The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-04-08

Is it any wonder that children
from s 10 II wears Of age. when
brought into the police court as
witnesses, do dot know the rca,
nature oi an oath as administered
to them the ans Xtrs the children
make to the Assistant CItj solicitor
when, on being pat on the witness
stand, he asks them If they know
the nature OF an oath, is sad but
amusing nevertheless. The chi.
dreD in most cases that figure III
the police court, are those Of the
poor who are raised on the street.
They have little home training and
rarely attend school, much less see
the inside OF a place Of worship.
In most cases they have no bust.
ness to be dragge1 into the polio E
court kand compelled to testify to
cases that Come uu der their OBJ ell
walton.
Yesterday morning Annie Kissing
was put on the witness stand aud
IN answer 10 Clerk Nearv if she
knew the nature OF au oath and
II she knew where she would 90 if
She told an untruth, the child an
swered quickly, TO Philadelphia. "
For all that, it was con cludej that
she would make good witness
against the prisoner. There IS no
doubt but thatthe glrl told the truth
aud made very competent Wit
ness.
A boy on being asked il he knew
where he would go # he told ile
quickly answered To the Reform
School. Another ad sad Ii. woul d
60 fishing aud notwithstanding.
such answers 10 the questions put
to them in the police coarl, they
were sworn and testify.
1t 1t is possible, no children uu.
der IA yeats should be pu! ON the
witness Stand aud subjected 10 a
OF OF running lnesuons. Keep
lhem out OF the spo.lec court. Not
mat is any worse than the upper
,Ourt, but it is hard school Tor
children
lT is more than likely now that
lhe warm weather has arrived the
farmers VIII over ooil the good ro ai
question and allow II to 20 bv de-
lault until the winter mas set N
earnest. Then the muddy roads
Will arise like Banquo's $ ghost 10
remind them o! the duty they
shrked. No question is AS vital
10 the farmers of New Castle coun.
~ especially, as the good roads
question hcod roads are a scarce
article in Delaware, at least in hls
county. The last blsrain il March
turned the roads INTO mud puddles
and made travelln. slow and rough
- well.
NOTW1TsTANplNG that this has
been a cud winter ard plenty OF
Ice has been harvested, ,hal wei
E)me commodity 10 the summer
months, has been raised in price.
With the ice trust TO catch us !n
The summer, the coal trust 10 the
winter and Tie Oeel trustthe whole
year round, what is 10 become of
The people With hundreds it is d
struggle tG live, Notwithstanding
there IS plenty OF ora. The sirug.
gle is nearly as hard as wheu there
was little work and everything wa
selling at panic prices.
THE pardonjns OF Montyloo A.
Cole has tecn Tie m.aus OF stirring
up other prisoners 10 Sc, about to
have petitions for heir pardon sent
10 the Board OF Pardnns. 1t look $
As j! our attorneys had let tie
pardonlng business out TO PGllUdel-
phi a attorneys. ltlN proOabIy Y rot
quite so expensive Tor lnus: seeking
parLou~. iAe taking Of He with
rome people IS not hu,l as bad as
stealing ii few thousand dollars
The punishment should be made 10
BIT the cr!mu IN both Instances.
IHF cranN IS stlj running Al Ounl
loose, b"t as he is p2rttcly harm.
less. nobody apparently pays any
attention 10 I'm. 1t Is L pity that
every man can { have his way
about conducting the Affairs ui the
city and State. some men, more
ambitious than others, have tart.
ed newspapers and thus 80. rid OF
bome OF their surplus casn. still,
PHI anthropists are found III ever y
community.
THE Passion Play and illustrated
song exhibition under the direction
Of Professor Coward winch opened