The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-20
OLD MOTHERS PAIN
SHE PLEADED WITH JUDGE STUBS
FOR HER BOY.
A Pathetic Scene I'm the Juvenile
Court During Trial of Four
Erring Boys.

A pitiful sight was witnessed yesterday
afternoon in Juvenile Court when Albert
Piercefeld was on trial. His mother
pleaded before the judge for her sons re-
lease. The mother said she was unable to
pay a fine. The old woman as she told
her story broke into tears. She told the
judge that her mind had become unbal-
anced on account Of two other sons who
are now serving time in penitentiaries in
other States. She said that Albert was her
youngest child. but that he had a tendency
20 follow his older brothers. Judge Stubs
was affected deeply by the story.
PierceheId, .'Onie' Barnett, Pat Hunt
and Walter Worth were caught in the
stable belonging to the Coburn Lumber
Company on West Georgia street. The
boys were in the loft where a number Of
pigeons are kept. In their testimony each
boy said he went into the barn to get dry.
While they were in the barn they moved
some Of the lumber and Ionic" Barnett
suffered a crushed finger. Judge Stubs
did not believe the story told by the boys
that they had gone into the building TO
dry. The mother OF each boy was in court
and each was placed on the stand. Judge
Stubs told the mothers to take the young
sters to the basement and administer a
fiogging to them. The Worth boy, on &C
count Of his age-eight years-was allowed
TO go on a suspended sentence. ''Onie'
Barnett was the first to get his punish
ment- He took of his coat. A few lashes
from the whip made "Onie'' dance with a
greater degree of agility than he has done
for a Ions time. While Mrs. Barnett was
Iashing her boy Mrs. Pierceheld walked
away from the room, as she could not look
at the proceedings. She was brought back
by Bailiff Dawson.
Mrs. Hunt next took the whip in her
hand. Her son sat on a pile OF lumber
and seemed not inclined to AXE his whip
ping. The mother went toward him.
his little dirty coat from his back. Then
she pulled him to the middle OF the room
and said: Are you not ashamed OF hav-
ing me come here and do this kind of
work? Didn't i whip you Wednesday night
and wasn't that enough?' By this time
the boy was unable TO speak on account
OF his tears. Mrs. Piercefield took her boy
next. and the old woman, nervous and
crying. dashed her boy several times.
Bahiff Dawson told her that would satisfy
Floyd Cable. colored, was another boy
10 get a whipping by order OF the court.
Ine boy was accused OF Steal1ng y from
the Aetna Savings and Loan Association.
He was found guilty and Judge Stubs or
dered the boys father to take him into
the basement and give him a whipping,
The father took the boy out, and in a short
while returned with him crying as II
his heart would break. Patrolman Sand
man. who accompanied Cable and his son
10 the basement. reported TO Judge Stubs
that the father was not lenient with the
boy.
James "Porkchops' Holt. a little colored
boy. who has appeared in Juvenile court
at nearly every session as an offender,
failed 10 make his appearance yesterday.
Patrolman Tomlinson was requested by
Judge Stubs to find Holt. Efforts will be
made To havelthe boy sent 10 Plainfeld.
The four boys arrested last week for
stealing lead pipe from the A. Kiefer build
ing on South Meridian street. and whose
eases were continued from last Friday,
were brought into court yesterday. Sew
eral witnesses from the Hibben-Hollweg
Company were heard. Their Testimony
was damaging to the boys. Judge Stubs
again postponed judgment on the case to
allow the fathers OF the boys TO make good
the damage done 10 the building. II Is said
the boys ruined 500 worth or plumbing.