Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-02-09
II WOULD SOLVE THE CRIME WAVE Judge Grace Writes Cover nor Urging Establishment of Reform School. PROTECT LITTLE ONES Youthful Negroes Have No Future
 Pine Blufflan Makes Fine
 Plea.
LITTLE ONES

Little Rock, Ark, Feb. 8.-Judge A. B. Grace, circuit judge of the Elev- enth Judicial District, who has given the criminal laws and criminals much study, today addressed the following letter to Governor George w. Dona- ghey, ill which he advocates the es- tablishment of colered reform school for youthful negroes as solu- ton to the spread of crime among he colored people. Judge Grace's let ter is being given consideration at the hands of the governor and some leg islation along that line may result as the outcome of his good sugges- ton. The letter follows:
 Hon. George w. Donaghey,
 Governor of Arkansas,
 Little Rock, Ark.
 Dear Sir:-Although conscious of the fact that your time is fully occu pied by the multifarious duties of your office, especially during the sessions of the General Assembly, yet as it is peculiarly the province of the governor to recommend needed legislation, I shall ask your indul- gence while I call your attention to matter of serious importance to the public welfare.
 Our criminal laws provide that all persons over fourteen of years of age shall be held responsible for crime in the same manner as adults. Chil- dren over twelve and under four teen are also punishable in the same manner and to the same extent as adults If it is proven that they have sufficient intelligence to understand the nature and consequences of the act with which they are charged.
 The practical effect of these laws is to send to the penitentiary any child over twelve years of age who is charged with felony and who is not proven to be, substantially, an idiot.
 Tn all of the larger cities of the state there are swarms of little chil- dren-usually negroes-between the ges of twelve and eighteen years who give the police almost constant trouble by committing petit larceny and, oc- casionally, what I shall describe 'pet- ty" grand larceny and petty bur glary; that is to say they often steal articles like clothing, bicycles, etc., that are alleged to be worth slightly more than ten dollars. Sometimes they break into stores-usually small establishments in suburbs-and steal candies, tobacco, articles of food, etc. The statutory punishment for grand larceny is Imprisonment in the state penitentiary at hard labor for per iod of not less than one nor more is like Imprisonment from three to seven years. Both offenses may be charged in one indictment and if, on the trial, burglary is proven and also the larceny of goods worth more than $10 then the defendant is subject to a minimum sentence of four years in the state penitentiary.
 In petit larceny cases-the stealing for instance of a sack of smoking to- bacco worth five cents-the maximum punishment provided by law is fine not exceeding three hundred dollars and imprisonment at labor on the county farm not exceeding one year Where the maximum fine is imposed and the defendant cannot pay it he is liable for further imprisonment ot one day for each dollar of the fine and costs. Thus we see that where a child of tender year steals proper ty valued 2t say eleven dollars he must receive penitnetiary sentence of not less than one year, and if the value of the stolen property does not exceed ten dollars he may be sent tC the county farm for term of more than two years.
 In my judgment it is misnomel to call these children criminals end false and inhuman policy to com -