Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-23
JUVENILE COURT
Speakers Point Out a Great
Local. Need.
SAVE THE - CHILDREN
FIRST w1NTE9 MEETING OF THE
HUNGRY CLUB.
Present Court is Not Adequate-Condi-
tions in Baltimore Pointed Out
by Judge Heuisler.

Washingtons need of an entirely sepa-
rate court for the hearing of cases against
Juvenile offenders was emphasized last
evening in a number of speeches delivered
at the first annual banquet of the
Hungry Club an organization composed
of persons interested in sociological and
philanthropic work in the city The din
ner was given in Freund's banquet parlors,
on 10th street, and there were about fifty
members of the club and guests present
Mr.. Thos C. Noyes acted as toastmaster,
and speeches were made during the evening
by Mr.. Zed H. Copp, probation officer of
the District; Judge c. ~. Heuiser of the
juvenile court of Baltimore, Mr.. John w.
Douglass of the board of chidren's guard
ians and Major Richard Sylvester, super
intendent of the metropolitan police. Great
interest was evinced by the guests in the
several speeches, and the meeting was
characterized by a spirit of enthusiasm.
Protecting Children
After the guests had disposed of ex-
cellent menu. Mr. Noyes announced that
the general subject for consideration Was
THE Prevention of Crime Among Chill
dren." Under this general theme, sad Mr..
Noyes, would be considered three topics
the present condition of the Juvenile court
in Washington, the operations of the jul
Veniler court in other cities ana the needs
of Washington.
The tendency of the authorities during
the last few years, said the toastmas;er,
has been to deal with the youthful Offender
before he has developed his Maynard ten
denotes in degree. Efforts are being made
to prevent the dissemination among young
boys of so-called literature of degrading
clara cter, and to prevent the youthful Of
tenders against the laws from coming in
contact with the degrading Influences of
the station houses, the police court, etc.
Present Conditions.
The POSTMASTER called upon Mr.. Copp to
speak of the present conditions of the iuve-
nile court here
Mr.. Ccpp said that the Juvenile court is
an innovation in jurisprudence and in crimi
nology TIE first Juvenile court in the coun-
try was organized in Chicago July 1, 1900.
The first session of the court for youthful
offenders in Washington was held January
Is. 1902 AS The Juvenile court now exists
said Mr. Corp, il meets every reasonable
expectation. and the faults of the institu-
ton If any are IN he system. The infu-
| ence OF the court he, said, is everywhere
noticeable. -
Mr.. Coup said othat some of the disad-
vantages of the present system We're as fol-
lows: The juvenile court mas no certain time
for meeting and the Sessions are frequently
postponed unit! late III The day on account
of the congested condition of the adult
court The yor.hfu Offenders are held IN
the regular court room while waiting for
trials, and hear evidence in profanity and
| cases of even worse character, or else they
| are kept for hours ia stuffy cells and their
| parents are of,ligedii to- wait around the
| dingv Police CourR IAnether Disadvantage
| he said is that there is too much work TO
do and too fswSto dozit. In conclusion Mr.
! Copp said:
Go pTpSpDf conditions of the
| courts and alleys of the city exist we will
have TO deal with children of depraved tend
| encies Another thing that adds to the
| number of youthful offenders in Washing
| ION is the lack of q compulsory education
! law here TOO many children are permitted
| to remain out of school by thelf parents.
| Many children are Also allowed TO roam the
| streets at night with scarcely any restraint.
| The bows and girls who are thus free from
| parental control are growing up trained III
| the life OF the streets. There should De
curfew law in Washington to correct tils
| had practice The immoral conditions
| amonp adults in the courts and alleys of
| Washington are also conducive to the de-
velopment of criminal tendencies among the
| boys and girls who are obnged 10 I'VE III
| those suualid quarters. These things de-
| nand the closest attention of the citizens of
| Washington. ;.
"Provision should also be made in the
national capital for guide hall an lns .
tuition similar to the Y. M. {. A, Wherc tne
| colored youth OF the city might reel nee u
! go and spend their evenings. City farm
gardens should also be provided for, as they
| will not only assist in the cultivation or
| desire for country life. but will also furnish
| a means of livelihood to many
| when the question of properly caring
| for the child has been solved there will be
no further need for jais. charitable lnstltu-
| tons, police courts, policemen, etc
| In commenting on Mr.. Cops remarks
! Mr.. Noyes mentioned his experiences sew
! eral years ago as Police Court reporter. At
| mi he said children were thrown IN
cells with professional criminals. where
they learned many things they should not
| have learned from those verSed In crlmi-
nality. The conditions now are somewhat
| better he said, but the improvements in the
system must not stop where they are. With
| out casting any reflection upon any of the
| ridges he said that the mind of a Judge
| who has devoted a large part of the day to
/ deciding cases of adult offenders is not in
proper frame to decide the cases of juvenile
| offenders. Provision should be made for Il
| separate court and separate judge.
Conditions in Baltimore.