Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-06

Judge Lindsay's Methods Applied 90
Family Jars In Chicago.


Judge Lindsay's Methods Applied 90
Family Jars In Chicago.
Judge Ben Lindsay's methods OF dealing
with the vicious youth OF Denver Is under
going in Chicago a practical test of its
usefulness in winning back home deserters
and removing family discord. jail SEN
fences whereby youngsters were thrown
into the company OF confirmed criminals.
Judge Lindsay regarded as fatal to the
reformation OF boys inclined to go wrong.
Instead Of the jail he tried kindness. help
fulness and consideration. He made him
self a boy among boys, showed them what
was wrong and what was right. encour-
aged them TO avoid temptation and APP
pealed to their honor with almost unvary-
ing success.
Judge Mckenzie Cleland of Maxwell
Street police court of Chicago ineugurated
a similar probationary system Of reforma-
ton of family troubles q few weeks ago
and held on Saturday night last his fret
session OF court under the new plan. 1t was
one Of the strongest judicial sessions ever
held in Chicago.
The first fruits Of Judge Clelands plan Of
another chance" proved most encouraging.
reports the Chronicle. But one out of all
those arraigned before him had proved ir-
reclaimable and was sent to the Bridewell.
Joseph Klemmer, at the age of Is, was
convicted of incorrigible vagrancy and was
sentenced to a fine of SIS and costs, SEN
tence which in his case means a jail term
Of 1s2 days.
Seventy-five business men were present
in the court room who had responded to
Judge Cleland's invitation 70 come forward
and lend a hand in assisting those less for
tunate OF their fellows who had slipped in
the struggle to regain their foothold.
1t was a motely crowd which filled the
room. Men, women and children represent
ing the lowest ranks in society and claim
ing as their birthplaces practically every
country in the civilized world. The faces
Of the women were lined with toll and hard
ship and marked with many sordid sor-
rows, but for once in their dreary lives their
countenances wore look of hope and hap
piness. They had come to testify that their
erring husbands and sons had responded
to the call made to their manhood and
were ready to make a fresh start in the
paths OF reform.
The process in each case was a simple
one, but replete with human interest. The
clerk called a name and some toil-grimed
man would step forward, followed closely
by his wife, the woman frequently carrying
in her arms baby or holding by the hand
an older child.
WELL" Judge Cleland said, addressing
the woman in a kindly voice, what has
been the conduct of your husband since he
was here last?"
With pathetic promptness came the reply:
Hes all right now, your honor. He
don't drink no more and he's working
steady"
With questioning eyes the woman would
watch the Judge. She fidgeted nervously
with her hands and now and then placed
protective hand on the arm of the man
whose faults had not succeeded in destroy
ing her affection.
With the exception OF a few cases Judge
Cleland ordered the prisoner to come before
him again on February 10 so that he might
have further proof of the reformation af-
fected. In many instances II was apparent
that the judges language was not dis
tinctly understood by the women, who were
too nervous and too little acquainted with
the English language to follow his words,
but their import was readily caught and
with beaming faces they led their husbands
from the courtroom, clinging tightly to their
arms as IL afraid at the last moment some
stern officer of the law might hale the man
to prison, Judge or no Judge
The forgiving quality OF womans heart
which was 30 amply demonstrated in Judge
Cleland's court was proved in one single
instance to have been exhausted. After
twenty years OF persistent neglect and cru
city Fannie Levy found her heart steeled at
last against the father. of her children. The
evidence showed that the man, Joseph
Levy, in a period of twenty years had con-
tributed 10 cents to the support Of his fam
fly.
1T can not take him back your honor"
said his wife, broken-hearted looking wo-
man OF middle age, who was led before the
Judge by her 1e-year-old son. He has had
chance after chance and It is no good. He
will never be any better"
The pathetic scene was rendered yet more
pitiful when the son stepped forward and
corroborated his mothers words. Judge
Cleland looked perplexed and turned toward
the man who begged him to allow him a
few minutes private conversation. The
same request was made by the woman,
but Judge Cleland said 1t was case where
he could not interfere and dismissed both
parties.
The element of tragedy which had en-
tered into the session when wife and son
had turned their faces from husband and
father was to be still further intensified
later in the evening.
Mary Robinson. an elderly woman of re-
spectacle appearance, was brought into
court to answer a charge of confirmed
The complainant was her son
William. who had had his mother arrested.
asserting 1t was impossible to keep her
sober. The woman had been -paroled and
when she appeared In court showed no
signs OF being addicted TO liquor. Judge
Cleland continued her case until February
Is in the hope Of finding that her reclama-
ton would become permanent.
At the close of the session Judge Cleland
addressed a few words to the business men
who had come into court TO express their
willingness to assist the Judge in his efforts
at reforming the wife deserters and drunk
ards In his district.
IT wish to thank you, gentlemen" he said,
"for coming here and for your promises OF
assistance IN this work, l believe you can
do very great amount OF good and you
will be rendering a service to the entire