The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15
NOVEL ROADS TO REFORM.
UNI ST'4L PUNISHHENTS THAT
PROVED EFFECTIVE.
Former Mayor % Wilkesbarre Tells
How lie Cured Thief and Couple
OF Drunhards- spanking the sentence
for WE Who stayed Out Nights

WILKES BARRE. Pa. Jan. lA-Former
Mayor Francis Marion Nichols. who labelled
Mrs. Sarah Jones, chronic pilferer, Il am
thief and had her paraded about the
busiest streets in this city says that II
has been his experience that the most sue
ce-sfu means of reformation in police
courts are not those the punishments which
a Magistrate il legally allowed to uflict.
sarah Jones. HI said had been before
me many times Jail bread and water,
and lectures did no good. She continued to
steal. aud | hit upon the labelling scheme
In the hope that it might arouse some sense
Of shame in her .,
AT any rate. although she is now In jail
again for the same offence. she did not steal
from the time she was thus labelled until
after / left office, some four years later.
So the treatment of her was partially sue
CeSsfu
Il recall other cases in which novel
treatment appealing to some emotion re-
suited in cure.
AN honest middle aged German shoe
maker came 10 me one day In great trouble.
He said he was the father OF several young
children and that his wife. who was con-
.iderably younger than he. was beginning
TO behave badly.
she had become friendly with couple Of
unmarried women. who liked 10 90 to the
theat rer, and afterward drop into saloons
with male companions. drink beer and talk
unit, or , o'clock in the morning. She
neglected her home and her children and
obstinately refused to obey his orders 10
vemain in the house.
Il advised him To argue with her. A
couple Of weeks later he returned. Argu-
ment expostuation. threats had failed.
PINT her away from you. then l sug-
geSted
-'Ach. said he. 7 cannot ! hat the
children They need a mutter and she used
10 be a goot woman. luf her yet
Il had an inspiration.
- DO the children behave? asked
sure yes he said.
Surprising they don't obey;' suggested
J Then lick EN- spank en- said he.
There said !. your wife is a big over
grown child, treat her like one
How Vonce| he stammered.
Spank her said l. The next time she
comes home late do not say word but
take her across your knees and spank heI
AZ you would child. Don't be brutal
but make her feel 1t, and when you have
spanked her don't say word. don't ex-
F PLAIN.
Shell have the Law NIT me- he cried
IN attend 70 that ! answered.
We'll. four or five days afterward there
6ounced into my office. early in the morn
ing a rather good looking, plump littl,
wotuan her eyes rid with weeping and In
dignation in every ounce Of her. she burst
into torrent Of words
Mr. Mayor she cried. I want my hus
band arrested. He is a brute: he ought z
he whipped like horse. a dog. lcsme HON,
about > this morning and what de- YOU thinl
the brute did. why -
He spanked you. interrupted.
she gssped How do you know
J told him to- ] said. And further
more every time that you come home late
every time that you neglect your family
every time that you nun around with othe
men or disobey him In any way. ne s goinI
to spank you. ! told him TO ard the lag
will protect him. Now you 60 home ant
try 20 be dutiful wife
~She went home sohbinR. / did not se-
either Of them again, but about four year
later ! asked a neighboT how they wer
doing and found they we're happy and con
tented and that she mad reformed.
Almost every other week there was 70
aome time brought before me A man VII,
i now dead but who was happy during hi
last yeurs thanks 10 novel punishment
which his actions invited. He WIS Al
honest fellow. good father, husband an,
neighbor except when drunk. and 1t scenes
that no inauenoe or punishment could pre-