The Washington times., 1913-07-26
GREAT CARE Shown
BY JUDGE LkT|hER
Deals With Trivial Cases With
as Much Consideration as
Much Larger Ones.

Although there were but FIVE cases on
the Juvenile Court docket yesterday,
the frst day that Judge Wilmer Latimer
presided there, 1t was made evident
that the new jurist has q keen sense of
the responsibility Of his position, and
no case will be too trivial for him to
weigh patiently and judiciously.
In the first case he heard the defend
ant was William Chew, q colorcd
iaborer who earns 81 q week, but
whose wife, Sarah, said he only pro-
vidsd her and their two children witi
two cabbages and a little chunk Of
meat during an entire week. The
table and told her woeful tale graphic
ally, while little Sarah, a year old,
struggled in her lap and Mary, four
years old, froIlicked around her knees.
Judge Listens Gravely.
Judge Latimer listened gravely, Just
as though the plea were being made
by an attorney who had received q
$4,000 retainer.
Have you any questions TO ask this
woman?" he inquired OF the husband
whep the story had been told.
Evidently the. defendant feared the
worst, for when he rose, his knees
were trembling and he fingered his hat
nervously.
Sarah, III give you my 81, and"
mo. You'll have a chance to tell
your story later, but do you want to
ask her any question now7r interrupted
the court
Il don't want all your money said
the wife. "If you'll give me 81 q week
for the children, I'll be satisfied"
The parties seem agreed as to what
should be DONE smiled the Judge, and
at this hopeful sign Chew quit fumbling
smiled. and the baby crowed, and every
body In the court room smiled also.
Chew, I'll sentence you to six months
In the workhouse," said the judge.
But as long as you go to the nearest
police station every Saturday and pay
So to be given your wife. you won't be
sent over. What's the next case, Mr..
ClerkT'
The happy father picked UP his Oldest
child. who reached out her arms to
him. and the reunited family left the
court room together.
Deals With Little Girl.
Another disrupted family was united
by tho court when Viola Gordon, thir-
teen years old, colored, was brought
up on a charge of having run away
from home. The girls mother COM
planned that she was prone to run away,
and the girl said that she found the
task OF washing six days In the week
was irksome
After a little informal talk with
mother and daughter as to what was
due each from the other, he sent them
away together. the mother promising to
allow the girl more freedom and the
girl agreeing to mind her mother.
II any further evidence was needed
to show that the new Judge seemed to
have the interest Of every unfortunate
before him at heart, II was given when
Charles Thompson, colored, was ar
raigned on a charge of refusing to re-
turn a baseball glove he had found.
Glad To Get Glove Back.
Samuel Gottlieb, who lost the glove.
was glad to get 1t back without having
to pay rs cents, as he charged Thomp-
con first demanded. Thompson began TO
see that finder keeper" was not
principle that would hold good In law.
and was anxious TO surrender the prop
erty he had found. So the court gave
the defendant a brief but pointed talk
with a grateful heart but thorough
respect for the law of the land.
Next time that boy finds anything
he will give IL up in a hurry" remarked
Judge Latimer. 'I don't expect to see
his name on my docket any more"