The Greeley tribune., 1908-11-11
OUR JUVENILE COURT

that her little boy might become q
thief and go to prison.
The boy must visit the judges Of
nee every week and give an account
OF all that transbired during that
week. These reports are all written
up on the judges docket and headed
good. bad, fair. very good, etc. The
judge also receives a report from the
juvenile officer. the parents and the
teachers.
Time and again the Judge has as
sisted many Of these boys and girls
to positions and better environments
and has succeeded In drawing more
than nifty Of them to church and Sun
day school. In many cases he has
called on the assistance of the clergy
and often whole families have re-
cetved the benefit.
| Nine times in ten the childs down
fall was occasioned by his or her en-
vironment, and there have been oc-
casions when the parents tried to get
the children out of their way by ac-
cusing them of crime.
At the present time the Judge has
charge OF a young girl who was sent
to the Home OF the Good Shepherd in
Denver by her parents. who said she
was incorrigible.
The girl was not bad and was sent
home in a short time. Not long ago
the parents filed information in the
county court and tried to have the
girl sent back again. Everything did
not look just right, and the court
made complete investigation. 1t
developed that the child had a step
father. She was but twelve years
old and looked and acted anything
but bad child. She was given an
investigation and the parents were
the witnesses against her The judge
asked the step-father what the child
had done wrong. The man answered.
'Everything.' and when pinned
right down. he could not tell the
court one single thing that the child
had done out of the way. The judge
drew the man out until he felt GER
tain that the step-father actually had
an antipathy for the child. Instead
of sending her away, she was sent
back home. and has been kept under
close observation ever since. Judge
Nixon says that she is one of the best
girls that ever came under his juris-
diction. and the child's teacher says
the same thing.
| Many children have been forced to
/ CTlluc ny uuudtuTdl paTeulS tOT tue
purpose of getting rid of them. but
that will not happen In Weld county
while the present judge holds his OF
flee. and the people, especially the
wayward little ones, will be forum
ate IL his successor has the same mu-
nificent heart and the faculty to
reach down into the puerile souls
and lead the young lives upward and
onward.
Judge Nixon has almost completed
a county organization Of juvenile Of
ficers and representatives. They are
all men or women who take an inter
est In this work and lend their assist
ance through a Christian spirit.
The Judge has taken the matter W
with the school board of every dis
trict. Out of =. total Of ninety-fou
districts. he now has . representa-
tive in seventy. and expects to hav'
the balance in a very short time.
IL his intention presently to call
convention of all these representa-
tives to discuss the best methods fo
this great work. He will have abl'
speakers here, such AZ Judge Lindse.
Of Denver. and others who are bes
qualified to give their observation
and experience. The convention viii
be interesting and the populace will
no doubt be welcome.
An ant hill OF crime has brough
about a mountain Of good.