The Mankato free press., 1912-02-09
JUDGE VII. COMSTOCK
PUTS BOYS ON A GRILL
Gave Them a Lecture That Ought
To Sink in Very Deep.
TRIO MUST FIND EMPLOYMENT
What the Final Outcome Will Be
Depends Upon Course the
Youths Take.
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily. ...
! twenty-five dollars and costs were
assessed up to the two men who
pleaded guilty to the charge of hav
ing permitted minors in pool rooms
operated by them. The fines were
paid in Judge w. l.. Comstock's
court this morning.
| Before passing sentence, Judge
Comstock made few remarks re
garding the practice of allowing mi
nors to enter pool halls. He said
that he realized that the defendants
had no intention of violating the
laws in this case, but that the dan
gerous feature in allowing minors
to frequent the halls was the culti
walton of a disregard for the law
Observance of all reasonable laws
should be strictly enforced, while il
the laws were unreasonable they
should be repealed.
Not intentional Violation.
Attorneys S. 3. Wilson and John
E. Regan appeared for the defend
ants. Both lawyers stated that the
wrongs committed had not been In
territorial. The Judge said that NO
fragrant violations of the law had
been made and his talk was not in
the nature OF censure, but that he
suggested the defendants to be more
careful in the future. If students OF
minors annoyed them and persisted
In gaining entrance to the pool halls
the proprietors would confer favor by
making complaints and he would be
glad to pass severe punishments. He
thereupon passed the minimum sen
tence.
Degree of Charge Changed.
With the municipal court room
nearly filed with young men, the
three boys who were arrested re-
Gently for stealing a bottle OF wine
at the John J. Lamm drug store,
appeared before Judge Comstock to
be sentenced this morning These
we're first charged with grand lar
ceny in the second degree, but in
order to keep the case within the
Jurisdiction of the municipal court,
County Attorney Schmitt had chang
ed the charge to petty larceny.
| The Judge gave the boys some
very excellent advice. He said that
the court was placed in a very EN-.
barrassing position in passing sen.
tence on young men but according
to the strict Interpretation of the
law, this charge would constitute a
felony punishable by Imprisonment
either In the state penitentiary or
the reformatory at st. Cloud.
Had No Weight With Court.
Judge Comstock said that he
understood that the theft was the
result of dare but stated firmly
that this had no weight with the
court, as person who did not have
enough judgment when dared to
make a theft would certainly not
have any better Judgment in any
other case. He emphasized the ad"
visibility of securing work.
1T is q universal law that men
must work A man who lives on
the work of others and who remains
In idleness is worse than a beggar.
In this case there was absolutely no
excuse for the theft. as you were
not in need-you did not need the
money, and the thing that you stole
did you no good, but was detrl-
r1ent instead and something that
was crime for you to drink, and
hence it is a double crime that you
have committed. You have commit:
ed a crime against the people, and
it is the. people who will demand
that pass hard sentence on you.
They have a right to 1t. They Will
demand Imprisonment"
Must Live Up to Conditions.
The Judge said that he would not
pass sentence as he was not decided
Just what to do, and wanted to
think 1t over. He therefore con-
ttinued the case until Monday morn
ing February II, when they were
to appear at ten O'clock on their
own honor.
In the meantime they are to Sc
cure employment of some kind, or
go to school and they are not to be
seen together, or to enter any sa-
loon or pool hall. Of they wanted
to SQUARE themselves with the court
they must comply with these Condi.
tions strictly. While the judge was
giving the boys this lecture. the
trio sat staring into vacancy, one
Of them, however, venturing a
smile, but it was a sickly one.
From, Mondays Daily.
like" Weinstein. junk dealer, on
Poplar street, was arrested last Sat
friday afternoon on a warrant sworn
but by County Attorney Schmitt,
charging him with petit larceny and
- n