The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-08

court that there were only three wit
nesses at the preliminary examination
of the boys, and the principal tne-:he
only -witness-had died since the in
formation was filed against them and
one of the others had left the state.
and therefore he did not believe the
case could be successfully proceeded
with. he asked that it be discharged
winch of these boys is Thornton?"
asked the court.
,r the boys were sitting at a table, and
thornton arose. He was a little fellow.
not larger than a boy of TO- but his
race indicated that he was older.
How old are you?" asked Judge
Clancy
Thirteen" said the boy.
You hear what the county attorney
says? 1t appears you've been lucl<y-I
guess that's a good word for it. There
mas been charge Of burglary against
you. burglary is a very bad crime In
this state there are only two grades Of
hungary in the night and burglary
in the day. They make no difference
here between a house and a barn. In
most states they have many kinds. The
worst kind is burglary of a dwelling
house-Where there is human being.
I'm very vindictive against burglars
In crimes where men get into fights
and strike too hard I feel like being
merciful. But in all crimes where men
- 81 IL 10 leieIll-ll rs very Ddu
Now, young man, there are state pris-
o.ns in every state. You can always
break into them. Now, you must cor
rect yourself from within-from head
and heart. Unless you are an idiot you
want to be good man. Do you go to
SCHOOL, said the court.
Yes, SIR answered the boy.
What is arithmetic"
Figures"
The court let this answer go and
went on with the catechism.
How are figures expressed?"
With the mouth
No, young man, that won't do.
Can't you express them with a pencil
just as well. or a penn" said his honor.
Then he added:
DO you know what ship Dewey was
on at the battle of Manila?"
The Olympia said the boy with
marvellous promptness.
what other ships were in the bat
tle?''
"The Baltimore, the Boston, the Raj
eigh and the gunboat Yorktown" the
boy replied glibly. The court had fall
en- upon a subject of enthusiastic in
terest to him, and he was all ANNA
ton. The audience should have liked
it if this line of questioning had been
continued. but the court switched.
Now. Chief Justice Thornton was in
the calaboose three times to my knowl-
edge, but he reformed, and being smart
and quick did well. Well, this other
boy: how old is he?" said he.
Sullivan stood up and said he was
10 also. He was a head taller than
his mate, and good looking boy.
What do you know? Do you read?"
asked the court.
Yes, SIR the boy replied.
What reader?"
1.-The fifth
Can YOU give me the general rules
for reading?"
The boy had to give it up.
What is punctuation?'
Marks they have about reading
said the boy.
We'll. you know more about break
ing into houses than about reading.
Punctuation is the division of SEN
fences into parts by points. What Is
an interrogation point?" said Judge
Clancy.
The boy had to give that up.
We'll, l think you're bad boy. You
boys keep on that way and after you're
20 years old you'll come to no good.
You'll be Migrants, hanging around
some alley. Chances are you'll be in
prison. Some time you may get on
gallows-Noa may murder some one.
You're at the best age to learn now
If italians and other foreigners come
to this country at your age they learn.
But if they don't come till after they're
% they keep their accent. That's the
reason Now, boys, it's for you to do
better yourselves. If an angel from
heaven came to you to tell you better,
you would say, Go on, you dirty. black
dog and go ahead with your bur
glary. Now, boys, | hope you'll do bet
ter You are discharged
The boys left the court room, and
as they We're departing the mother of
the lad who did not know what an in
terrogation mark was, said: Couldn't
you answer a question like that"' and
there was reproach in every line of her
face.