New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-03
COURT FOR CHILDREN.
YOUNGSTERS HAILED BEFORE JUDGE
OLMSTED-SOME ARE STOLID,
OTHERS IN TEARS

OTHERS IN TEARS
Vast interest centred around the opening OF the
new children's court yesterday morning, The
courtroom in the old fashioned building at Third
ave and Eleventh-st. bright with its fresh, terra
Gotta wall decorations and green curtains, was
alive within and without 1t the Eleventh-st- en-
france clustered d great knot of people, mostly
children who tried get peeps inside Within.
the seats outside the rail filled with a motly,
silent assem0age and the space inside the raj!
vas crowded with policemen officials re
porters and cameras The people inside the rail
laughed and talked. The people outside the rail
SAL very still. and If a stranger had not known
what they were there for he would still have felt
the blanket Of cold depression which enveoped
them The space inside the rail became more
crowded 4 spruce yourE took his seat be
hind The stenographer's desk. up by the courts
chair. Then came the judge himself, in his black
robes. The young behind the cameras disap-
resTed from view under their cloths Then
suddenly there appeared in the midst OF all this
concourse Of grownups. this solemn paraphernala
Of The law. very small v-ry miserable little boy
and girl The little boy had much dirt upon his
face and through it sundrv tears had ploughed
oaler burrows TO his chin His black eyes, coming
inst above the edge OF the judges desk. stared
solernnly at his honor The girl, who was little
older, made furtiNe dabs at her ewes with her
handkerchief. Al eyes centred upon these two for
1orn little figures before the judges desk the first
OF that mighty line 10 come after them through
the years. the desolate little creatures for whom
all this machinery OF the law had been set in mo-
ton
LINE OF OFFENDERS.
Soon another followed them. and another. and
suddenly one saw Z long line OF boys; all young
boys: rnanv Of them little boys. II stretched out
70 the hall door. that dreadful line, and drawing
near one could see the faces that made II up; such
poor little ugly faces. OF them, with shlfty
ewes and narrow foreaeads and coarse lips. Those
were the ones that had been led into trouble. and
some had bold bright eyes. sharp features. good
lleads-those were the ones that had done the lead
trg
\ woman watching the line felt : treacherous
burning behind her eye!ids, and strove 10 harlem
her heart BY ruttering fercely, Young crooks"
Fu- = was OF no use. Those faces were TOO young
And those which most successfully assumed their
mask Of defiance broke suddenly at kind word.
There was little Benjamin Justin, fair and blue
sz75 with : little blue ard white striped calico
sairt-Benjar2in who. win older boy. broke
5n-o , mans store and stole q watch and chain
worth $40 \ promising young burglar Tor tWeiVe
years was young Benjamin, and yet when the
woman VINO watched put her hand upon his shoui-
der and said How old II happen, dear2" the tears
started the sobs shook his childish figure. and ne
7--,-e and twisted his wooIlen cap distressfuliy-
YOUTHFUL HIGHWAY RoBBER-
TWO little girls in their Sunday frocks with pop
rtes in their hats were brought forward TO act as
complaining witnesses. A boy Of about their own
size and age was the criminal. and highway ron
her 1he crime He had held them I'D on the
street and delber, tely taken 81 cents from them
We're they sure il this boy Oh yes sir HOW
did they know? Why. because he took their purse
srd ran away with it yes sir, in broad daylight.
The boy stood apparently in utter unconcern as
they told their story, gazing straight at them in
totally irnpersonal way II they were talking q
some other person
Now hubby, what have you got te sayE salo
the agent Of society after the story was told.
Buhbv had nothing At all 10 say for himself, not
even az the request Of the judge A portly. well
q card. Judge Olmsted regarded it and then re
marked in his level tones:
Here is man. a merchant of sufficient standing
10 have printed business cards, who doesn't care
any -aorc about his than 10 let him run the
streets until he falls into crime"
The man WINGED under the rebuke.
John Morris MAS called. John had been found
The night before according 10 the officer begging
At Broadway and rhrty-eghth-st-.
II sean i'm git three pennies deposed the officer
Are you guilty or not guilty." said the court
John trernbled, but did not answer
Speak up said officer.
speak Ip. john" said his mother shrily behind
him
The boy burst into flood Of tears.
Not guilty he sobhe5 convulsiyely.
Guilty: sentence reserved till Friday said the
Judge.
Ny boy don't have beg shrilIed the mother.
His farheru take care Of him, and III take care
Of him. too It's lie. and III prosecute any d
PAPER that prints it,
They hustled her out
\ BUNCH OF GOLD PINS.
Roger Wilson" Roger took his place, tall,
lank boy. nearly the age limit; thin, and with
vraal- unframed fare Roger had tried 0 sell