The Washington herald., 1908-05-24


The Juvenile Court Of the District one
Of the least known and at the same time
one Of the most interesting of Wash
ington's public institutions. starts on its
third year July 3. Up 70 the present time
Judge William II. De Lacy has dealt out
justice to more than 1000 children. The
bare figures mean little or nothing to the
majority OF people, for II is only after you
have been and seen for yourself that you
realize the great amount Of time and
patience that Is required of all those in
terested in the court.
The court holds sessions every after
noon. and when the children come before
Judge De Lacy he knows a good deal
about them. for the probation officers
have been out all morning finding out all
they could from the parents and from
other sources. This in nearly every in
stance benefits the child. for If his parents
speak well OF him, and IL is his first
ofense he is pretty sure Of lenlent treat
ment from the hands of the Judge; pro-
vided, OF course, that the charge against
him Is not too serious. As there are a
good Aany cases each day, it makes an
endless task for the probation officers
So much for the time.
Plenty of Patience Needed.
Whatever time is required. double
amount OF patience is needed This is
particularly so in the case Of the Judge,
for II very often calls for a keen judge Of
human nature 10 tell who Of possibly five
or six are telling the truth. Then, too, II
is strain on ones sympathy. It is not
pleasant sight to see a child stand up
alone while the clerk reads the charge.
his face white. eyes bulging. and his cap
twisted into knot in his hand Don't
think that they ali act in that way.
though. There are some who look as If
they would demolish the entire court II
the opportunity offered, or act as IL they
were hearing the trial Of another person.
or. again. give such amusing demonstra-
uons that everybody is forced TO laugh.
Almost the first thing that strikes one
Is the lack of mothers; that is. in the
cases Of the white children. Fathers
there are in abundance. but II is the ex-
cepuon 20 see a mother there helping
her child. OF course, many OF the chill
dren have no mothers: or. again. the
fathers and mothers are separated: or
but there are so many reasons why they
should receive the kind treatment that
they are sure OF from Judge De Lacy
that Il IS both useless and too tedious to
set them down here.
Takes Other Boys Dime.
The other day two small boys were
brought forth. They were so small. in
fact that you wanted TO pick them up
and carry them. Ii seemed that one.
negro. had waylaid the other little fel-
low, white child. as he came out OF a
store and given him as severe a blow in
the mouth as his size permitted After
numerous questions on the part Of the
tuGge, it was learned that the negro had
had a dime. but lost it. He saw the
little white boy with one. and immedi-
ately jumped to the conclusion that il was
his dime. and so when the boy emerged
from the store he proceeded TO recover
his lost property.
Was Il his dimeg' asked the Judge of
the white boy.
NO. sir; my mother gave It to me. I
wouldn't take his dime" Whereupon he
began 20 swell with indignation, tot
though he was
The negro was asked why he thought
the white boy had his dime. but the only
answer that could be gotten from him
was great sobs that shook him from head
TO foot, distance of about two feet.
The Judge then told him in a kind voice
tlgf nnUhf n ha 1fFf1
boys forgiveness. The sobs increased
TO an alarming proportion; and, although
the judge cOaxed him along and made il
as easy as possible, il was fully five min
utes before he could say a word, and
then In such a voice that I doubt II even
Judge De Lacy heard. As they left the
courtroom, the white boy led the way.
waving his cap jauntily in one hand. the
other nand thrust mannishly in HIS pocket
while the negro brought up the rear.
woebegone little bunch Of rags. his can
used as mop TO wipe away the large
tears that still streamed down his cheeks. |
Hears NOnsuppOrt Cases.
Nonsupport cases also come before
Judge De Lacy These. however. nine
times out Of ten. cause more amusement
than anything else. The wife will wrath
eAiS NDNieAN lAleil lltl llAu NdSl given |
her any money for goodness only knows !
when. whereupOn the husband will get
up and state that he certainly has why. |
only Saturday before last l gave that |
woman 40 cents. I certainly does support
her, and she knows IT,"
One woman. cOlOred, declared that her |
husband never gave her a cent for cloth |
Ing. At the time she was arrayed In n |
Merry Widow hat, tan coat OF coquettish |
cut, black pleated skirt, and stylish shirt |
waist When Judge De Lacy inquired In |
a mild tone where they came from. he |
was met with ''Huh," together with a |
look that said more than she could have |
said with her tongue in half an hour. |
The husband. born into slavery. declared /
that he had given her all the clothes she /
had. But, nevertheless. she would have /
sent him 10 the workhouse for a year. as 1
old and feeble as he was, had she had the /
power TO do 50. As II was, she came |
nearer TO being fined for contempt of /
court. Many, many times they come run
ming there with a complaint one week and |
the next are back 70 beg their hus-
bands off.
But to 20 back to the children Every |
thing is done to make it as easy as pos /
sible for them. The court is on F street. |
out OF the business section. and yet with |
IN easy reach At the back OF the court /
IS an open space, which, at this time OF |
the year at least, filled with trees and /
as it is should afford anonla