Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-30
NEED FOR REFORM
SCHOOL GROWS
UR G n I
CURIOUS CASE COMES UP
7 TO POLICE JUDGE CRAIG
Two Small Boys Calmly Hold
E. Up Another UrChin and
Go Through His Clothes in
Regular Stick-up Fashion :

That New Mexico needs a reform
school is a matter which can allow of
no argument. No one cares to g
it. and least of all the police of Albu-
querque who are up against a live
question every day in the year, as to
what to do with the more or less riot
Gus small boys who of late have caused
more trouble than all the crooks ana
petty criminals in this section of the
world The useless institution located
by a former Legislature at III Rito. on
the railroad and off of every avenue
Of communication that could make II
useful to the territory were 1t IN OPP
Grafton. is in no fair way To get INTO
operation. That the chool should
never have been located at El Itito Is
now recognized by everyone who gives
the question unbiased consideration
and even some of the politicians who
took part in the political dead which
sent il there are ready TO admit that
it was crazy politics and insane BUSH
ness policy. The Eel Rito school, even
when money is forthcoming for IFS
completion and operation, will be of
little use, and the demand for a mod
ern, centrally located school, operated
on modern lines of correction Is go
ing to become 50 great before the next
legislature meets thai something Is ia
BILE to-occur which will solve the infant
criminal question.
A case came up in police court Mon
day which illustrates something OF
the problems the Albuquerque police
have to meet In connection with the
infant with criminal tendencies. 1t is
an unusual case, somewhat worse h a
the others which have a to do win
small boys stealing gunny sacks and
firecrackers. firearms and bicycles
This was "A case of the stick up game
played out in most approved fashion
and done as thoroughly n complete
~ as If il had been done by a pair oil
well trained veteran, crooks. Two
small boys. not oveT twelve years OF
age, one Of them a colOrCd boy, the
other white, Sunday wandered down q
back street, met another small boy
whom they knew had a few pennies In
his pocket, and while one Of them held
him with his arms behind his back
the other went through his pockets
extracting a quarter and some pennies
and everything else tho pockets con
tanned. The we youthful hOld-ups
then proceeded to decamp, leaving
their victim in tears. The boys when
arrested at first denied the robbery
but under persuasion admitted that
the held up the boy with intent tC
take what he might have With him.
There is no way to punish these
boys. Thcy nave been IN tipuDie p''
fore. and a lecture from his honor
Judge Craig, no matter how |olcl'n
and severe, slides from their infan'
shoulders like a duck off a platter
The only sure way to handle sucf
cases Is through a well conducted re-
form school. managed with an eye Il
accomplishing something for the youth
Of the land, and not with the idea OF
enabling some political gamester e
fix himself more firmly on the pub
lie. The bad small boys of Albuquer'
querque have learned through frequent
experiences in police court. that there
is no way to punish them and theii
badness IS growing aggressive ano
dangerous. The juvenile court would
help. according 10 the pol\e ana eN'
pcrts, but there Is no way To provide
for a juvenile our until the lcgisla'
ture meets. and even then the power %
the territory to create such "A court 1
questioned.
1t was suggested YESTERDAY tia
congress should be petitioued 10 pas
= law providing for The creation of u
Venile courts in the territories. an'
this may result In some concerted dc
ton In the immediate future.
II is not 10 be supposed that Alhu
uuerque has more bad small boys than
the rest Of the larger New Mexico
towns. She has her full share but tn
condition existing here Is found every
where else and the need for a remed!
Is pressing.