The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-05
WHAT SHALL Be DONE
WITH THESE BOYS2
Four Little Negroes Show Up
In Police Court
JUDGE FEAGlN PERPLEXED
To Jail Them Would Make Them Grim.
inaIs-To Send Them to the coun-
try Might Be Questionable.
Reformatory Is Needed.
JUDGE FEA6lN PERPLExED

Judge Feagin of the inferior criminal
court of Birmingham was confronted yes
terday afternoon with four little negro
boys who had been arrested the night be-
fore for petty offenses. The oldest of the
boys was IL, the youngest years of age.
Two of them said they had homes. The
remaining two said they had none. Each
of the four said this was the first time
he had been up before the inferior Grim
inal court.
What to do with them was the question
that perplexed Judge Feagin. Was he to
fine these little negro boys? He knew that
If he did so they would be unable to
pay the fines and that he would have to
send them to jail. II he sent them to
Jail he knew also that when their term
of imprisonment expired they would be
no better off than when it began. In
deed, they would be worse off. While IN
jail their association would demoralize
them. They would go in novices in crime
and come out experts Two of them had
no place to sleep and no place to eat.
10oy WOulQ IdNb IellncT WDen lnty came
out. All four boys were poorly dressed
one OF them was shoeless and without un-
derclothing.
The Question.
What was to be done with them?
IF we turn EN- out. they'll be stealing
before morning" said the Judge. "Flog-
ging wont do any good. They're like so
many little animals. Their ignorance,
To- ~ than all
else their poverty will lead them to pill
fering and later to something worse"
Jackson, the negro probation" officer,
came out with his book and wrote down
the names and addresses of the boys. He
didn't know where he could send the boys,
even IL the Judge let them off and put
them on probation.
1t was q hard case, and Judge Feagin
was perplexed.
IF we send these little niggers to the
country in care of white men," said he,
''some people will say 1t is peonage. III
we send them to the country in care OF
colored people they tell us the little ras-
calls will run away and get In their
work elsewhere. If we turn them out
without any care they'll be thieving be-
fore morning, and be back here tomorrow
afternoon. If we send 'em to Jail well
make hardened criminals of them, and
when they get out they'll commit grave
offenses.
What Shall Be Done7
what are we going to do" he asked,
with these little niggers who are not
vet in their teens? Tell me, what shall
we do with them? I'd like to get your
opinion and have you help me-"
These remarks were addressed to per-
son In the court room who, though SYM
pathizing with the purpose of the proba-
ton system, does not approve of the Way
1t Is operated
'rhey ought to be sent to a reform
atory school," suggested the person adj
dressed by Judge Feagin.
A look of despair came into Judge Fea-
gins eyes.
No Negro Reformatory.
There isn't any reformatory school for
negro boys in the state" said the Judge
helplessly.
"There ought to be one," was sug
gested.
"But there isn't any," persisted the
Judge. And again he asked, What shall
we, what can we, what should we doY'
No answer was made to the question.
Judge Feagin led the four boys into his
private office Two of them told him
they had homes near Birmingham. If the
Judge would let them off they would go
home and behave themselves. They prom
Used to report to him one week from TO-
Gay. In case they were arrested again
they were assured they would be severely
punished. Then they were told to go
home.
The Judge looked at the remaining two
little rag-a-muffins. Neither of them had
either a father or mother They had
no home. They didn't know where their
kinspeople were.
Judge Feagn turned to Jackson
Can. you find place for these boys
among the colored people here?" he
asked.
Jackson said he couldn't do so right
away.
Then call mp the old Peoples and Or
phans' home" said the Judge, land see
II you can get them In there temporarily.
And, Jackson, you see II you can't find a
place somewhere for these little niger
boys"
with that Jackson led the two black
brats out of the office.
This Is a concrete illustration of the
problem" sail Judge Feagin. 1.-THE ques-
ton Is: What shall we do?'