The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-05-05
cURFEW LAWS WORK.


are Saved From "a Life of Crime.
A dispatch from Indianapolis, lad,
says: Enquiries as to the workings
Of the ordinance, which has now
been in force in this city for three
months, are coming every day to
the Superintendent of Police, and it
seems probable that every town IN
Indiana will soon be operating I'M
der such law. In this city it has
been wrought a marvellous change
in the work of the police and in the
good order Of many neighborhoods
"The ordinance was passed by a
practically unanimous vote of the
City Council, and provides for the
arrest of all boys and girls found
upon the streets after o'clock at
night between September and March,
and after O'clock between March
and September. The age limit is IA
years, but, of course, exceptions are
made in favor of those who are at
tended by their parents or whose
duties re uire them to be upon the
streets, the latter including messen-
ger boys and others who work or go
to school at night.
"Before the ordinance went into
effect one of the greatest troubles
the police met with was that of dis
persing crowds of boys, as there was
nothing for which the youths could
be arrested and punished.
"But another class had liberties
under the old regime that were used
for different and less innocent pur-
poses. They were often the children
of vicious parents and had them
selves inherited the evil tendencies
of their sires. They were found
around the saloons late at night, and
often formed predatory bands that
roved the streets, and not infre-
quently broke into stores in isolated
districts.
1.-TWO or three such bands. where
the members ranged from to l:
years of age, have been broken up by
| the police and their members sent to
| the reform school or released on
commitments, audit was demonstr /
ted that the robberies and other dep
relations were Matched on the cor
ners, and but for the freedom which
the boys had at night would nevel
have been thought of.
| "Among these crowds the Officers
often noticed the boys of respecta
bic and we'll TODD parents, and foune
when these were drawn into such as
soclations that the plans Of the ittl
gangs were always deeper laid ant
more carefully executed, for the.
. brought to the work a better intelli
gence and thus made the work o
, detection more arduous.
"The curfew ordinance ha
wrought a great change in this re
I, spect in all parts of the city, and Q!
}. pecially in those districts in whic
: the police once had so much trouble
e During the winter when tho factor
= whistle announced the hour Of eigt
o'clock, the boys scampered hom
and from that time until morning II
streets were as quotas church var
n "Since March 31st the whistle h'
A. been blowing at nine, and when
sounds person on the street can 81
Z. the boys rushing to get indoors b
IS fore a policeman sees them.
IS course, the officers do not make 8
l. rests when the boys are near the
?, homes, and making an effort to rea'
" them, and so far not d dozen arres
IS have been made under the ordinane
i "Bat better still, no boys ha
Or been arrested for suspected GRIN
D. and the police believe the ordinan
have broken up the bands that we
b once to be seen prowling about
& streets at all hours of the night a
IL that needed constant watching"