Evening journal., 1910-06-08
CITY JUDGE IS
FOR FAIRGROUNDS
Would Give Every Boy in VIII
mingtOn a Chance to
Play Ball
POINTS OUT DANGER
OF STREET GAMES

Municipal Court Judge Edwin r. Coch-
ran, Jr., discussed the value Of municipal
Fairgrounds 10 the city Of Wilmington,
in an interview on Monday with an
EVENING JOURNAL reporter. The judge
emphasized as Of primary Importance. the
necessity of enforcing strictly the ordi-
nance against the playing of ball games in
the streets. This ordinance. still in force,
was passed in 1857, and prohibits the play
ing of shinny. the throwing or catching of
balls, the throwing Of stones, or the use
OF slingsin,or on, the streets, lanes. or
alleys Of the city, under a penalty Of 81
fine. The danger, said the magistrate, of
serious injury to people or vehicles, or OF
damage TO property, was obvious, and ac-
cidents OF the sor- were continually hap
pening. A striking illustration was brought
10 Judge Cochran's attention recently, not
officially, but through a friend A few
weeks ago, a group of boys was play
ing ball on one OF the streets of VIII
mington, when one of the boys accidental
~ threw the ball through a window of a
nearby house. The ball struck a ten
months-old baby, and as result there
is some probability that the child viii be
blind for life. Shedding. on the streets and
sidewalks Of the city in the winter is an
other pastime INDUCED in by tho children.
which is dangerous TO life and limb of
passers-by: and should not be permitted,
said the Judge.
Judge Cochran stated that the ordn-
ance heretofore has never been enforced
with strictness. partly because OF the re-
luctance 70 arrest children, and partly
because of sympathy felt for the boys in
their small opportunity for outdoor recre-
alton. the city parks being equally for
hidden territory with the city streets. The
attempts TO enforce the ordinance have
usually been limited 20 a breaking up Of
the games by the policeman on the beat
with dispersal and warning of the boys
AS soon as the policeman was out OF sight,
the game was resumed, the large size Of
districts preventing the continual watch
Of all his territory by the policeman. Such
a method has proved ineffective, said the
Judge, merely resulting I'm lessening the
/ boys regard for the law.
In the first place. Judge Cochran says
emphatically that II an ordinance is on
the books II should be enforced II II is a
bad ordinance. that will be the quickest
way TO its repeal. In the second place, he
believes that the ordinance under discus
sion is a good law, necessary safeguard,
and for the best interests of the commun-
fly as a whole. Consequently he has given
strict orders to the police for its enforce
ment. Two cases have been brought up
Z this spring in the municipal court. last
week. Of boys arrested for playing ball I'm
the streets One boy was discharged on
previous good conduct and as It was a
first offense; the other boy was fined one
dollar. The cases have brought out com
plants from parents, who say tho police
should allow the boys 10 play ball IN the
streets because they have nowhere else to
go: but the judge thinks that two wrongs
will not make a right.
Speaking of the boys side OF il. Judge
! Cochran is heartily Of the opinion that
every boy in the city should have chance
to play ball, and he favors public play
grounds supported by tho city The boys
are allowed, except where the owners OBJ
/ iect, to play ball on the vacant lots In the
city, and many boys take advantage OF
this privilege. There arc many vacant lots
in various parts of the city. and the judge
thinks that numbers of boys who now
play ball in the streets with the excuse
that it is the only place they have. could
without much Inconvenience go to some OF
these lots.
Judge Cochran says, however, that mu-
nicipal Fairgrounds, where the boys would
! be under supervision. would have superior
advantages. The big boys would not be al
lowed TO crowd out the little fellows, and
parents would have the assurance that
their boys we're under good influence. The
Judge believes the city should pay the
expenses as matter of duty to its chill
dren. He appreciates The good work that
has been done by the three Fairgrounds,
supported chiefly by private subscrlp-
tions, that the city now has. With vaca-
tion days, what TO do with the boys on the
stretes is an increasing problem for the
city officials.