The Washington times., 1906-09-23
COURT WHERE MERCY
TENPERS JUSTICE
Moral Lessons Taught at
Bar of District Juvenile
Tribunal.
GUIDING YOUNG FEET Alright
Parental Neglect Responsible for Ma
jority of Petty Crimes of
Youth.

The court crier's voice has stilIed the
somber chamber wherein the Juvenile
Court is in session. and Judge De Lacey
has taken his seat ready 20 hear OF the
crimes OF the youthful offenders in IKE
dock. who during the previous night
were gathered up in the police drag net.
Among the youthful prisoners on the
bench there are boys and girls ranging
IN years from SIX 70 sixteen. charged
with various oneuses.
The proceedings OF the court for juv-
enlles are different from that of any
other court. The crimes charged
against the young prisoners are fire.
QuenUy OF a grave nature. But justice
is tempered with mercy. There is moth
.ng In the court proceedings that tends
TO make q young boy or young girl a
candidate for the hardened criminal
class. but all is calculated 10 give them
start on the path OF right living and
good citizenship
Clerk Harper has before his eyes. the
daily police record on which is listed
the names Of the offenders and the
crime upon which the judge must pass
after hearing the investigation made IN,
the probation officer
A Ten-Year-Old Culprit.
Julius Cole" calls the clerk and a
small, timid looking little fellow OF ten
years stands up. He is shaking with
fear sufficient TO excite the sympathy OF
any person. for the lad has a clear eve
and looks the judge straight in the face
The judge is told that the boy DUP
loined bicycle which he saw STANDING,
alongside the Curbing and rode II or
depressing his tears with some dim
Guilty the little fellow admitted To his
honor that he stole the wheel and an
pealingly asks the judge 10 forgive him.
The boy is sent 20 the Reform School
for six months and IS promised that
good behavior may get him on the pro-
baton list
Gertrude Simpson" again calls out
the clerk, and a pretty, cherub-faced
girl Of fifteen rises and walks over 10
a chair allotted 10 the Offenders near
the judges bench, An anxious-looking
mother, whose face bears lines of care
and worry, is seated in the middle OF
the room and peers over with curiosity.
Judge. this girl is charged with in
corrigibtlity," the clerk states. she
runs away from home and is unmanage-
able. Her mother is here" The parent
steps forward and explains.
My daughter is wayward and has
gotten beyond my control / can no
longer do anything with her. She runs
on and stays away sometimes at night
once or twice I have hunted for her
alone on the streets after night time
because she would not come home"
BY order of the court the eirI was
turned IN
Guardians and placed In the House Of
Correction.
Child Victim of Drink.
A revelation OF the filth and squaIor
in which some classes live I'm the dark
alleys and slums in different portions
OF Washington came TO light In the
next case called by the clerk The pro
baton officer had picked up a half clad
youngsteT Of seven years. who was al
most starving IN hut I'm Southwest
Washington. because OF the drunken
ness OF perverted father who spant
his income for liquor and left the lad
and his mother I'm want The little fel-
lows name was called and as he march
cd up beside the Judge. pathos WAS
written in every step be took. He had
lived on bread FOR several davs. and this
was given him by Sisters Of Charity who
first learned of the unfortunate con-
dItion OF the home. Probation Or1caar
Copp investigated the case and acuuaint-
ed the court with the facts The court
ordered that the lad De placed under
healthful Influences and sent TO school.
Another case which engaged the AZ
tention of the court was one which
afforded an insight into some Of the
avenues leading to crime in this CITY.
which are fostered through the induI-
Eences Of father or mother Charles
Johnson was the name of the sixteen
year-old boy who had been picked up by /
the police of an outlying precinct and |
charged with stealing. The goods were /
recovered and the boy admitted the /
theft Investigation showed that the I
h'y's mother and father worked hard /
an day, while he remained coziIy tuck /
ed In bed, spent his parents money. and /
would frequent different stores near by |
and ''swiPe" anything not nailed down |
The boy got two years I'm the Reform /
School where he viii meet with rlgor- |
Gus discipline and be taught principles /
Of industry.
Neglected by His Father.
f"rther down the list of Youthful /
prisoners was one little fellow arrested /
eN The police, who had stolen several /
ioaves Of bread 10 keen down the pangs /
~ starvation. The probation officer dis
covered that the boys father made a
good salary ut his trade, but spent #
an III dissipation. The lad. whose
mother died while he was vet an infant
went without food for many davs. while
inc haHent Was spending his time in
T,NelfH- Almost desperate from hun
''e I'a said he had % steal The /
i.-aEe weighcd the faotg il, tb, ,,-. 90,
besides reTrimandiug th4 f,tba- -,1.oe5
the boy under good home infue1crs an5
occurred him employment
The Juvenile Court officials declare
and their opinion is based unop r1an,,
years of close study. that drunl,ar,r,.ss
IN the home is the cause or two-tbirds
ot ihe lhVe'iLs oIenses- Speaking uDon
rtaHflarf14F -----t Z