The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-08-08
REPORT
OF Probation Officer Purcell
For The Year
Contains Information OF A
Valuable Character
And Recommendations That
Would Be OF Advantage
For Welfare Of Children If
Put Into Practice
Much Good Accomplished By
The Juvenile Court

Mr.. Patrick Purcell, probation Of
ficer, has filed his annual report with
Probate Judge Berry for the year
ending July 81. The document is quite
lengthy, covering nine type written
pages. 1t shows total of 1853 calls
answered and Investigations made.
There were 103 children before the
court and 62 hearings were had. In
connection with his duties during the
year Mr.. Purcell travelled 1,037 miles
on foot, 80 miles in vehicles and 1895
miles on railroads. From the report
the following extracts are taken:
4 desire to state that the past year
has been quite a busy one for the
court and its officers, as you will no
tice from this report that large num-
Der of complaints have been filed
during the year. Many hearings were
had but thos report will show that u
large portion of the complaints were
settled without bringing the matter
into the court. This was done in or.
der to keep the names of the children
complained of out of The court rec
ords; yet l am sorry to say that 1t
was necessary, after exhausting ev-
cry EFFORT, and when beyond the con-
troll of parents and relatives, seven
children were committed to our state
industrial schools.
81 am pleased to say that much good
has been accomplished during the
past year in the way of removing
temptations from the paths of children
and bettering conditions in places OF
amusement where children frequent.
The curfew regulation is enforced by
the police department and is great
help in keeping children from lettering
on the streets at night; and further
/ am pleased to state that the organ
izations and meetings of our moth
ers' and teachers clubs of our city
have done great deal of good, and It
is to be hoped that these meetings
Will continue in the future and bring
into their ranks every mother in our
community, and that such organiza-
tions may spread all over our county.
"Our people generally are taking
more interest in the Juvenile court and
are becoming better acquainted with
the juvenile act and the provisions Of
the law appertaining to the same. ]
feel that our probation system has ac
complished a great deal of good as
this report will show that about
eighty-ive per cent. of the children
placed on probation have made good
AS will be seen, only nine out of sixty
four children on probation during the
their probation orders and We're com.
mitted to industrial schools, From
this probation list call to mind seven
boys tor young men now who We're
charged with felonles, and being over
sixteen years OF age, under the pro-
visions of the law, could have been
committed to the Mansfield reforma-
tory; but instead they were placed on
probation. All have made good, and
have learned trades and are now earn
ing good wages, and are determined
to grow up to be honorable and useful
citizens.
II am sorry to state that with our
girls we have not been so successful,
To save boy we can always find
those who are willing to lend a help
ing hand, but alas! with a girl it is
so different, Scarcely ever can | find
those OF her own sex who are willing
to give poor wayward or fallen girl
chance. Time after time have l ap.
providing home for fallen girl. The
answer | always receive is, 'if she Is
a girl who has fallen l can't have her
in my home" Men will aid us in lift
ing up the fallen boy, but women are
slow to assist In redeeming a fallen
girl. Consequently our probation list
will not show that we have been as
successful with girls as boys.
"And now, as in all former reports,
| earnestly appeal to all church organ
izations and societies who are banded
together for the moral good of society
and all officers of the law, and espe-
cially to parents, to aid the Juvenile
court in removing temptations and