The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-28
FUSS over A GIRL
Nay Result in Invalidating
Juvenile Court Law.
Flora johnson, Fourteen Year
Old Bride, Held at BelOit.
NOT FIRST OFFENSE.
Began Her Career When But
Twelve Years Old.
PhiIlipsburg Judge Tells Why
She Isn't Released.

Frank A. Lutz an attorney from Be
lott may bring a habeas corpus suit
in the state courts to test the validity
of the juvenile court law passed at the
last session of the legislature, and more
directly to secure the release from the
girls Industrial school at Beloit of
14-year-old Flora Johnson. who claims
that she is married to a 17-year-old
Phillipsburg boy named Robert Nc
Lain.
Mr.. Lutz will probably be forced to
take this action to secure the release
Of his client because of the action of
the state board of control today in re-
fusing to order the release of The girl.
The board took the position that the
evidence did not warrant an order for
her release, and returned the papers in
the case to Mrs. Julia Perry, superin-
tendent, with instructions to hold or
release the girl as she in her opinion
deemed of best interest to the girl.
The records show that Flora john
son was committed to the Beloit school
on August II. She ran away before
the officers took her to the school, and
| as soon as she returned to Phillips
burg, she was taken by the officers and
hustled off to Beloit. where she now
is. She then set I'D the contention
| that she had been married to Roy Nc
Lain while absent from Philhpsburg,
and her father sent in a petition to the
board, sOgned by a large number of
Phillips county people. insisting that
She pe reTeased to join her husband,
4 who, according to the petition, was
anxious TO make a good home for her.
The board of control also received
letter from Congressman W. A. Reed
er, stating that he had known the girl
for many years. and that she was of
good family and ought TO be released
The showing was so strong in favor
of the girl that the board of control at
once took the matter UP with L. z.
CountIyrnan, the juvenile court judge
at Phillipsburg, and asked him for an
explanation of his action in sending
the girl to BeIOit. The letter which
Judge CountryTnan sent back was one
of the most forceful- and able presenta-
tions of a case that has ever been made
to the board. It was backed up with
affidavits from County Attorney Moore
from Mrs. Jane McLsain, the mother
of the boy in the case. and from other
parties who swore to the general Dao
repute Of certain parties involved.
This is part of Judge Country
mems letter:
The names of the people attached
to the pe tition are in almost every in
stance those of responsible people,
and why such men would subscribe to
the statements contained in this petit
absurd habit men have of signing any
thing in the way Of a petition that is
placed before them, instead of having
frmness enough to say no.
1.-The first statement that it has come
to light that she was made an object
of malice and sent there through spite
is absolutely false in every particular
and not a single man who signed the
petition has made any investigation
into the matter nor had any evidence
presented to him to prove this state
ment except the bare word Of c. H.
Johnson. the father. who circulated
the petition.
THE claim that she is a young mar
| ried woman etc, is to some extent
doubtful. I am sending out letters to
ascertain If they were married. If she
is you must understand that she had
| been sentenced to the industrial school.
and was being held in the custody Of
the probation officer pending your re-
turn to my application for her admis-
sion. She was incorrigible, and seeking
to escape all the time. and had to be
guarded night and day On the night
when she made her escape she pretend
! ed to be sick. and frequently asked
permission to leave the house. On each
occasion a daughter of the probation
officer would accompany her into the
yard to see that she returned. It has
since developed that she had an under
standing that young McLafn, whom she
now claims to have married, was to be
in an alley near the back yard at a
left the house, accompanied by the
guard, and when she saw an opportuni-
ty ran into the alley, disappearing IN
the darkness. The guard gave the
alarm. but she had jumped into a bug
gy and been driven rapidly away. Not
knowing the method of her escape, pur-
suit was impossible, and they fed to
Nebraska, where they claim to have
been married. II she Is a young married
woman. such is the manner she became
I one; she is IA years old, he is II. and
they were married while she was an es-
! capped prisoner
l THAT her husband desires her to be
Z. with him may be true, but that he is
in financial condition to care for her
and furnish her with a good home is
Z simply joke too ludicrous for serious
! consideration
'''The girl, in addition to her last es-
4 capade with McLain, ran of with q
0 Young man by the name Of Granville
E and her own mother filed a complaint
: against her that she was living with
e him It is a matter of district court
' record in this county that when about
f 70 years old. she. through her parents
S began the prosecution of boy by the
$ name of Hickman for q statutory crime
= and after it was started it was compro-
r missed
:. Mrs. Jane McLain, the mother of the
1 boy in the case, makes affidavit thai
Z said Roy McLain has for some time
past led an idle and dissolute life that
he has refused and neglected to support
| her, his aged mother, and that because
of his neglect she has been compelled
: | to take in washing at the age Of 81
years"
IN reply to the Congressman Reedel
letter. Judge Cpuntryman makes ths
r | following statement:
:, "As to the letter Of Congressmar
{ r3aa55a~ 7 srav7afsfsta talvr caIlad Mr. Rpadel