The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-17

COMPARED WITH FORMER YEARS.
The true significance of the statement
is not apparent until comparisons with the
figures for former years are made. The
number of boys arrested during the twelve
months of 1899 was only eighty-nine. No
figures on the number of boys arrested
during 1900 were found in the police records.
but 1t was said TO be only a slight increase
over the previous year.
Boys under fourteen. when arrested, are
taken in charge by the matrOn, in whose
department during the ten months there
were SO prisoners slated, most of whom
were women charged with lettering and be-
ing immoral. OF this number only 323 were
under twenty years of age. and of this
-number-eoys between eight and fourteen
years constitute the great majority.
The figures do not indicate the total
number of arrests among youthful Grim
inals. for there were many boys known to
be depraved and vicious who were con-
fined in the department for men. During
the same ten months there were confined in
the mems department 4,039 prisoners. OF
these 735 were under twenty years of age
and about % per cent. of the number We're
under seventeen. II also appears that of
the men arrested a majority of them were
charged with misdemeanOTs. while in the
cases of the boys under fourteen nearly
20 per cent. were charged with commit
ting fclOnies.
The police matrons say the boys take
pride in being pointed out as having been
under arrest. They talk freely TO each
other when in the prison and take their
incarceration as a joke rather than the
serious thing IL is. They discuss the num-
Der of times they have been under arrest.
and in one instance a new arrival was
heard TO say: "Oh, yOuse guys amt in ii.
i can beat that all TO h. Ive been here
seven times"
JUDGE STUBBS'S EXPERIENCE.
When Judge Stubs had been on the
bench for one month during this term he
became impressed with the fact that most
of the prisoners charged with felonies who
had appeared before him were boys. On
going over the records he found there were
about thirty of them. Regarding the boy
criminals he said:
II really do not know what TO think.
When i was on the police bench before il
was very seldom a boy was brought before
me. / had no idea that crime among chill
dren could increase SO fast 1t is a serious
question for Indianapolis and for the coun-
try. IL Is a serious question for a Judge on
this bench TO deal with. The boys are
usually children of poor parents. If they
are fined the parents will have 20 pay the
fines or the boys will have TO be sent to the
~wOrkhOuse, where they will be ASSOCIATED
with older and more experienced criminals
from whom they learn new things and re-
ceive incentives TO further operations In
criminal nelQS. III ne Is sent TO the Reform
School he learns new things from associa-
ton with other boys. who cannot be re-
formed and the chances are when he comes
out he will resume his evil way.
Il am of the opinion that the parents
are more at fault than the boys. They
take little interest in their homes and even
less interest in their children. allowing them
TO be away from home during the day and
night with no knowledge OF where they
are or what they are doing. Many of them
care little as TO what they are doing until
IORN get mo trouble. linen no naTRnt
wishes TO see his child locked up and es-
pecially a mother. IL is natural and right
that a mother should have deep interest in
her child. but il should become apparent
before the boy gets into court and her ap-
peal is made only TO save her boy from
present trouble.
Il had an amusing case a few DAYS ago.
Two boys were arrested for a felony. The
mothers appeared before me. l asked them
a few questions. One mother said her boy
was a good boy and had never been IN
trouble. but ne in some manner got &C
quainted with the other boy, who was a
very bad boy and led into the trouble.
The second mother made exactly the same
plea for her boy. claiming the other boy
was the bad boy who had led her son as.
and i thought there would be a hair-pullfng
match right there.
REVIVAL OF HOME RULE.
1T is time for a revival OF what / would
rail- home rule-that ruling OF the children
IN the home which was prevalent many
years ago Parents should know at all
times where their children are: should take
interest in them to keep them in school and
see that the home is a place where the
children viii love 10 be. 1t is time the
newspapers took the matter up in earnest.
Every minister in the city should take the
question before his congregation. 1t should
be done at once and kept up until those
people who neglect their children will lash
under the whip Of public criticism and in
dignatiOn and take steps TO control their
children. Public officials have a duty 10
perform and they should be awakened 20
In. Every citizen has an interest in the
matter.
I'm sure I DO not know what il best 10
do. That Is q question for grave considera-
ton / have had many OF the boys brought
before me logged. agreeing with their par
ents to release them on suspended judy
ment II they would take them into The
basement and infict a sound whipping
whipping 70 the satisfaction OF an officer
sent 70 see that IL was properly done. I'm
some instances this method seems 70 have