Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-09
RAD poY-'TwAs PITY.
Strange Instance of Incorrisibih's
I'm the Police Court-Other Cases.

I'm the Police COurs-OtN
A cpriors case of Poor Dick. bad Dick,
our hayward son." came UP In the romeo
Court yesterday morning, when NorVeh
Tee uickok. the s-year-old son of Mr.. X.
p. HIckok, was before Justice Crutch-
field. and his parents asked for MIN 10
be sent TO the reformatory, saying that
he was beyond their control.
They represented him as truly pad.
Tho father said he was self-willed, ana
determined in breaking all the ties OF
love and obedience to his parents; was
babitual In his disobedience; would stay
away from school, had tendency 10 PICK
nm things that did not belong to him, ana
was criminally mischievous.
,rhev felt that closest attention ans
stronger restrictions should be placed
unon him than could be in their home Ire.
Tho room was quite full Of spectators
az tho time. and this statement from a
narent about a mere infant created as
Punishment among all. Also, attracted by
~ Mr.. Carlton Mccarthy, who was pres
emit. asked permission to make a state
ment about the case. He SAID:
81 cannot conceive that the people OF
Richmond or Virginia will justify any
Judge in sending to the reiormatory
mere Infant, and thereby place stigma
upon his name and blot upon his fu-
tire simply because his parents were
unable TO exert the influence that they
should. IL this boy was treated with
the Kindness that should emanate from
narents there would be no trouble. pro-
test in the name of the intelligence, IN
tegritv. and decency of the people of Nir-
glnia in allowing such a shameful out
rage I'm sending a mere baby to the re-
formatory."
This seemed to be the sentiment OF
Justice Crutchfeld. Commonwealth sat
torney Richardson and all in the room.
Justice Crutchheld said that he was often
IN very perplexing positions concerning
cases Of this kind. His sympathies were
always with the boys, and he had to de-
eide between this and the opinion OF
father and mother, TO whom the interest
of the child should be supreme in cases
OF this kind.
nwealth's-Attorney Richardson
said that the reformatory was some
what Of a penal institution, and that
certain amount Of disgrace hangs over
il, and that rather than have boy sent
to that place a parent should use the
proper mode of punishment.
MIR. Hickok said that he had punished
him severely, and that even now stripes
were visible on his back as the rc>+Ilt
of blows. lie had been tied in his room,
kept in bed, fastened in dark closet,
fed on bread and water, but nothing
seemed 70 do any good.
Mr.. Richardson suggested that kind
ness might have a different result.
II have treated him kindly" replied Mr..
Hickok, 'but 1t has only a temporary
effect. He forgets it in moment and
starts out on his bad ways again."
Mrs. Hckok said she loved him better
than her life, and did not know what
to do
Suppose you take him home again
and give him another trial." suggested
Justice Crutch1eld.
1--WE have tried him so often" she re-
Piled, land he has dsobeyed Us so often,
that we feel discouraged, and have given
up all hope"
Don't say that" said the Justice, "a
parent should never give up hope" And
home with them he sent the lad, after
pleading with him to be good and obey
his parents in everything they bade him
do, as nearly as he could.
Justice John then went on with the reg
ular docket, which embraced a number
of small cases.
In the case Of robbing a Chesapeake
and Ohio car OF corn, against Henry
Danford, Clarence Morris, and George
Kigore, three white boys, Danford and
Kilgore were sentenced TO the reforma-
tory for a term of three years and Nor
ris was turned over TO his mother.
James Spencer (colored) was alleged to
have beaten, kicked, and thrown rocks
at Mary Johnson, and was fined $40 and
costs.
William Smith (colored) gave Julia
Williams a beating, and was likewise
fined $40 and costs
Alex Braice was fined s. for being
drunk in Chappia's bar-room.