The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-10
Judge Daniel
O'Connell Tracy
Declares
That Stupidity as
Often
as Criminality
Causes Citizens to
Violate Laws.

WRITTEN FOL SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
Judge Daniel O'Connell Tracy has been on
the bench at the Second District Police
| Court just sig weeks and has one sweeping
observation to make upon the trials aud
tr.tulations which LEAD men and women In
to the Police Court. This is that stupidity
as often as er!minality brings citizens and
| good citizens. into the role of defendant.
Judge Tracy notices that mothers are too
jealous In taking up their children's quar-
rels; that the mothers enlist their hus-
bands. and that serious encounters follow.
The Judge characterized such action on
the part Of the elders as mistaken judg-
ment. or plain stupidity.
Such Is one phase OF multiphased human
nature as 1t appears to the successor OF
Judge WfsliZenus at the Dayton Street tri-
hunal. Not a week passes but he must
pass on cases OF this kind. The little ones
are the innocent causes. Their battles are
assumed by the parents. The mothers use
sharp words and the fathers use their fists
and sometimes weapons.
And these Police Court chapters generally
include eminently respectable persons In
the chief roles. The most cultured mother
Is sol!citous for her children's welfare.
Judge Tracy would not have motherly care
abated one tot. In the mothers, he asserts
rests the hope of the nation. but he advises
the mothers to employ more tact,
Funny Little Episodes That
Result in Difficulties.
These Juvenile disputes which drag in the
papas and mammas arise. according to the
Judge. In most amusing ways.
Johnny and Bobby live next to each other
and are chums. Johnny Is 8 and large for
his age. He IL inclined to buster a little
and Is looked upon as a sort Of a hero by
smaller boys. Bobby 10 5 and fears physi-
cal
Bobby and Johnny play marbles. Johnny
wins. Bobby says Johnny cheated.
III you say I cheated. I'll whup you."
cries Johnny.
II didn't and I'll whup the stutan' out
of you. II kill you. I will. I'll whup you
to DEATH"
Bobby takes TO his heels. crying and Sob
bling. He PUSHES to his mother. and says
. Johnny has threatened to kill him.
Johnny and Bobby live next to each other
Johnny cheated me and when I told him
he did. he said he would whup me and XIII
me. and has drew out q great. big knife and
ran after me, oh. mummy. I'm sure he was
going to kill me-"
The knife was entirely imaginary. but
iy Imagined a knife. and was convinced
that Johnny had one. The loving mother
never doubts Bobby's assertions. however,
wide the mark. She decides that Johnny's
mother Is letting the boy run wild, and that
she must tell her 30. Johnny's mother and
Bobby's mother Soon meet. Johnny's mother
denies that she Is at all lax In governing
Johnny. Bobby's mother asserts that
Johnny's mother Is not worthy TO be a
mother, and then there is trouble. This en-
counter Is a word battle, In which honors
are even.
Papa comes home at night. and hears
Bobby's tale, and mammals tale. He i'm
mediately decides to interview Johnny's
papa.
What do yeu mean by allowing that
young raganufin Of yours TO run around
threatening other boys with knifesT' de-
mands Bobby's parent. The nature Of the
reply can be guessed. Perhaps there In an
exchange Of epithets, and then.
Then IL IL Q case Of which IL the better
man.: also q case for the Police Court A
most peculiar case, involving q game OF
marbles, an imaginary knife, motneriy
concern, and fatherly sggression.
When Rivalries ct
School Cause Trouble.
This is characteristic Of q multitude Of In
stances
Little girls figure about as often as the
boys.
Alice and Nellie are 10 and II years old
respectively. They are pretty girls and
bright. constituting much OF the cheer in
their fathers lives and being a source of
pardonabie pride TO their mothers. They
go to the same school and engage in a
friendly rivalry to attain the highest per-
centage, In the anal examination Nellie av-