The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-06
Shocking Case of Human De-
pravity Is Unearthed.
Fourteen Year Old Girl Com.
paniOn of TOughs.
WOULD NOT REFORM
Stole From BenefactOrs Who
Would Help Her.
She, With Two Brothers, Will
Be Tried as Incorrigibles.

| A 14-year-old girl, Alice Gano, hand
some but extremely illkempt, has been
checked in a life of shame and snatch
ed from a rogue's OBTAINING arm, by
Patrolman Fribance, who took her to
the tenderloin department of the prison
whence she has been referred to the
juvenile officer, with the city Mission
rooms as a meeting place. Alice and
her chums have long been seen to go
out with toughs of the lower end to
the great anxiety of the Christian
workers. Whether home influence or
Environment is at fault Is not stated
by those interested in the case. The
home is at 614 Lime street and the
| father works in the shops The family
has been partially dependent on the
Provident Association during the win
ter. The mother is wholly incapable
OF handling the five children of whom
Alice is the eldest and claims to be
sick at most times. 1t was the inten-
ton of the Provident people to get en-
ployment for Alice but even at the As
ISOLATION building she proved dishon-
est, confiscating the milk money from
the pantry, and before that theft had
been traced to her. had gone to work
at a home where she started away with
many silk understands under her own
and other articles stuffed in her waist,
| the matron upon examination had to
partially disrobe the girl and further
| more refuse her employment.
Thus ended the honest employment
| of Alice, for she does not work at home,
being found upon many occasions sit
ting on the floor reading yellow back
novels Her companions are little older
than herself and quite as incorrigible.
The mother upon being told about her
daughters thieving expressed no sur
prise and apparently disregarded it en-
tirely, nor does she see to her daugh-
ter's whereabouts before nor after
nightfall.
The family has been in the city two
the children were brought up to the
station to Mrs. Thorpe yesterday, all
said to be incorrigible. Upon COM
plants unnumbered from the truancy
the twin boys. Ivan and Iran, to school
but they broke away from him and
| fled to their own withstand they are
but 10 years old. The home, the beds,
cleanliness which startles the charita-
| BILE visitor by the supposed impossi-
bility of such an existence in the sur
rounding comparative neatness.
The three older children must ali
stand trial for the reformatories to-
morrow before Judge Schoch. Beloit is
the only hope for the girl as the cir
cumstances are viewed by the authori-
ties Of young degeneracy and she must
be removed from her present environ
ment.
"Gladness" has fallen into the Eaton
crook sanitarium. "Gladness." whose
| other name, used by his grandmother
is Robert, was yesterday surprised
with others in game of craps in the
Shaw pool hall on East Fourth street
by Patrolman Leach. Halt all, you
are under arrest was the cue for
'Gladness'' to exit but he was seen to
vanish and was brought back later on.
Dan Butler charged with running the
place and James Morris charged with
being found in were taken to the sta
ton and released upon bond. Robert
Brian, alias "Gladness," was brought
before the judge this morning smiling
and scattering his good will through
out the court room. SIS your name
Robert O'Brian," asked the judge. at
am, Sir" answered the polished ebony
countenance showing a double line of
ivory whose wilderness exaggerated by
the setting was only equalled by the
| corresponding CLINT from the white of
his eye which accompanied each ex-
pansion of the pork chop shute. "But
you have another name that people
Sir, they calls me 'Gladness' every
where I goes" ooh, 'Gladness'-but
why that?" Cause I never gets mad
Judge" said the smiling face and
"Gladness'' proceeded to tell how he
won his name. He never f1ghts-he
just turns the other cheek when struck
a la the Sunday school coach, he says,
though he has been in the police sta
ton on various charges times I'M
numbered.
"Gladness'' does not know exactly
how old he is-doubtless "Gladness''
has been in the old world since its es-
tablishment but his mother did not
mark the first known appearance
down, he told the judge, so they just
have to guess at it and by several
methods of deduction and induction he
| is calculated to have been 90 years
gladdening the earth. He now dwells
| with his grandmother at S18 on Lake
| street and does odd jobs about town
picking up nickelS and dimes. He
| had just turned IS cents over to his
grandmother and she returned 10
cents for him to spend as lavishly as
he chose so he promptly resorted to
the pool room, SO he says, to play I'M
| til he lost a game and had to pay his
dime. Asked if he was not squander-
| ing his money he said: ooh no, judge,
| complicated way that L never have
a great deal on hand" "Have you got
enough to pay for a 500 bond ?"
| mo. I'll jess stay heah till the trial.
have which remark is no doubt true
of any place where "Gladness' rests.
''But how will your old grandmother
get along while you are here, Glad
ness.'' "Oh she still has that money.
and bought a barrel of coal the other
back less you all keeps me heah too
long"
But "Gladness'' protested no know
ledge of the game of craps and was
left to brighten the prison room un-
til tomorrow evening when their trial