The evening world., 1911-09-15
ROOSEVELT SITS
IN JUDGMENT At
CH|LDREN'S COURT
Ex-President Makes One Little
Boy Promise He Will
Be Very Good.
YOUNGSTERS A K
Colonel Is Gathering Informa.
ton to Write Editorial
on the Subject.

This was /: notable day In the annals
OF tho Chiidren's Court at Third Avenue
and Eleventh street. for who should
come breeztos into the little courtroom
and take a scat beside Justice Franklin
Chase Hoyt but Col. Theodore Roose-
welt. Ills eyes flashed once around the
room and a bailiHi found himself In.
stlnctiveiy buttoning a siouchy hap at
the bottom OF his coat. The teeth
cleaned and the Justice and court ON.
cials responded with hearty greetings.
The Colonel had come 20 secure material
for some editorials on the corrective
work OF children's courts.
I'm Intensely Interested In the sub
jcct." he told Justice Hoyt. My father
was one OF the hrst members OF the
Children's Society. n ! have always
been glad to help along the work"
One by one the little recalcitrants were
stood before the Justice and the strange
bis man with the SHINY eyeglasses anu
teeth TO answer TO the charges laid
against them. or their parents. by the
officers OF the Chaldren's Society. Col.
Roosevelt followed each case with abb
sorbing interest. BY permission Of the
Court he asked q great number Of aues-
tons. interrosating not only the little
prisoners but the ofhcers and agents o.
the various charitable homes and State
institutions.
One OF the first cases that attracted
the former Presidents special attention
concerned t~en-year-oid Frank Carson
OF No. IS West One Hundred and
Fourth street. Frank was accused OF
petty pilfering In his neighborhood, the
latest Of which was the theft Of two
ears Of corn from a peddler's wagon.
The pettiness OF this offense reused
Col, Roosevelt's Indignation against the
arrest until he learned that the lad
had admitted q succession Of minor
thefts that gave promise of his develop.
ment into a frst class thief unless
something wac done to correct the
tendency.
Franks mother was in court. Sh,
told Of having three other sons. TIVE
younger han Frank. and n older
william. who worked steadily at a trad
and turns over every cent to his mother
each week The story Of virtuous Will
lam excited the Colonies admiration.
SoNs why uoh = sSu ~ ~ w So
your brother" he asked OF the un'
abashed Frank. William Is making
man OF himself. He's acting first rate
Don't you want to be like him?'
Yes. SIR" said Frank.
The Colonel and the Justice wills
pered for a few moments. and ther
Justice Hoyt told the boy he woult
give him another chance to be good.
Hes always had a good mother and
father" put In Mrs. Carson.
I'm afraid your evidence rs TO tn,
mother Is ~prejudiced," said the Colonel
enjoying his joke hugely.
The cases followed one another
swiftly. n TO each the Colonel CAV,
| his earnest attention. When he lsf
the courtroom he said he would com,
back another day.
IT'S been tremendously interesting
| he said to Justice Hoyt. And the worl
being done here Is simply fne. III
bully"
Outside the Colonel funs himself int
his tan raincoat, slapped on his BIZ
black felt hat. and. lodging the aim o.
a couple Of photoGraphers. struck of
afoot through the rain In the same ole
snappy stride that used to lead q pacl
Of secret service huskies 10 sore fee
and desperation In the old Washington
days.