Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-14
COURT FOR CHILDREN.
Youngsters Hailed Before Judge Ohm
sted-some Are StoIid, Others in

[New York Tribune1
Vast interest conferred around the
opening Of the new children's court
yesterday morning. The courtroom, in
the old fashioned building at Third
avenue and Eleventh street, bright with
its fresh. terra Gotta wall decorations
/ and green curtains, was alive within
land without. At the Eleventh street
entrance clustered great knot of peo-
pie, mostly children, who tried to get
peeps inside. Within, the seats outside
the rail were filled with motley, silent
assemblage, and the space inside the
rail was crowded with policemen, court
Officials, reporters and cameras. The
people inside the rail laughed and
talked. The people outside the rail
sat very still. and IL a stranger had
not known what they were there for
he would still have felt that blanket of
cold depression which enyeloped them.
/ The space inside the rail became more
his seat behind the stenographer's desk,
up by the courts chair Then came
the judge himself. in his black robes
The young men behind the cameras
disappeared from view under their
camera cloths Then suddenly there
appeared in the midst Of all this con-
course of grownups, this solemn para
phernalia of the law, a very small, very
miserable little boy and girl. The little
boy had much dirt upon his face, and
thru 1t sundry tears had ploughed palel
burrows to his Chin. His black eyes.
coming just above the edge of the
Judges desk. stared solemnly at his
honor. The girl, who was little older,
made furtive dabs at her eyes with her
handkerchief. All eyes conferred upon
these two forlorn little figures before
the judges desk; the first of that
mighty line to come after them thru
the years; the desolate little creatures
for whom all this machinery of the
law had been set in motion.
A Line Of Offenders.
Soon another followed them, and an
other. and suddenly one saw a long line
OF boys; all young boys; many Of them
little boys. 1t stretched out to the hall
door, that dreadful line, and drawing
near one could see the faces that made
L 1t up; such poor little ugly faces. some
of them, with shtfty eyes and narrow
foreheads and coarse lips. Those were
the ones that had been led into trouble.
And some had bold, bright eyes, sharp
features, good heads-those were the
ones that had done the leading.
A woman watching the line felt a
treacherous burning behind her eyelids
and strove to harden her heart by NUT
tering fiercely, Young crooks!" But
II. was of no use. Those faces were too
young. And those which most SUGGEST
fully assumed their mask of defiance
broke suddenly at a kind word.
There was little Benjamin Justin, fair
and blue eyed, with little blue and
white striped calico flirt-Benjamin
who. with an older boy, broke into a
mans store and stole watch and chain
worth $3.50. A promising young bur-
glar for - years was young Benjamin,
end yet, when the woman who watched
put her hand upon his shoulder and
said. How did 1t happen, dear?" the
tears started, the sobs shook his child
ish figure, and he wrung and twisted
his woollen cap distressfully.
Youthful Highway Robber.
Two little girls in their Sunday
frocks. with peoples in their hats, We're
witnesses. A boy of about their own
highway robbery the crime. He had
held them up on the street and deliber-
ately taken 81 cents from them. Were
they sure it was this boy? Oh, yes,
sir! How did they know? Why, be-
cause he took their purse and ran away
with IT: yes, sir, in broad daylight. The
boy stood apparently in utter uncon-
Germ as they told their story. gazing
straight at them In a totally impersonal
way, as If they were talking of some
other person.
Now, hubby, what have you got to
say" said the agent of society after
the story was told.
Bubby had nothing at all to say for
himself, not even at the request of the
Judge. portly, well-dressed man
PRESSED forward and handed the court
q card. Judge Olmsted regarded 1T and
then remarked, in his level tones:
.sHere is man, a merchant, of suH-
cient standing to have printed business
cards, who doesn't care any more about
his son than to let him run the streets
until he falls into crime.
The man WINGED under ule rebuke.
John Morris was called. John had
been found the night before. according
to the officer begging at Broadway
and Thirty eighth street.
II seen i'm git three pennies" de-
posed the officer.
Are you guilty or not guilty?" said
the court. John trembled, but did not
answer.
speak up" said an officer.
speak up, john" said his mother
shrilly behind him.