The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-08-04
ANNUAL
REPORT
OF Juvenile Probate Officer
Purcell Is Filed
Showing The Work Done In
His Department
Also Assistance Rendered
Under Mothers Pension Law
And The Amount Of Money
Allowed In The County
Officer Makes An Appeal For
Better Home Training

Juvenile Probation Officer Patrick
Purcell has just filed the sixth annual
report, for the year ending July 81,
1914.
The report shows that the juvenile
officer investigated 426 complaints dur
ing the year. There appeared before
the Juvenile court "a boys and girls.
Ten adults were cited to appear.
There were 3S8 cases and complaints
settled out of court by the probation
officer. There were 81 hearings for
delinquency, for neglect and 3 con-
tributing to delinquency There were
13 hearings of which there is a record
and 25 hearings of which there is no
record. Two boys were committed to
the industrial school. The sum of
S430.75 was collected from parents for
support of neglected minor children.
The report shows that the juvenile
officer travelled 1850 miles in answer
ing calls, making investigations, and
conveying children to the industrial
schools and children's home.
Another feature of the report per
tains to the mothers pension depart
ment from April l, to August l, 1914
There were 80 applicants. Thirteen
were not considered, number of hear
ings 10, number of applications al
lowed 16, number refused 3. Grounds
for allowance were; Husband dead II,
husband disabled 3, husband deserted
/, husband prisoner l. Amount grant
ed: April s72, May 1924, June s239,
July $2S2. Total $S17. Number OF
children benefited by mothers pen
sion: Boys %, girls 2S. Total so
Number of mothers now drawing pen
sions 16, age of youngest mother 30
age of oldest mother 49.
| In his report, Probation officer Pur
cell says we do not need additional
laws, more church or schools, but
what we do need is proper home train
ing of children by parents and public
sentiment for law enforcement. He
expresses the view that civil law will
never make boys and girls honest and
moral; we must begin at the home-at
the family fireside.
In closing his report, Mr.. Purcell
says:
"The whole spirit and purpose Of
the juvenile law is to help and assist
the child in the home where 1t needs
assistance, and to compel parents tC
perform their duties where they are
neglecting their children, and hell
them with the child when they are
helpless. The court of probation
officers are not desirous of botherint
with a child whose parents can anC
will take care of it. The parents o
an offending child are always givel
warning of the childs offense, an(
urged to correct it, and if parents
would heed these warnings it would
4 relieve the juvenile court of many un
pleasant uulleS dllu odN0 puiCAtS hiNh.
heart aches, and in some instances dis
grace. How often l have warnet
mothers of the companionship OF thei
daughters, and how often l have beel
told by mothers that they knew
enough to control their own children
But in some instances the same moth
ers have come to me later with thei
sad stories.
MANY parents are true to thei
own homes and children, but tn
sanctity and security of each home de
pends on how we'll other homes ar
conducted, and every parent shoul
watch with care three things-thei
children's companions places o
amusement and their reading matter
and when their children are out a
night be sure that they know wher
they are and with whom they are as
sociating; and mothers and father