Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-13
FOR MAYNARD YOUTH
APPEAL OF q II. COPP OF CHILL
DREN'S GUARDIANS.

AS the result of an article which was pub
lished in The Star some days ago much
interest is now being shown in the problem
of properly taking care of the persons who
are fugitives from home and therefore fall
into the clutches of the police. That story
was in regard to a boy who had left his
home in Richmond and, after trampng
about the country. was picked up in this
city without money or food. He was turned
by the police authorities into the street.
Finally. he was found by C. A. Massie of
the Prisoners Aid Society and sent home
The incident brought out the fact that there
Is no proper way to take care of such per-
sons and to prevent them from becoming
criminals. Students of the criminal prob
lem took an interest in the matter, and
they have been devising ways and means to
fill the need.
Il. II. Copp, agent of the board of chill
dren's guardians is close student of this
problem. He discussed the matter with a
Star reporter at some length this afternoon,
saying:
Il am glad you made prominent the case
OF John Howell, the boy fugitive from
Richmond, Va. Effort was made to have
him return to his home. but, owing to con-
gress!onal restriction on appropriations
seemingly available for such purposes, it
failed
The Juvenile Court had nothing to do
with the case, because the boy was not
charged with any offense. His people hav-
ing been communicated with refused to
Sehd Ior MN because he was idle and shift
less and had been away from home before
Just what to do with him was serious and
PeFplexlng question that under existing
conditions, could have but one answer Tho
case however, is but one of many which
occur with painful frequency Some have
been sent for by their parents. some have
been taken under temporary care by the
"a D. ehiidren guardians and sent home
w.
good advice. lunch and liberty
.NoW mink the time long overdue has
aLrIVed 10 tell the Washington public under
we .,J1 hanoIGap this particular phase of 1u-
,ehlIe work is conducted Washington.
being Mecca for tourists naturalIv at
tracts The boys. and there scarcely masses a
week when the house of detention does not
aoiu from one to five New York Phila-
uelphla, baltimore and Richmond furnish
the great majority, while few come from
nearby local points. Some are bows of we'll
to-do parents who are anxious to have them
IetulH nome and consequently nearly al
"a!s come Tor them; others. being of mod
crate means. send for them while Others
sun whose boys, having gone wrong again
ana again. are disheartened and djsgusted
ana consequently disclaim any further re-
Sponslpllty, and advise that the boy be sent
10 the reform school. That is inpracticahia
ana unlawful The boy has committed No
oIense against the law here if he is held as
a simple fugitive. and to incarcerata bino
for what he has done AT home Iro,,Id b.
Ioose-Jolnted justice to the bow as we'll as
sIedt injustice to the taxpayers of the Dis
trict OF Columbia. There being no public
money available for the return of fueitiyes
there usually is but one course left o,,ar1
"Mch has already been referred to-
A Burning Shame.
at seems a burning shame that the o.,-
i'ai city OF the United States-the heart of
our national lfe-just now so wisely nour
ing 10
provements, has no fund to aid Juvenile
fugitives back home when their parents re-
pudiate their responsibility The hand Of
the insane. the pauper hand the criminal
hand and the hand under guardianship can
an reach INTO the treasury and find helm
cut the too-Often misguided, deluded hand
OF lllusioned youth is barred
Therefore l sincerely appea1 m +ba
phiIanthropic business men of the CITY To
put at the disposal of the probation officer
iupd which may be drawn upon to take
nome abandoned fugitives | do not mean
TO conhne the appeal only to business men
out TO all classes and for any amount Send
remittance or pledge to John w Douglass
agent OF the board of children's guardians
A monthly report of the receipts and ex-
penditures, citing incidents OF cases with
holding names will be given through the
press.
Il say Take home the boy because any
other course is folly in two-thirds of such
cases. Experience proves that of those sent
home about one-half are not heard from
after they leave the city, and about one
fourth do not reach their destination. Espe-
cially is this latter true of that class of
boys whose conduct a home has desig-
mated them black sheep The only proper
course with such is to take them home
and carefully learn the conditions which
have led up to make them run away, and
II possible, remedy them Should a true
case of so-called incorrigibility be found it
should be brought to the attention of the
authorities, with instructions to properly
incarcerate. Unless this plan is followed
the boy will doubtless use his easy means
of getting back, If he goes at all, as a pre-
text for another runaway trip to some
other city. Thus shall have ultimately
a confirmed hobo-idle, fed and feared. This
plan l advocated in an article in The Star
of May 81, 1905, under the caption of The
Tramp Problem
"A fund of 500 ought to cover all the
cases in a year. and there are cases where
If the proper help could have been given
promptly. doubtless more than that amount
might have been saved the state, as in
after life the criminal was Prosecuted l
appeal for humanity's sake for these way
ward boys who. under proper guidance and
help. may make the best of citizens, but
who. If deserted by home and cast off
abroad, will live to make his home his
country and himself sorry for it,
The fund has been started rolling by Mr..
Copp by d donation from him of 50.