Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-06-13
JUDGE evans
SOUNDS Warming

The case of Charles Brumbaugh, who
was placed in the custody of the sheriff
last week as one not having proper
care and guardianship, was temEorari-
ly disposed Of by Judge Evans on Sat
urday afternoon. The boy was placed
in the hands of Chief -of-police Mince-
moyer as probation officer. Meanwhile
he is permitted to live with his grand
mother.
The utter absence of parental con
troll, it will be recalled became man
ifest through Charles Brumbaugh in
different attendance at school and the
school board, with view of improv-
ing the boys condition. through it's
attorney, Ralph Kisner, brought the
case before court.
Charles wept bitterly as he was led
into court by the sheriff. He is bright
looking boy and on Saturday was very
neatly dressed. Whatever his hard
ships may have been, whatever his
home may lack, it is the only home he
has ever known and while detained at
the Jail he grieved almost constantly.
He was the object of much sympathy
while in court Saturday. He was in
telligenJ enough to catch the full drift
of the proceedings. Whenever the
evidence relating to his home associa-
tions seemed unfavorable he cried and
sobbed most despairingly, but whenever
more encouraging tale was told he
was quick to brighten up and strained
every nerve to catch the full signific-
ance of the testimony.
Borough Superintendent U. l..
Gordy and Truant Officer W. E. Young
testified as to the boys attendance at
school. He was present but SO days
out of 1S0 days. Both witnesses agre-
ed that he was q good sort of boy in
school, but the difficulty was to secure
his attendance. Both also agreed that
no one at home seemed to be in parent
al control and that the boy was with
out the proper guardianship and care.
Chief -of-police Mincemoyer and
John Grier Voris also testified, after
which the boy himself was called to
the stand. The little fellow said he
lived with his grandmother and aunt
and that he had a pretty good
home that both grandmother and aunt
'tried" to treat him we'll. He aoknowl
edged that he had not attended school
anywhere near regularly but he ex-
planned that he was obliged to work.
He was furnished with employment by
the Italians, who paid him two
dollars per week and board. He had
to clothe himself, but portion of his
earnings he gave to his grandmother
for medicine.
Following the boy Grandmother
Brumbaugh herself, was placed on the
stand. She corroborated the boy and
after giving some facts as to his par
entage took occasion to contradict the
police officers in some important testi-
mony. AS result of this mild i'm
peachment the two officers were recall
ed, when they not only repeated their
former testimony with emphasis but
added more of like nature, the effect of
it all being to show that the child is
dependent and neglected" and that
his associations at home are such as to
have a demoralizing influence on his
life.
After consulting with the two as
sociates Judge Evans announced that
he would make no disposition of the
boy at present. He would place him
in charge of the chief.o police as pro-
baton officer until the next term of
court, Oh ths fourth Monday of Sept
ember. Meanwhile, the boy will be
permitted to return to his home.
Before dropping the matter Judge
Evans TOOK occasion to define very
clearly his position respecting the So
cial evil. Houses of prostitution, he
said will not be tolerated and it is
the business of the police to know the
nature of such places. He wanted il
understood, he said, that term in jail
awaits not only those who conduct
such houses, but the inmates as we'll.