The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-03
ENVIRONMENT OF A BOY
MARK HIATT WILL BE TAKEN FROM
HIS MOTHERS CUSTODY.
Problem Before Judge Stubs in
Juvenile COurt-Several Lads
Punished.

The greater part Of the ses sion Of Juvenile
court yesterday afternoon was taken up in
hearing evidence against the st.pmother of
Mark Hiatt, a fourteen-year-old boy, ar
rested on the charge of lettering. The ar
rest was made by Patrolman Green on
complaints made by relatives and neigh
bors of the boy. 1t was said that he and
his stepbrother were not properly cared
for and had often been compelled to go one
whole day without food.
When the boy was arraigned he was
clean and had the appearance of being
smart boy. Patrolman Green was the first
to give evidence. He related how he had
called at the home of the boy, and when
the latter saw him coming he ran bare
footed from the house and one mile west
ward. Green said the boy had always been
on the streets at night at late hours and
was always dirty and unkempt-looking. He
them told of the stepmother, Mrs. Frank,
who, he said, did not bear good reputa-
ton, as she had been arrested two months
O'Brien's saloon, on Kentucky avenue. He
said while he was running the district
where the saloon is located he often saw
Mrs. Frank drinking in the winerooms with
men. A young man claiming to be a cousin
of Mark Hiatt testified that he had gone to
O'Brien's saloon with Mrs. Frank and an
other woman and purchased beer for them
While they were waiting for another man
with whom they had an engagement. A
number of relatives of the boy were put on
the stand and they also gave evidence
against the woman. The husband of Mrs.
Frank was in court and said the stories
of his wife's actions was new to lin. He
said he was not at home often, and when
he WAS In town his wife always appeared
to take good care of the children James
Frank has been married to his wife but
four months Mark HATS father died five
Judge Stubs, after hearing the damag-
ing testimony against the woman, decided
to allow the boy to be looked after by Mrs.
Webb, of the Indiana State Childrens
Home Society. Mrs Rodgers, of the State
Board of Charities, was present, and said
she had Investigated affairs in West In
dianapolis and found that the present home
of the boy was not what 1T should be-
Thomas Hiatt, an uncle of the boy de-
cided to keep him until such time as the
members of the Board of Children's Guard
Stubs said it was the worst case of neg
lect that has come to his notice since he
has been judge.
Corporal punishment was administered
to two boys in court yesterday afternoon
and would have been given a third but the
defense of one little colored boy won for
him the sympathy of the court and he was
discharged. One of the boys logged was
Alfred Wickham, white, who stole two
gasoline from the Princeton Hotel
The boy became confused on the stand and
tent on committing perjury. For that rea-
son fine of S. and costs was assessed
1t was RENTED when the boys father
promised to whip him.
The other boy was Nathaniel Miller, COL
ored, charged with stealing French harp
from one of the department stores during
the holidays. He was found guilty and
Judge Stubs asked his mother to fog him
She refused, saying she was troubled with
heart disease The boy was then taken to
the office of the matron, where he remained
until o'clock. when his father called and
administered the whipping.
Joe Engerson, white, and Jerry La Rue
colored were arraigned on the charge of
stealing woman's pocketbook at the Park
Theater. 1t was learned that the Enger-
son boy was demented, and for this reason
Judge Stubs allowed him to go home un-
til he can be sent to the Home for Feeble
minded Youths at Fort Wayne. In the
case of La Rue, when Judge Stubs asked
him if he wanted to be whipped, he wiped
the tears away and pleaded earnestly.
ledge, don't want to be whipped at ALL
said he. His manner in telling his story of
his connection with the crime convinced
Judge Stubs that the white boy had been
guilty of stealing the pocketbook. For
this reason the judge allowed La Rue to
go home with his mother.