The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-02
HIS PITIABLE PLIGHT


F. $50.
In Governor Jelks's parole yesterday
OF n white youth named Phocian
Thrasher, formerly OF Mobile. ana n's
release from the walls Of the Boys IN
idustrial School Of East Lake. story
of pathetic interest has come 70 nent
Thrasher is In more pitiable piisns
than an orphan as he seems 10 nave
been purposely discarded BY MS iatneI
and mother when Is years old because
Of his uncomfortable nature and both
parents have married since, having
agreed to separate some little time Pc
fore the boy was arraigned before the
Mobile Inferior Court. His mother IL
the wife OF Mr.. Fry of MONTGOMERY
her name being Mrs. Ida Fry. Ac-
cording to letter written the Cover
nor by Chief of Police A. 8. Gerald OF
MONTGOMERY, the boys father in Mobile
has also remarked. This has put
Phocian in the unique position OF hav-
Ing a legal father and step-father ana
legal mother and step-mother.
BY the clemency of the Governor,
young Thrasher will be turned over to
his parents. 1t IL not known whether
he will live with his father in Mobile
or with his mother here. It IL under
stood that he will be taken care of BY
his mother and step-father.
1t was on September, IL, Of this year,
that little Thrasher rolled into Mobile
with another twaif somewhat his senior.
He was caught by the police for LOANS
on the streets and was taken before the
Inferior Court of Mobile where he was
he was held for vagrancy He was too
young under the statute to be amen
able to any punishment for this crime.
and II was decided by Judge J. r. AL
ford Of the Inferior Court. after con-
sultation with his father, that the best
disposition of the boy would be to send
him to the reform school at East Lake.
He was accordingly bound over to the
school where he has been since.
1t was charged, in letter of Chief
Gerald to the Governor that Mr..
Thrasher Of Mobile was naturally
averse to caring for his son when he
hove into Mobile after leading a vag-
rants life in Atlanta and elsewhere.
This is strongly denied by the father
and Judge Afford gives 1t as his Inn
preston that Mr.. Thrasher appears to
be earnest in his promise to take care
OF his son.
Phocian is given credit on every side
for possessing a bright mind but he
was allowed to go in unwholesome
company, 1t seems. while in tho forma-
tive period of his youth.
The youth was awarded to his moth
er in the decree of the court granting
duty of the future care of Phocian fails
more upon her rather than his father.
The Governor wrote the following on
the file papers of the application for
Phocian's parole:
This boy, Phocian Thrasher was
committed to the school at East Lake,
charged with vagrancy. He was COM
mitted from Mobile County. His moth
er and her husband now represent to
me that they will take care of him and
control him In the future. If he In pa
rolled, and see that he does not offend
again.
'Tt Is ordered that he be released
from the Boys Industrial School, and
paroled dependent upon his future
good conduct"
Youths like Thrasher are liable to be
committed to the Industrial School at
East Lake under a special law for the
reformation of Juvenile criminals ID,
this State. The school is always