The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-26
NEW PLAN ID SAVE YOUNG CRIMINALS Judge feagin Arranges to Care for Negro Youths PUTS THEM ON PROBATION
  Failure to Get Juvenile Court Bill Passed Has Prompted Him to De- wise Other Means to Lower
 Criminal Record.
PUTS THEM ON PROBATION

When the juvenile court bill failed to pass the legislature at the last session Judge Feagin began preparing plan which would cover the situation until the next session of the legislature.
 The plan has been completed for the past day or two and yesterday morning Judge Feagin gave it out. In brief it is to have probation officer to look after all the young negro criminals of the city and see that they are kept off the streets and behave themselves; spe- cial class will be given them by superin- tendent J. H. Phillips of the city schools, and they will be compelled to, attend school, and the negro preachers will aid Judge Feagin in carrying out his plan.
 In Judge Feagin's court there are about ten negroes under 16 years old every week and many of them are charged with petty larceny Judge Feagin will keep a list of these every week and they will be turned over to the probation officer. who will be negro chosen by the negro pas tors of the city.
 Will Swear Him In.
 An effort will be made to get the proba- tion officer sworn in as a special police man, so that he can arrest the boys and bring them into court whenever they fail to do as they are told. Judge Feagin will appear at the next meeting of the police commission and ask that the officer be sworn in.
 The duties of the officer will be to go fO tho Of of hox m rO- bation every day and see that they are either at work or that they are at this school. He will take a written report to Judge Feagin each day and will be or dered to arrest any of the boys who are not living up to the law
 After a boy has been given several chances and it is found that he will not behave himself an effort will be made to get him a home in the country with some good negro farmer where he can be taught to work and be raised properly
 By this plan Judge Feagin believes that a number of the little negroes of the city who are rapidly becoming bad criminals will be saved and that the criminal record of the city and country will be materially lowered.
 Special Class Arranged.
 Several conferences have been had be- tween Judge Feagin and Dr. Phillips with the result that the special class for these boys has been arranged. It will be placed in one of the negro schools and a special teacher will have charge of 1t.
 The negro preachers of the city have been very anxious for Soms plan to be devised to take care of the boys of the city, and they have agreed te aid Judge Feagin in any. manner p15slble. To them will be left the choice If the probation officer and their churches will cont. bute towards the maintenance of the plan. The preachers have also agreed to give q re- formatory for negro boys about SS000 worth of property which they have in Birmingham. On this property, or by the sale of it. Judge Feagin thinks that home can be started which will give ample accommodation for the wayward boys as soon as tine juvenile court hiil is passed.
 Miss Tutwiler to Be Consulted.
 Miss Julia Tutwiler. who is greatly ln- terested in the movement, will be asked to contribute the forty acres of land she has promised and this will also be used that he will not behave. he will be brought back to Birmingham and then sentenced by Judge Feagin.
 The plan Is to save the boys before they become hardened criminals, as they soon will if they are placed in jail with the older negroes while they are stili young.
 With the gift of Miss Tutwier and .he property of the negroes in the city it is thought that before the next legislature meets a negro reformatory can be in suc- cessful operation, and that this will nave great influence over the legislature n pasSing the i1lyenile court hill