The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-26
BOYS IN THE DOCK
SAD SIGHT BEHELD YESTERDAY IN
THE POLICE COURTS.

The POLICE COURTS.
-Four Small Boys are Arrested and Thrown
Among Hardened Criminals Because In
This, the Land of the Free aud the
Home of the Brave, They Dared ia
GiggIe During Religious services-They
are Found Guilty and Fined $500, hat
After Being Forced to Listen to Ter
rifle Lecture They are Turned Loose.
Yesterday there was a sad sight at
the police station, this Of itself is moth
ing new, for sad sights are frequently
seen in this locality, but the view given
yesterday was one calculated TO move
a heart of stone.
On the front seat sat four boys, IN
nocent, fun-loving boys, occupying the
place where the hardened criminals Of
ten sits. On the bench was the same
stern judge, while the city attorney
was present and the boys was defended
by Q. H. Bentley.
II did not take any study to see that
I the boys were not the class who gener-
/ ally occupy positions in the court. They
! had clear open countenances and yet
not by the act Of charity were these
boys brought and thus diSgraced, and
if anything given a shove downward.
Too much care can not be taken of the
boys who are growing up in our city,
and this lesson can no where be better
learned than by visit TO the police
station. There is probably not a Grim
inal in the gloomy cages below but
what mas d spark of manhood yet left
within his breast and if the better ma
ture could be stirred might be aroused
into honest manhood, and the great
need of the world today is to lift up
rather than push down. This lesson
was taught by Him who wept in the
garden Of Gethsemna, the woman that
was sick He healed no matter what
might have been her associates: even
with the pGbEcans and sinners did He
dine. ana not a record Of His is found
where He ala else than tried TO lift up,
not tear down. To the young He always
acid out the branch Of hope
Viewed thus how sad the sight yes
terday of beholding in the criminal
dock Floyd Brown, Herman Moier,
Charlie Din and Bert Harmon, charg-
20 with the heinOus crime Of having
Piggled at the Oak street Presbyter-
ian church on Sunday. For this helm
oUs crime 90 the boys were snatched
by the strong arm of law and placed
among the associates of all that is vile.
For this giving vent 10 the ripple of
nature running 10 and down their fun
ny bone these mere boys were forced
~ have their names recorded upon that
y
run the chance of being shocked by
r@aring that grandpa was once arrest
ed and brought before the court as a
common criminal But this is not all
Many "A boy has been given a thought
less lunge ike this by some one who is
too sour to enjoy a hearty laugh, that
has sent the boy downward and down
ward until finally the boy lands in a
Grim cell
They had made no outbreak or will
ful disturbance, as the Eagle is in
formed, but they had to admit that
they had giggled and of course Judge
Thicker must fine them S. each and
sentence them to be confined in the
lousy cells until the fine and costs were
paid. Yes. he was not content with
this, but these boys who had allowed
their funny bone to be struck with
some happy thought must be forced to
sit upon the seats with their feet dang /
ling in mid air while the solemn judge /
gave them a curtain lecture that was
horrible in every particular The
Judge : not a handsome man at best,
but when he squints his left orb at a
victim and starts and upon one of his
lectures about morality it is simply
terrible.
But it IS an i'll wind that blows no.
body any good, ana the terrific lee
ture Of the judge nd the squirming
Of the boys on the front bench created
for them friends and so strong was the
feeling Of pity that the judges heart
was moved with compassion and he
concluded 10 suspend sentence during
good behavior and then the boys were
each handed letter by Pat Rohrbaugh
which reads:
Dear sir-I was present this morn
morning at your trial in the police
court and looked into your face. / do
not think that you are bad boy and as
have class Of about fifty boys about
your age at the First Methodist church
Sabbath school, | want to give you
very cordial invita- ton to come and join |
nay class. l know you will like the
boys and Will enjoy being with us.
o'-iiS HSAt SunuGy al z.5U CLOCK ana |
we VIII make you welcome.
Il am yours very truly.
p. \. ROHRBAUGH. Teacher"
wichita. Kan. Feb. %
The boys received the letter with /
gratitude and promised 10 attend the |
school ana try and atone for /
the great crime Of permitting their fun /
ny bone getting stirred by mirth in the |,
OAK street PRESBYTERIAN church All
should help them to rise above the 1
delenma III which they have fallen and |
hope that they may grow up 10 honest /