The Washington times., 1911-07-03
Has Birthday to Mark End
of Half Decade of
/ Existence.
THIRTEEN THOUSAND
PERSONS HANDLED"
But the Judge, William H. De
Lacy, Has Led 1t to
Success.

The Juvenile Court is five years old
and going on six" today. 1t has had a
birthday to mark the end of half 4 dec
ade, during which il has handled"
more than 1900 persons whose sins Of
commission or omission made them
amenable 20 the courts jurisdiction.
The court celebrated its birthday I'M
pretentiously, unostentatiously, but, It
may be surmised, with complacency,
for at least 50 per cent of all the per-
sons 1t handled" were lifted out of the
mire Of sin or the slough of despond
and set upon their feet and a-walking
once more-or maybe for the first time
along the straight and narrow path of
righteousness.
But One Head.
During all the five years of the courts
life 1t has had but one judge. William
H. De Lacy. He has handled" all the
1900 and more cases. He has heard
the stories of all the persons that play
ed parts in the 1909 melodramas.
He has heard the real story of the
1900 and of the kith and kin, the
friends and enemies of the 1900. And
he has not become embittered, but is
a cheerful optimist. It's that IS per
cent Of success that's kept him so!
The Juvenile Court was created by
act Of March 1906, and II was establish
ed in July, the first day of which fell
on a Sunday, so that yesterday was
regarded by Judge De Lacy as the ami
Nersary. The creative act gave juris-
diction over persons under seventeen
-nonsuppoR of wife or children, or
guilty of contributing to the delin-
quency of minors, or guilty of violating
the child-labor laws.
Appointed by Roosevelt.
Judge De Lacy was appointed by
President Roosevelt. The work of the
court constantly grew in extensiveness
and in usefulness as its officials became
more and more Skilled in solving the
problems Of those who travail and are
heavy laden.
Its last year has really been its most
successful. This may be indicated by
the fact that persons guilty Of non
support paid to their families through
the clerk of the court about $4,000,
considerably more than fifth of the
total of $4,000 paid during five years.
How much other money was paid di-
rectly by de!inquents after reconcile
ment between members of families had
been affected cannot be estimated.
A monetary value is of course not
considerable in the work of an institu-
ton like the court, but it probably saves
the District 10000 merely by keeping
people out of Jail.
De Lacy's Aim.
Judge De Lacy and those working
with him have more and more improved
their methods of making the work of
the court corrective and probationary,
instead of having n tendency TO be pu-
nitive, which quality It is not purposed
TO have. AS few arrests as possible are
made.
Children are generally cited to appear
and not restrained by force if they COM
ply, as they usually do, with the cita-
,tion. While they are on probation af-
ter conviction they must appear twice
a month and see Judge De Lacy. He
cheers them up. The same rule is fol-
lowed with adults
Children are placed in school, IL that
is possible. Otherwise work is got
ten for them.
Praise for Others.
Judge De Lacy praised the other Of
ficers of the court today. They are
besides Judge De Lacy and Clerk Jo-
seph Harper. Deputy Clerk Charles
Beirne, Bailiff John F. Craven. United
States Deputy Marshal William ].
Kirkland, and the probation officers,
Miss. Jean F. King, the Rev. Zedd
Copp. and John r. Dillon.
He had also this to say about the
york of the court: Its success is
due in incalculable measure to the
Metropolitan Police, the physicians,
and the hospitals of the District
Judge De Lacy spoke hopefully of
securing another building for the
court The present building is made
Quate, he said.