New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-26
JUDGE GRAIN RECEIVES
PROBAT|ONERS IN COURT
One Hundred and Twenty-Five
Men Who Erred Come to
Talk of Reformation.
REPORTS ARE ENCOURAGING
Visitors Tell of Success in New
Starts and Restitution
Made to Those Whom
They Wronged.

| One hundred and twenty-five of Judge
Grains probationers. spick and span In
! their best clothes, reported to him last
night in the Criminal Courts Building.
Each one was given number as he en-
tered and no names were mentioned ex-
\ cept In the private conversation which
each one had with Judge Grain. Most OF
them were young fellows, though few
gray heads showed In the crowd. Every
one OF those summoned was present ex-
cept a few who were excused for good
reason. The reports were generally ia
| vorable.
Number one and number two were
called together. Number one took his
place beside Judge Grain at the clerks
desk and number two sat In the prisoners
chair within the railing-perhaps the very
/ chair In which he sat when he was con-
victed. Then number three was called and
he took number two's place while number
two sat down with Judge Grain to talk
things over. The probation officer-Miss
Celia Jossum, d. Z. Kimball or d. P.
Conway-sat beside him ready to report
on the progress made by his charge.
Some OF the reports were surprisingly
good. The ambition Of each probatoner
apparently is TO set himself up In an in
dependent business. A dozen or more had
succeeded in doing So and one man VINO
was in the shoe business reported a clear
profit OF SEQ since the last meeting six
months ago.
Another, a man OF thlrty-fve, man.
ages amusement enterprises. He has
I been touring the United States and Cam
ada and reported that during the sum-
mer he made from $50 TO 500 weekly.
His wife. he said, handled the money for
him.
Another was a man employed In a re-
| sponsible position by a big wholesale
firm. They were the compliments against
him when he was convicted Of grand lar
Ceny. He is now holding his old Job and
making restitution for his defalcation
Most OF the delinquents make fair SAL
aries, and the pay OF many OF them
would be considered good by the average
clerk or bookkeeper. Almost all OF them
are paying back stolen money out Of their
pay.
One man was excused because OF
letter he wrote to Mr.. Kimball. the pro-
baton officer who handled his case. The
man lives out Of town. He wrote that he
was employed as a salesman and had re-
Gently been raised from 81 a week 10 SO.
II would cost him 81 TO come 10 New
York for the probationers' meeting, and
he felt that, as he was stralning every
effort to pay back the money he stole. he
should be excused from attendance.
A bookkeeper who is married and makes
SIS a week is making restitution at the
rate Of 50 a week.
Mr.. Cominsky, OF the Jewish Protective
and Aid Society reported that Of the thir-
ty-five whom he had on probation. four
teen had been discharged within the last
six months Most of them were making
good, he said. good many having paid
back the money they stole and some hav-
ing started savings bank accounts The
society. he said, was In need OF funds that
they might have more investigators TO
look up those who. II was suspected. were
trying to deceive the court as TO their
mode OF life.
| over a few OF his guests Judge Grain
shook his head sadly. and told them they
would have TO do better. Most OF them.
however. he dismissed with a CHEEKY
Good night! l am glad you are doing so
we'll" About a dozen had reported faith
fully every week for the period Of their
sentences, and they were discharged from
probation to eat their Thanksgiving din
ner with no sentence suspended over their
heads