Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

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M h king finally
~ MI had landed him in
B>HN XII the Juvenile Court
AtS much against his
will and TO his intense terror, When
he reached the anteroom he was pre-
pared to deny anything and everything,
using the child's weapon OF defense. a
falsehood
His mother was with him. Cncon-
sciously she aided him in his attitude
by soothing him and telling him that she
would see that he was not punished
She had. apparently. prepared a series
of excuses for his mistakes which she
was convinced would destroy the Dis
trict's evidence as sun the winters
snow
those having business to draw near. and
though most of them didn't really want
TO draw near-could have gotten along
splendidly, in fact, without even having
gone to court-they obeyed the iniunc-
rion.
II was chiIdren's day. In the outside
chamber. in the courtroom and in the
Railways were children. white and
black, awaiting the mythical doom
which they felt upon them. Some were
stubborn of face and speech. Others
were close to tears. Some were rather
proud of the adventure. which they felt
would lift them above the average. And
first of all was the boy with the black
hair. square chin and fear of conse-
auences.
This was the gathering which Judge
Latimer had to deal with. Smooth
shaven, immediately attired in black
clothing, possessing half-smile which
is one of his greatest assets he sat on
the little dais and waited the calling of
the first case. The clerk of the court
mumbled the phrases required by law,
and the little black-haired boy drew for
ward his mother at his side.
''Weli?" his honor smiled the question
But the boy did not look. He dived into
his case headfcrenost. At the age of
twelve perjury seems rather a mild Of
Tense.
IT didn't do it. judge he burst forth
1T was another boy. They seen me
standing there. They thought it was
me. but honest it wasn't. They're always
gettin after me. didn't stand near the
winder when it busted. but they
You say they" commented the court.
Who are they
The youngsters mother entered the
arena
It's those awful Smith boys she be-
gan. They always do things and my
Arthur gets the blame for it. Arthur is
too well brought up to go around break
ing windows"
Arthur was convinced of this His chin
quivered. He was on the verge of tears
to the unbiased spectator. who wasn't
much of a psychologist, a perfect picture
of injured innocence.
"Jur-jur-judge he began. When I
was standin' under the window
Judge Latiiner appeared to be almost
bored He glanced from the boy to an
oolong double sheet of paper which lay
near his left hand 1t open and
about the size of a five-cent magazine
Little did the boy realize, or his mother
either for that matter, the significance
OF the quiet glance to the paper To the
mothers mind victory was already Won
The Judge she decided, was tired Oh
hearing about the affairs of her SON.
"If that's ALL she ventured timidly,
I'm take Arthur home.
Judge Latimer glanced at her with that
remarkable smile of his. 1t is the very
essence of good nature.
Madam said he. would you nlilo
my speaking privately TO your son LOT d
moment :.
1t was request. There was none OF
the offensive bullying note IN II. ne
mother arose and left the room Tor
moment The judge and Arthur We're
alone facing each other across the end
Of the little table which serves as a
bench. Slowly Arthurs nervousness SUI
sided You could fairly see it disap-
pearing as he glanced into that creamy
shaver. youngish face
Now" said Judge Latimer. when they
had glanced at each other a short time,
tell me how it happened.
Arthur told another story, told 1t SIM
bly, and without frills He was aiming
at a telegraph pole. His aim being bad,
the window suffered That was all
Pick out the vacant lots. urged Judge
Iatjmer Then he put the boy on
short term of probation and called the
mother He explained the sentence to
her. Also he pointed out thing that
he had seen from the first-that she was
be reproved.
TOO much sympathy the court con-
Guided, lis as bad as too little
This was one Of the stream of cases. 1t
illustrates better than most the complete
ness of Judge Latimer's system of invest
igation. II also shows nicely his theories
on court procedure where children are
concerned The paper upon which his
honor gazed when the boys mother
thought he had lost interest in the testi-
Inony was a record of the boy so COM
,Clete in its formation that not detail
could have been added. This is some
thing new in Washington Juvenile Court
cases.
When a boy is brought into the court
mis- name and address Immediately
turned over to the probation officer or
one of his two assistants There is adj
ditionally. a volunteer officer furnished
by a private organization. who cooper
ates in this work. AS soon as the pro-
baton officer gets the boys name the
case is continued from four days to
week During this time of the Off
GERS goes out carrying a pencil and a
blank replica Of the one at which
Judge I.atimer gazed. The only refer
ence to the offense contained on this
paper is at the top of the page. where the
word complaint is written. 1t is the
purpose of this blank not to begin with
the ofYense, but with the causes leading
thereto.
Beneath the statement of the charge
against the youngster come the names of
all of the members of his family. Their
age, occupations, weekly wages. religions.
habits and criminal records, If any, are
Jotted down. But more important is a