The sun., 1901-10-15
JUDGE BUSY
TRYING BOYS
Majority Of Culprits in City Court
Are Minors.
NUMBER Is INCREASING
Judge Churchman ind the Police at
Loss to Know What to DO.
Prisoners Ages Range
From I e to 10 Years.

Agent Frank Stout Of the Society for
Prevention of Cruelty to Children had
Il busy time yesterday investigating the
records of numerous small boys who
were arraigned before Judge Churchman
in City Court yesterday morning charg-
I'd with having committed various Of
fences. Mr. Stout will make his report
to the judge this morning.
Though ''boys will be boys" the ques-
ton of what to do with the bad boys u!
Wilmington has come to be one of great
moment and the police as well as Judge
Churchman would gladly welcome a solu
tion OF the question. No offender gives
the police more trouble than boy of
thieving or maliciOusly destructive ten
denotes, and when placed under arrest
in many cases boy creates more dis
turbance than man.
And when the boys face him in co,il t
Judge Chnrchman has his troubles. H.
scarcely knows what to do with them.
He does not care TO commit them to the
Ferris Industrial School If there is any
way to avoid doing SO by giving the
culprit another chance, and he dislikes
worse to send them to jail. But they
are offenders and must be punished in
some way or they will continue on their
career OF crime.
Seldom was it, not 80 long ago. when y
hoy was arraigned in court. 1t was {,
thing of unusual occurrence to see n boy
in court charged with having committed
Il crime. And once dealt with ut that
| time the young culprit took good care
to walk in the straight and narrow path
| thereafter.
| Not so now. 1t is matter Of almost
everyday occurrence for boys to be ar
raigned in court, one, two, three even ten
or Il dozen. And the offences they are
charged with are many and variel
| ranging from disOrderly conduct to rob
berry. This was the case yesterday morn
| ng and all but one case was referred T.
Agent Stout for investigation.
Daniel McGrenra and Alexander Nc
tiowen were charged with acting dis
orderly at Sixth and Pine streets Sunda,
Afternoon. They We're arrested by Police
men Michael Burns and John Ward
| Officer Burns testified that there Rat
been complaints about boys playing foot
ball and kick the wicket in the streets
Sergeant Massey gave similar testimony
The boys denied heing in the crowd ther,
Sunday, but Officer Burns felt pretty
| sure they were there.
| Joseph Fem and Herman Knapp ha,
been summoned 10 appear to answer t,
| h c!arG" of disorderly conduct. Fem
was not Vi co,ir; and the case was con
itinued unrii this morning.
| Niicha,i Jacket. who had been arrest
ID ~ Policeman Wintrup. was charged
with the larceny of four rubbers.
| David Fnrnen and John Porter wer,
charged 10y Officer Wintrup with th.
larceny of four fish from Morris Leshen
of Second and Shipley streets. Th,
officer testified that one Of the boys con
fcssed to the theft and told him tha
the fish had been sold to Mrs. Clar;
Richards for 10 cents and half a pie an,
some candy had been purchased Will
part of the proceeds.
| James Collie was charged with til,
larceny Of bicycle, the property .
Charles Oherly, son of James b. Obnr
~. The arrest was made Sunday nigh
by Policeman Pierce. Young Oberl,
testified that the wheel was taken From
in front of dentists office, on Wash
ington street between Eighth and Ninth
on Saturday afternoon. Collie was ais,
charged with the larceny of bicycle
the property Of Herschel A. Norris. o,
September 18th. Mr.. Norris is principa
" Friends School, Fourth and Wes
streets, and the wheel was taken fron
the yestibnle Mt the school.