Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-18
9 YEARS FOR
LAD OF IL
BURGLARY CHARGE AGAINST
YOUTH
ASHEN PALE AS HE HEARS HIS
SENTENCE
FumbIinq His Cap, John Lewis Tells
PitifuI Story of Temptation
While Wandering Streets
of Strange City

| Rarely is it that the criminal depart
ment of the superior court is compelled
to witness the sad tale of the young
criminal not yet full-hedged man. When
this is the case the pronouncement OF
sentence is not a very easy matter with
Judge Smith. There is only one instance
when he is more grieved, and that is
when he pronounces sentence of death on
the guilty murderer.
| Yesterday a scene of this nature was
staged in the superior court. Broken
hearted. ashen pale, fumbling little cap
in his fists, John Lewis, lad of II years,
walked before the bench of the criminal
| department and in a feeble voice pleaded
| guilty to two informations charging MIN
with burglary. Realizing that all eyes
and ears were riveted on him the boy
bowed his head in shame and stared va
cantly on the floor.
He barely seemed to know what the
spectators, the attorneys and the judge
or he himself was doing. Almost in
lethargy brought on by the emotions
which the prisoner of all others expert
| ences when for the first time in his lie
| he Is met face to face with the vast
ness of the gulf by which society Is sep
arating itself from him, the young man
started in terror when the court called
him by name.
John Lewis came to this city from
Portland, Ore, July IA. For while he
"bummed" about in the cheap saloons
and ate off the free lunch counter. AT
night he wandered sometimes in the resi-
dence district, noticing houses, sleeping
at random and by snatches, wherever ne
could.
Driven by Desperation
July 81 becoming desperate, he robbed
the house Of John McNeilly. Two days
after that he burglarized the home or
Julie E. Godmark. Then he was FOUND
out and his arrest followed.
That was about what his testimony
amounted to with reference to his crimes.
GLOW old are you? Seventeen" asked
the Judge. How did you come to do 1t
John WINGED. There were tears in ms
ewes as he said in his boyish way Il
don't know, Judge. 1 got down mere
meaning to do well. I'm sorry and L
| oughtn't to have done it. But L saw
other fellers and heard them taking
about it and thought it was easy.
| bad company?' asked the judge
Eyes, sir" was the response.
/ .'Haye YOU any reason why the judy
ment of the court should not be pro-
nounced upon your asked the bench.
| There was pause. Then
at is the Judgment of this court that
YOU be confined in the state prison at
San Quentin for nine years, covering
both informations.
Lewis said, nothing, WINGED, fumbled
the cap and stood like statue of youth
full misery Then the hand of the deputy
was laid on his shoulder and the LAD
turned his back on the court and specta-
tors hurredly. When he reached the
door where the grown-up and haro-
hearted criminals were awaiting his re-
turn for their own trials to be called h'
passed its threshold. Then, looking once
more with his eyes full of tears and de-
fiance the youthful criminal grabbed the
door tightly and slammed It, as II to
bid threatening farewell to the society
which outlawed him in spirit for the rest
| of his life.