The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-10-24
HOW To REFORM
CRIMINAL LAWS,
And to Prevent Children
from Becoming Crimi-
mails; Fine Addresses.
At THE PRISON CONGRESS

ances About the Criminal - olice
Magistrate Trent, of Canada, Tells How
to Save the Children From Becoming
Criminals.
By the Associated Press.)
omaha, Neb., Oct. 1S.-The National
Prison Congress which has been in session
here since last Saturday Will adjourn to-
morrow night. 1t has been characterized
especially today and yesterday by some
part cu.arly fine addresses.
Quoting President Taft as saying that
The administration of criminal law in
this country is a disgrace to civilization
Judge c. A. De Courcy, OF Lawrence, Mass,
Justice of the Superior court of Massa-
chusetts, before the American Prison As
ISOLATION tonight pointed out that the Uni
ted States was conspicuous for the great
number of unpublished murderers.
THE defense OF insanity, the limitation
of the power Of judges aud the character
Of estiInon allowed to be introduced in
behalf Of the defendant, were some of the
evils which, he sad, ought to be recti-
tied,
The number Of hoinicides in this coun-
try for 1910 were S.975-an increase of
nearly 9t0 over the number il 1909; yet
but one in Sc We're capitally punished in
1910 Is against one in II during the pear
preceding" said Judge De Courcy.
1T is said that in 1896 for each million
of the population there were us homicides
in the United States; in Italy less than u;
in Canada less than 13; in Great Britain
less than 8; in Germany less than 5.
In the last year in London. with a
population of seven millions, there were
bat nineteen cases of murder. OF the nine
teen murderers five committed suicide. All
of the others except four were arrested
and either convicted and executed or com
mitted to the insane asylum.
In New YORK city, III cases OF hOml-
eide were investigated by the grand jury
during the last year, but only forty five
h0micides were committed in that city dur
ing the last year. Only one of the of
tenders was hanged: fifteen were sent to
free. In Louisville, with a population of
224,Oo0, during the last year there were
d cases Of homicide and not a single MUIR
years ending September 30, 1910, $50 cases
of homicide were disposed of and the death
penalty was imposed in but y cases. In
North Carolina in the last year there were
al homicides, and in Ohio 1o1, and in
each an absurdly small number capitally
punished. The report Of the Attorney-G Gen
eral Of Texas, states that there were 1,O4S
Indictments for murder in that State dur
Ing the years 1909 and 1910 and undoubt-
edly a large number Of homicides in addi
ton for which no indictment was found.
an Alabama a conviction for stealing
hides was recently set aside because the
Indictment failed to state whether they
Weit muic, COW, goat OF SuceD n1UeS. ana
Indictments were dismissed because father
was spelled farther lin South Carolina)
because the letter "i' was omitted in spell
ing malice Tin Alabama").
Judge De Courcy then suggested some
criminal law reforms which included sim
plifed forms Of indictments, changes in
the selections of juries and in the rules
governing pleadings.
How to Save the Children.
T prevent children from becoming
criminals is the best investment a govern.
ment can Mako SAi6 William Treat
police magistrate of Regina Sask, Canada
In an address before the American PrisoI
and the United States, should cooperate il
creating improved laws for dealing will
delinquent Juveniles.
"All faint that attaches to criminal Law
ing Children said Mr.. Treat.
The child ought not to be tried fol
anything. There should be no charging
with an offence no committal, no sentence
AS an American p~enalogist has said, tn
great thing to realize is that the anal
is not the State versus Johnny but tn
State for Johnny. The probation office,
should attend the Juvenile Court not a
a prosecutor but to represent the interest,"
of the child. The child should be re
garded as a ward OF the State. to be caret
Tor by it, not as an enemy of the stat
to be punished by it. The Supreme ques
ton IS: Is the parent a fit person to con
tinue as a guardian of the child: II not
what ought to be done with the child
The proceedings. l repeat. are not agains
the child, but in it's behalf. Instead, there
fore. of trial. charge. committal. t!er
should be nothing more than inquiry int
the condition and environment Of tn
yoangster and the conduct of its parents
If anyone is on trial in the juvenile
court. it is not Johnny but his parents
the charge being breach of trust amount
ing to cruelty. There should be enforce
ment to the uttermost of the parental obi
CATION. The point I wish to emphaslz
Is that instead of a trial the duty OF tn
Juvenile courts should be to find out ex
act'y how the child is being reared am