The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-17
CALDWELL.
YER N M
ESSEX FELLS
TO HEAD OFF CRIME
SHERIFF URGES REFORMS
FOR CHILDREN.
Present Law and Prison Methods Often
Make Youths Criminals,
Sommer Says.

Sheriff Frank Fl. sommer was an inter
esting speaker last night before the men
of the North Orange Baptist Church,
when. with Probation officer John J. Cas-
coyne, he spoke OF the present method OF
looking after the persons placed In charge
OF the county authorities for commission
of various crimes. Mr. Gascoyne gave a
detailed account of the operation of his
department and told OF the good work ac-
complished by sthe probation system IN
slancing several recent cases. without CIV
ing names or locations. one concerned the
reformation of Il young girl
connected who had been reclaimed after
an experience of the most hardened char
acter within a few months. Mr.. Gascoyne
also spoke OF other work accomplished
and explained that by careful supervision
over young offenders many a family was
saved from shame. There was an ample
field for the church men to aid in the
caring for prisoners after their discharge,
the speaker also stated, and he urged an
Interest by the organizations in that field,
This attitude was also Endorsed by Sherift
Solnmer.
Sheriff Sommer continued his plea for
Fairgrounds and recreation centres and
painted a graphic word picture of a youth
ia Newark compelled to play in the streets
and later welcomed 10 the saloon back
room, where a row started and he was
detained in Jail as a witness. Later the
man committed an offense that sent him to
a severe sentence and the State, to the
sheriT's mind, was partially to blame for
the mans downfall, inaSmuch as 1t had
failed to provide Fairgrounds for the child
and an entertainment place for the young
man.
The sheriff urged for the future a more
Intelligent attitude toward the criminals.
He declared the coming generations would
witness persons convicted of offenses
against society confined for indeterminate
sentences and their reform worked out
by the authorities. This treatment, he at
frmed, would be socety's best protection,
as the officials in care Of the prisoners
could return them 10 tho world fitted to
take up their duties as citizens. The Sc
lection of a permanent attorney for the
defense TO be given cases for men unable
to purchase good counsel was urged by
the sheriff, who deprecated the present
method Of assigning the hedglings at the
bar to impecunious prisoners.
Speaking of the cheap theatres where
life is misprotrayed he said the evil was
greater than the saloon back room. He
held the state to be responsible for II.
He spoke of a new house of detention for
witnesses which the Board of Freehold
ers will construct and urged that in future
juvenile culprits be kept absolutely by
themselves, away from old prisoners.
This was impossible under the present
system, he declared. He favored a Sepa-
rate house OF detention for them in the
central part OF Newark, and urged that
a court be there established and children
taken directly there and not lodged for
even an instant in a jail cell. The
Sheriff also favored a system of deten-
tion that would make the boy or girl
detained a ward of the probation system
to be made worthy citizens.
The Sheriff predicted among coming
legislative acts of the winter authority
for an educational criminal court; addi-
tional help to be placed in the Prosecu7
tors office and summer Grand Jury ses-
sions. though the latter may be ordered
by the courts, The speaker also de
clared a revolution in criminal laws would
take place, though 1t seemed but q dream
now. and he urged that 1t was the duty
to take up the work and do a part OF
the labor as 1t suggested itself to them.
He did not wish them necessarily to al
cord with his views. but was confident
with their interest aroused there would
he a corrective change in the present de-
fcier.cits.
John Knox introduced the speakers and
a string trio gave music.