Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-20
JUVENILE COURT
LIKE MAT|NEES
SCORES OF WOMEN STUDYING
METHODS
Judge Wilbur and Youthful Offenders
Come to Quick Mutual Under-
standng--M atrons Learn
System Of Reform

Attracted by the quaint manners and
actions of the bad little boys and girls
of the city and anxious to study and
learn of the great problem of reform in
child life, scores of women many OF
them we'll known society matrons OF
Los Angeles, weekly appear at Judge
Wilbur's court room on Friday after
Moons to attend the trials of the
Juveniles.
And a session in the superior court
room where the little people argue out
their troubles and try and impress
Judge Wilbur with the idea that his
probation officers are always in the
wrong is well worth attending, for no
where else in any work among poor
or evil can a student of human nature
find such chances as are offered by. the
Juvenile court, where poor boy and
rich boy stand side by side, all bent
one one mission. that to get out of
trouble in the quickest way possible.
Yesterday as usual the matrons be-
gan to arrive early. Several were at
tended by husbands and one or two
had young women with them VINO also
were anxious to learn of the methods of
the court In the reform of the future
good or bad citizens of the sou thwest.
A line of carriages yesterday stationed
OH the north side of the court house
building turned out dainty specimens
of the feminine world, as though a we'd
ding or some social function were be-
ing carried on Many of the women
were elderly many of them the silent
workers for the best charities of the
city: those women who supply boxes of
candy for the festivals of the poor at
the Christmastide and of whose work
the grim old world is never the wiser.
Await Great Mans Coming
These women went quickly to the
court room, high up near the tower
of the county court house, to watch the
children at their best, at a time when
it is the cunning and skill of the child
mind. with it's marvellous regard for
detail, pitted against the methodical
and school trained thinking organs OF
the judge. But Judge Wilbur under
stands children. and he and the boys
who appear before time generally
reach an understanding in a marvel
ously short period of time,
Yesterdays session threatened TO be
marked by an unusual event, for Su-
prenle Justice Beatty of the supreme
bench intimated that he would honor
the court with his presence, and all
the boys were on their best behavior,
while every seat in the court room was
occupied.
Bailiff George w. Conart received,
bowling the women guests TO the re-
served seats assigned them and keep
ing the bad boys quiet with threaten
ing eye.
ITO the right or "Just leave the
first row vacant for the ladies'" the
smiling Conart would remark with his
most profound bow, while Clerk Sam
Kutz smiled a broad smile and ca
ressed the ample folds OF. a spotless
white vest for the supreme justice
was to appear on the scene and a
special chair had been placed for him
beside that to be occupied by Judge
Wilbur.
With extreme care ConaIt marched
among the spectators and in a low
voice cautioned each and every one OF
them that at the appearance OF the
supreme justice every one in the court
room must rise up and stand out OF
reverence until the justice had taken
a sest.
The members of the audience waited
in breathless silence, for many or them
had not been in court before and the
word supreme Justice sounded TO them
with the same reverent tinge as presi-
dent Of the United States or member OF
the city council. and they were anxious
to view this justice.
All Up for Wilbur
Finally the door 10 the left opened
and the spectators looked up as Judge
Wilbur entered. Not more than hall
dozen OF those present knew Judge
Wilbur at sight, 80 that when they
saw him start to mount the stair &c
the bench every one In the court room
promptly stood up while Bailiff Conari
vigorously motioned with his hands
that they should sit down and wait
for the supreme justice.
incidentally the supreme justice
never did arrive, but the spectators hat
a proper feeling of awe while LOOKING
at the empty chair reserved for Justice
Beatty, 80 that It did not matter Sc
much
The process OF law was as inter.
esting as usual. The boys stood before
the judge one or two az a time, snc
swOre softly - though respecting thl
l. l.