The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-05-23

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is very well established by their writ
ings. They claim that sharp punish
ment at the outset is far more deterrent
than a suspension of sentence. In the
one case the man who has fallen into
temptation is brought to a realization,
and a very keen realization that if a
crime is committed, the outraged law
of the community demands the statute
punishment. In the other case there
are a few words of caution from the
Judge, perhaps lecture Of some length
upon the evils of stepping from the
right path, which go in at one ear and
come out at the other, and the released
prisoner goes off with the conviction
that he has escaped very easily, while
his companions gather the knowledge
that first crime can be committed
with impunitY
The hobble-de- hoys who engage in
such crimes are not of any high order
of intelligence. But they can see the
logic of the suspended sentence and
they very naturally calculate upon it.
They do not realize that what is done
by the court is with view to give
them a chance to reform They simply
view it as a bit of softness upon the
part of the judge which can be always
calculated upon, and that they can go
forth free either to commit other petty
crimes or to urge others to the COM
mission of similar crimes.
One is led to these thoughts by the
number Of petty larcenists who have
been brought up before the Circuit
Court this term, the majority of whom
have been set free under suspended
sentences. Most of these are over
grown youths. or quite young men. The
fact seems to be certain that the con-
tention of those penologists who call
for sharp punishment at the outset is
sound and that leniency is in many
cases a grave error. and fosters petty
crime rather than leads the criminal to
higher and better path.
We have unfortunately a considerable
number of idle and worthless young
men loafing about the city The Star
has frequently called attention to the
subject. They do nothing but loaf and
gamble, and it is from among these
that the petty criminal springs to be in
turn gradually turned into a greater
criminal. These nursery landmarks Of
crime as it were are formed into regular
gangs, and are to be found in various
parts of the city. They gather in Pala-
ma, and are the terror of the small Chi
nese and Japanese shop keepers whose
stores they occasional loot in part, if
not wholly The storekeepers fail to
complain lest a worse attack be made
upon them, and it is a fact that COM
plant has been made to the Deputy
Sheriff by these retailers, with the pro-
Viso that he would not arrest the hood
lums, but give them a good talking to.
At the wharves there are some fine re-
cruits of the hoodlum army, though
this gang was pretty will broken up
about a year ago, At Moilili there is
fine selection who have things pretty
much their own way.
In the vicinity of Wyllie street there
is particularly well organized gang. 1t
is much addicted to gambling and has
regularly organized guards who keep
watch upon Wyllie street and Nuuanu
Avenue. The guards are small boys
who are apparently playing on the side
walk. AS soon as any suspicious per-
son come along a signal is given the
dice go into one pocket, the money goes
iUto another, and there are the stolid
looking loafers, innocent of anything
but innate idleness. On Sundays the
regular force is increased by contin-
gents from town There is some open
land between Nuuanu Avenue and the
foot of the Nuuanu Ridge. Upon this
land, in fact in the very center of the
open space, the Sunday operations are
carried on, and there is the same sys-
TEN of guards thrown out, but they are
at a greater distance from the main
body and there are more of them. The
whole process can be seen with good
glass from Pacific Heights. Nothing.
however, but a paid SPY could bring
the gambling home, and the Circuit
Courts in their wisdom have set them
selves against paid spies.
We have growing up in our midst a
very bad set Of huodlums, and some of
these days we shall realize it. The
misfortune is that many of these hood
lums are supported by industrious
parents. They do not know what it is
to need a meal, nor a place to sleep in.
They get money out OF their friends for
. gambling purposes, and when the worst
comes to the worst they steal either
cash or what can be turned into cash.
Sometimes they may even work little.
Such types need no suspended sentences
they need a sharp lesson as soon as
they come before the judges. LenIency
is utterly lost upon them.
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