The Washington herald., 1912-01-14

From a study of the thousands of heart
rending nonsupport cases which have
come under his observation during his
judicial experience, Judge William H.
De Lacy, OF the Juvenile Court, estimates
that 90 per cent of the domestic trou-
bles in the District are the result OF eX-
cessive indulgence in the flowing bowl.
"I do not hesitate in saying that liquor
Is the cause OF 80 per cent Of the domes-
tic troubles which fare reviewed by this
court" said Judge De Lacy yesterday
to q representative OF The Washington
Herald. II understand that in New York
City interference Of mothers-in-law leads
the list as the cause OF home troubles.
Such is not the case in Washington,
however. I find that most mothers-in-
law have a high regard for their sons
in-law The mother-in-law Is a much
maligned but useful institution I have
often wished that had a mother-in law.
II I had, it would be possible for my
wife and me to go to the theater now
and then. OF course, not infrequently
we have cases IN which mothers-ln-law
are the cause of strife. but these cases
will not begin TO compare in number with
the homes broken up by drunkenness and
acts resulting from indulgence in intoxi-
eating liquors.
'I should place the interference of
mothers-in-law far down the list. 1 should
say that the greater portion of the re-
manning 10 per cent of domestic trouble
is caused by infidelity on the part OF
either husband or wife, a lack of appre-
citation OF the sacredness Of the marriage
vows"
During the fiscal year 1911 52S persons
L,Wn 81 a-F1,VV g.
the nonsupport of minor children. In
843 cases sentence was suspended on con-
dition that the defendant contribute a
reasonable amount for the support OF
the family. Judge De Lacy never re-
fuses to give a nonsupport defendant a
chance. He frequently pronounces a
sentence TO the wOrkhouse, mOmentari-
ly frightening the defendant, only to
state after a pause that he is willing TO
suspend sentence II the offender propose
some terms.
After agreeing upon the amount which
the defendant is to contribute toward
the Support of his family, Judge DE
Lacy hastily makes a record Of the re-
quirements upon the information, and,
without glancing up from the desk, ad-
dresses the nonsupport offender.
''Once each week." ne says in a firm
tone, you are TO go to the desk SER
geant Of the police precinct in which
you live and leave the amount agreed
upon You are to take the money in
person, so that the sergeant may see
that you are sober. Now, remember
that II is never too late TO make de-
posit The station house is open all
night 1t is always ready to let persons
in, but it is not every time that it let's
them out"
Only in habitual cases Of nonsupport
are defendants committed to the work
house at OccoquRn- During the past year
100 Offenders were sent down the Poto-
mac TO OccoQuan Greek. But while these
Offenders are in the workhouse, the fam
uy is not left to become burden on the
Community. The court provides that the
nonsupport criminals at Occoquan send
their earnings-5O cents a day-through
the hands of the clerk of the tribunal, to
aid in the support of the neglected fam
lily.
From Delinquent Husbands.
Thus. while the offenders are pun
Ished, the families are aided. Thou
sands Of dollars have been transmitted
to neglected families in the District
through the medium of the court since
the tribunal was established q little
more than fve years ago. During the
past year, S42,132.47 was paid through
The court by delinquent husbands for
the support of their families. OF this
amount, S3S,6s4.s7 was collected by the
rourt from men under suspended SEN
tence, and S3,447.50 was paid to families
from the earnings Of men under SEN
tence at Occoquan. These figures show
how efficient the system Of parole is.
Since the establishment OF the court
sl66,ss6.23 has been transmitted to
families through the agency of the
,ourt OF this amount Sl57276.73 has
been collected from men under sus-
pended sentence. For the six months
from July i, 1911, to January l, 1912,
4 record has been established in court
collections. During this period S23-
1855 has passed through the hands Of
The court clerk
During this past week s761.5o was
collected and transmitte0to the fami-