Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22

given brief talk on Christian manhood
and citizenship, put In a way that appeals
to boys On their visit on the 18th each
boy comes before the probation officer per-
| sonally for heart-to-heart talk. His flu
ture career Is talked over but never the Of
Tense for which the boy was committed,
for that is closed chapter in his life.
Since the establishment OF the court
about 1,2Jo boys have been on proba-
ton. The number on probation at
present is nearly 100; and the probation
work is regarded as successful. or the
boys on probation So per cent never re-
turn to the court on another charge. Ninety
per cent of the boys keep a good proba-
tionary period. carrying out the rules well.
This probation work, Ii is estimated has
saved the District nearly 1856. 900, which
II would have had to pay out If the juve-
niles were committed to ,the Hart farm,
where the maintenance of sixty of them
now cost $4,000 per year. In that time.
too. the boys have earned $4,000.
The probation officer in charge OF this
work In the District. and the man who has
brought II up to its present high standard.
! is Zed HI. Copp. Although of Puritan stock,
he was born near Fishers Hill. the his
torfc battle-ground of the beautiful Shenan-
doah valley during Sheridan's famous raid.
His early days were given to farming.
Later. he taught In the public schools.
eorresponded for the daily and local papers.
studied for the ministry, was evangelist,
a successful pastor, an editor. and became
a traveller of wide experience. For the
past fifteen years he has been a close stu
dent of the criminal classes, first as an
assistant chaplain of prisons, and later as
a probation officer. He has a special fond
ness for children.
In his ANALYSIS of the situation as TO
the temptation of boys In the city Mr.. Copp
finds many sources of crime. But there are
two which stand out above the rest and
which. in his opinion, are primarily the
cause of many crimes The first source Is
the gang of boys who flock together. Many
cases before the court were shown to have
bcen the work of organized bands of boys
Of whom only part were caught. and many
times those who were captured were the
dupes. Coal has been stolen from dumps
BY gangs OF boys; an another gang vas found
visited stores and robbed them while the
proprietors were waiting on one Of the
gang for a little purchase. Two notable
gangs broken up through the probation
off1cer were the Jesse James gang and
the Forty Thieves gang. the members
of which were filed with what they read In
The second cause of deiinquencies among
BOYS, Mr. Copp declares. are the cheap
theaters. In many cases investleation
showed that the object of stealing was to
get money to buy theater tickets, and even
boys even stole from their mothers to get
tickets The associations at the theater, the
character OF some OF the plays and the
environment, in the opinion of the probation
officer is conducive to ohenses among
youths
The ideal court. according to those who
have studied the subject, is one in which
present policies are better and more fully
carried out After July l next this Ideal
court VIII be Appropriated. under the pro-
visions of the law which was drawn by the
Commissioners and was recently passed by
Congress The law provides for separate
and distinct Juvenile Court. and Its own
Judge, clerk and baiiifs. There Will also
De two probation officers instead of one. as
at present. The court, II is expected VIII
be held In building separate and distinct
from the Police Court, although probably
not In the house of detention, which is re-
garded as an ideal place. were such ar
rangement possible.
Mr.. William H. DeLacy. who is to be
Judge of the new Juvenile Court, is re-
Rarded as an excellent man for the posi-
ton He has been visiting the present
Juvenile Court since his appointment TO
learn its methods and procedure; and II is
understood that he will study the courts in
other cities and may visit some OF them. so
as to be well prepared to take up the I'M
portant work for which he has been chosen
The other officials of the new court have
not been announced.