prisoners The boy was badly frightened
and cried and screamed during the greater
portion Of his confinement
Warrant Clerk Washburn Of the Police
Court stated for publication that nearly al
ways, when boys are sentenced to the re-
form school by the court, it is usually 5
O'Clock, and sometimes @ o'clock and
o'clock, before the authorities at the reform
school send for them. 1t has also been
stated that the Police Court authorities
nave made number of complaints to the
reform school, with regard to the alleged
dilatory methods pursued in removing boys
to that institution.
President Falls Explains.
A Star reporter called on President A. J.
Falls Of the reform school today in relation
to the matter. Il feel very much aggrieved
and indignant that such a statement as the
one In relation to Paul Middlesworth should
have been given to the public" said Presi-
dent Falls, and especially SO because the
school is In no wise to blame.
THE facts are these: Years ago 1t was
customary. when boys were sentenced to
the reform school by the police or criminal
courts, to turn them over to the marshal.
la II 70 iah rhnrn
they were often confined for days, and
sometimes for weeks. When two or three
boys had been secured they were hand
cuffed together and sent to the school, in
charge OF an officer of the jail or a deputy
marshal. When at the school l have more
than once seen two or three very small
boys delivered there. handcuffed together,
scared almost to death and treated as old
and hardened criminals
ITO avoid this inhuman treatment" con-
tinued President Falls, "a number of years
ago l Informed the judges Of the Police
Court that / would direct the superin ten
dent of the reform school to send for any
boys who might be sentenced from there,
and since that time that method has been
carried out. The reform school wagon
comes to the city each day directly after
dinner, and usually calls for the boys be-
tween o'clock and 4 o'clock. 1t is possible
that in some cases there may have been a
delay of an hour.
1t is not the duty of the school authori-
ties to send for the boys, but as an act of
humanity, to avoid having small boys sent
TO Jail and then handcuffed together like
cattle and In that manner taken to the re-
form school. as l said before, directed that
the school wagon should transport them
On more than one occasion We have en-
deavored to dispatch the wagon for the boys
Immediately upon receiving the telephone
message that they were awaiting us, but it
has occurred several times that when the
wagon has come in from one call 1t was
necessary to respond to a second one with
out delay. We have but one wagon and are
obliged to use it for other purposes than
carrying boys to the school.
Il hardly presume that the reform school
Is responsible" President Falls went on to
say, for the alleged filthy condition of the
cells In which the boys are confined before
being sent to the school, or for the COM
pany they are required to keep while at
the Police Court Doubtless Warrant Clerk
Washburn is correct in saying that IL is
somewhat late in the day when the boys
are sent for. but the wagon calls just as
early as is possible. We do the very best
we can in this direction; but if the Police
Court authorities or the authorities of the
marshaIs office Will promptly send to the
school such boys as may be sentenced by
the court. without handouts and without
first removing them to Jail, the school
authorities will gladly release themselves
fICm this duty and responsibility, and place
1t where it belongs.
1T would appear that the of Paul
Middlesworth was that of very bad boy.
and it might have been the duty of those in
noise he was making and not have allowed
the peace, quiet and comfort of the other
prisoners to be disturbed by the terrible
youngster.'