Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-03-14
THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF
OLLIE TAYLOR.
atlanta constitutional

Editor Constitution: The actual I
evidence in the case of Ollie Taylor
the boy who has been under beneficial
and well-approved training since his
commitment to the Fulton county in
dustrial farm, is as follows: Ollie was
running the streets, idling and loiter
ing and stealing small edibles, from
groceries and wagons, and was hopping
on and off moving trains On his first
appearance in court he was put On
probation by Recorder Nash Broyles
under the direction and control of
Probation officer ]. NJ. Gloer, and TO-
time he satisfied the probation off
GER; but on temperance into court a.
later day under new charges of run
ming the streets and purloining arti-
Giles unfortunately among which
was bottle of coca-cola Ollie was
committed to the industrial farm, es,
pecially since he had already been
tried on probation, which had failed eff
fectually to reform him, and especially
since the father of Ollie Tayor com>
planned at the time that he could nor
do anything with his son.
A Boon to The Boy.
A fair investigation of the truth
therefore, will show that Ollie Taylor
is in the industrial school not as pun
ishment because he stole a scent boz
tie of coca-cola, but rather as a boon
to himself, since, failing as he was IN
the city to make something out of him
self, he could, as long as necessary
have the advantage of regular training
regular habits, regular schooling and
regular work. He had failed to make
good at home, as the father said; he
was, therefore, to have an opportuni-
ty to make good under better condi-
lions. 1t was, then, not because of
one theft that he was sent away to
the industrial school, but because of
the conditions which were making him
crooked, and under which it was cec-
tain he could never succeed.
And these conditions should be
changed beyond doubt before Ollie
Taylor is paroled. Superintendent +.
A. B. Means and the county board are
anxious to parole these expensive
wards to the county as fast as can be
done without jeopardizing the interests
of the very boys who are clamoring for
their old street freedom. But the SUI
perintendent knows the conditions in
the life of Ollie Taylor better than i
writer on a newspaper can ever know
without making the same careful in.
vestigations; and, loving these boys as
Mr. Means does, always anxious to
establish them in society as good citi-
zens, he should be upheld in his great
work. If not upheld he should certain
ly not be retarded in the development
of his child-welfare movements by
broadcast references to his school as a
penal institution. Those who know
see the error of all this recent mis-
guided agitation; but what about those
who have never given the subject
thought enough to understand that the
sound and conservative methods of to-
days juvenile procedure are as far IL
advance of the cold criminal law as
this century over the stone age?
What statutes need changing? II
the papers would really make study
of Juvenile court needs and remedies
therefor they could find much to wri'a
about that would be constructive in its
nature But speaking of the cruel and
laundering state statutes in conne2,
ton with this particular case is mis-
leading and altogether unjust to one
of the best managed institutions in the
United States.
| FULTON COUNTY CHILDREN'S |
COURT, Per W. H. Tindall.
Atlanta, Ga.
HE'D BEHEAD ALL BREWERS