The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15
The Wise and FatherIy Manner in
Which Judge Tuthill Deals
with Little Offenders.
NOT TREATED AS CRIMINALS
THE MANIFEST PURPOSE Is BOYS
SALVATION, NOT PUNISHMENT.
Judge Whose Qualifications Are
meal knowledge of Law.

It was high noon when we strolled into
the corridors of the Cook county court
house Throughout the long hours of the
July morning the boiling atmosphere had
forced the mercurial column upward, so
that, though affairs official had subsidized
for brief lunch period in most quarters
of the splendid building. pedestrians sought
gracious respite from the stress of the day
in the cool corners just vacated by gar
rulous politicians, weary clerks and loung-
ing hangers-on. A great door Of one of the
offices stood invftingly wide open. glance
inside revealed vacant jurors chairs, spa
cious windows raised high, a huge green
tank whose side bore the aggravating
legend, ice Water" Altogether a suit
able place to rest few minutes without
the semblance of intrusion. single clerk
sat behind the great desk, his agreeable
glance clearly indicating come in" We
entered my wife, two children and L.
All, that was refreshing, that release from
the continuous tramp of the morning
through surging masses of humanity and
amid the din of the busiest city of the
western hemisphere. AS one looks down
upon the busy throngs from window of
the Cook county courthouse the sentiment
irresistibly rises: 1.-The town is perfect
Babylon to a quiet chap" says Farmer
John; where money is king and fashion
is queen
Presently the clerk left his desk with the
evident intention of retiring from the Of
fee He approached our little circle, po
litely inquiring: How long are you folks
going to remain in here?''
We replied: 1--WE have no business. and
shall go Immediately if you wish to close
the Office
mo, no." he affably rejoined, you need
not retire at all. You see this fan" he
continued, pointing to an electric fan of
the latest pattern, whose cool waves he
had enjoyed through the morning. well,
that fan is general property about here
belongs to the man who can pre-empt 1T
after rest hours. 1 want it this afternoon,
and was waiting to lock the doors against
intruders from neighboring offices. If you
will guard the fan, you may wait in here
until L get lunch-but watch that fam"
This last statement came with such man
ifest emphasis that we felt honored with
our stewardship-a sort of official state in
Suckerdom of a sudden. After CALAMITY adj
justing the machine TO serve US, the clerk
withdrew
OFFICIAL AUTHORITY.
We enjoyed our sudden elevation. To the
inquirer after Cook county matters ready
answers were given, and the questioner, in
a dgnified manner asked to "call later"
Presently a well-groomed man, with the
air of one who knows things, entered our
office. A what Observation-Disclosures glance
was cast toward our circle. Manifestly our
throne tottered. He advanced toward the
coveted fan and began unceremoniously to
unfasten it from its moorings. Our title
to authority in Cook county was vested in
that FAM so we boldly demanded: What
are you going to do?" this to the stranger
A look, only, his reply. Again we essayed
You can't take that fam" The return
''Who are your
The crisis fast approached, so. assuming
an Ethan Allen demeanor, We ventured:
Superintendent of the city schools of the
good city of Franklin in the great State
of Indiana. Drop the fan. Who are your"
With malice aforethought, he whispered:
Sheriff of Cook county,
CrestfalIen but resolute, we threw our
trump: IF you were President of the
/
fam"
He hesitated, stopped. Then we "shook
hands across the bloody chasm," since the
pleasantly happened to be agreeable to
both sides And here begins my story-and
would that could describe things as they
appeared to me that sutry July afternoon
in the Cook county courtroom
The good sheriff. after learning our resi-
!
take you to the most interesting place
about the courthouse for school men," We
! consented He was true to his promise;
! and had he included the whole great city
/ in his statement we should have quite
agreed with him. Truly the Indiana teach
er need not look to Chicago normals and
universities for the whole truth in peda-
/ gogy. Let the man or woman who sincerely
seeks TO render the highest service to his
community, through its children, not over
| look the Juvenile Court of Cook county.
/ There he may learn lessons of patience,
kindness, diplomacy, wisdom, love- There
he may be convinced that patience is a
virtue not the exclusive attribute of a
teacher-that just judge may possess this
rare quality in such a measure as to put to
shame the pretensions of its reputed pos
! SCISSORS. So, too, or Other pedagogical reQut-
sites.
THE JUDGES METHODS.
Ushered into the courtroom by the polite
sheriff we were shown seats near the
judge-immediately to his left-aImost in
uncomfortable proximity. There we had
ample opportunity TO study the man-Judge
/ Tuthill. one of the really great men of his
State, city and age-who was to hear and
/ determine complaints against children
/ charged with every crime in the catalogue
from stealing a plug Of "Battle-Ax" to fir.
| ing five-shooters with deadly intent al
| point blank range. There sat the Judge
stern Of demeanor, learned in speech Sc.
we're in presence. Contemplating him. one
could but sadly reflect: Here is a plac.
where children will have exact justice, a.
the law writes justice, melted out 10 them
but mercy never. And as the groups OF of
tenders entered the room In the custody o.
strong police, the feeling intensified Mos
of the boys and the girls awaited the open
ing Of the sessions with respectful bearing
Doubtless il was the first time In the live,
of many OF them when they felt the re
straining hand OF authority upon them
Many OF them were attended by parents
mothers generally-anxious 10 present IN.
best side OF a bad situation TO the grea