La Junta tribune., 1910-04-09
,uv.nl,. Delinquent. Sentenced.


The final chapter In La Junta's re.
cent juvenile sensation was enacted
in the county court yesterday after.
noon when Judge Mcdaniel sentenc.
ed Mabel Pifer and NevA Lance TO
the State Industrial School for Girls
1t Bedford. near Morrison, where thty
are to remain during their minority.
Judge Mcdaniel visited this institu-
ton during the past week and v thor
oughly satisfied ~ to its character
and the excellence OF the manage
ment He belives that both the
community and the girls will be bet
ter off BY their confinement there.
0While rendering his decision Judge
Mcdaniel took occasion to pay hh re.
spects to some people who have
been charging that bribery was sue.
cessfully resorted to In the two
cases under. consideration. and that
the girls would not meet the same
fate ~ three others previously tried.
He hoped his action now would sat
hfy the critics and detractors Of the
court and Its officers. and although
he did not pretend to possess the
wisdom Of Solomon he hoped that he
had hved long enough In La Junta
- convince most people that he was
not 4 fool.
A portion OF Judge McDaniers de-
csion that we commend to the earn
est consideration Of every parent In
La Junta Is - follows:
In making final disposition Of these
cases It occurs to me that some OBJ
servations concerning them. may prof
itably be made. have no desire
to probe wounds already deep and
painful, but q sense Of duty to this
community impels me to say that the
primary responsibility for the condi.
tions revealed by this investigation,
lies with the parents whose lack Of
parental care allowed opportunity for
the conduct which has brought these
young girls into court. My inclina-
tion il to pass over this matter Of
the parents responsibility without
comment. but there are other parents
in this community vAo nesd T.
MeeetG ~ tn laDsslsass.
kWss99-tBsGe - Saoaa- -
lO0sstsasay ~ ~ 8u111 q ssaa1cs
confessed By so0s of tAsse gifis. con-
tinuing In some Instances Tor two
years. her parents cannot excoe
themselves BY saying that they did
not know nor suspect It. II h the
duty Of parents to know At all times
the whereabouts Of their girls until
they reach years Of discretion. and to
guard them from persons and influ'
ences that would imbue them with
wrong conceptions OF life and ts
duties. and when parents fail to do
this II is the duty OF the Juvenile
courts to take their place.
I believe another very important
duty Is neglected by most parents.
and that Is TO meet every inquiry that
naturally comes with the growing In
teliigencc and development Of the
child. with fullest Information. Had
that course been intelligently pursued
with these girls. and with the boys
that contributed to their delinquency.
their knowledge OF themselves and
their sense OF personal responsible
ity and Of duty to others would have
prevented the conduct we are called
on to reform.
have known parents who express
pride in what they called the limo
cence" Of their daughters Of twelve
and fourteen years Of age. In most
Plnstanccs the only basis Of this pride
10 the Innocence" Of the parent. for
the child has gained from playmates.
the knowledge she ought to have re.
ccived from her mother. Ignorance
b NOT innocence. but danger. and the
mother who leaves her daughter TO
gain knowledge Of her most impor,
tant functlons and duties. In the In.
perfect and danscrous form In With