Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-23
A MISSOURI JUDGES WAY
His Method of Dealing With Offend
ers Praised.

IF the views of Police Justice Kyle of
Kansas City, Mo-, on the administration of
cases that come under the jurisdiction Of
these courts In municipalities could be
placed in operation here" said a detective
sergeant to Star reporter. land there was
closer cooperation between the police and
judges of these courts along certain lines,
the District would be better off in revenues,
an undesirable class of our popula ton would
get what they deserve and the police would
have a freer hand.
"Of course, all parties concerned here. in
Guiding the magistrates and the police, do
their duty conscientiously and from their
point Of view, and Judge Kyles idea of i'm
provement in our methods relates to our
policies and not to the individuals. 1t is the
question of policy to which l refer
hat Is the use. for instance, of our
patrolmen attempting to break up gangs Of
corner loafers. when, II the officer didn't
happen to identify any one of the gang who
used profanity. they are released without
even their personal bonds being taken. when
they might have been held on other charges
and If not fined-or. better, sent to jail
had their personal bonds taken7 None
whatever, and the corner loafer knows 1t
and so do the polire.
"The policy Of sending vagrant to jail
for a long term. or otner offenders along
these lines. especially Of the poorer colored
class Of offenders, which constitutes such
large majority of criminal cases in these
courts in the District favors the culprit
In eight cases out Of ten by giving him bet
ter food. and ofttimes accommodations,
than he gets when at large, and Tor which
he does not have to work, while the depri-
walton Of liberty, important an element
with Others is viewed with indifference and,
in cold weather, with satisfaction.
|. Then take the question of revenue, which
In Kansas City amounts to the very large
sum of 81 600 month. What is the use
of filming Automobiles any amount except
no aNir Eva low
than half what 1t should be-when they go
out and do the same thing over again? Then
! take the defrauding milk dealers the short
,ns pba the food
In this and parallel instances. These law
breakers should be given the limit of the
law every time without mercy. for food
adulterationists are the most contemplate
Of all swindlers.
"The revenues Of the Police Courts here
could be more than doubled in the first
three months were such policies adopted
law of compensation is little short Of farci-
cal where food adulterationist gets Off
with anything less than the limit of the
offense is sent to the workhouse to be sup
ported at public expense for the statutory
limit of his .offense; the two positions as to
sentences should be reversed.
And where a man is shown to be work.
ing man and has committed some minor
offense. the ends of Justice are defeated in
sending him to jail for long PERIOD de-
priying his family Of the benefit of his
earnings and to throw his support upon the
public revenues, where short sentence
would suffice to teach him his lesson or a
fine would serve well.
Experienced opponents Of the modern
theory of criminology agree that most of
the old practices of the courts in dealing
with certain elements of the aw-breaking
population are wrong and that Judge Kyle's
practices are correct and serve as deter
rents to crime on the part of offenders who
are usually the most leniently dealt with
In the one instance and the most severely
in ,thes other. If the maximum penalty for
selling a short-weight loaf of bread Is $500.
the baker convicted Of this offense should
be given the maximum fine on the first con-
viction. II the maximum sentence for its
theft ts six months, a minimum sentence
should be imposed rather than the longer IL
the baker can get out Of the court on
small fine.
Taken all in all the magistrates and the
police try to work in harmony in this city
and to do the best their judgment dictates
but Judge Kyle's dealings with the criminal
element in Kansas City in giving working
men and others along these lines a chance
and of fining the big fish and the food adul-
terationists the maximum every time has
worked such a revolution In the hilly city
on the muddy Missouri that the principles
for which he stands could we'll be emulated
elsewhere"