The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-01-14
McCandless Boy Enters Plea Of
Guilty and is Sentenced by
Judge Linn Story Of
Career is Told
COURT PROMISES
TO AID PRISONER
Gives Youngster Advice and Holds
Out Hope of Shorter Term If
the Convict Makes a
Good Record

This morning William McCandless
was arraigned before Judge viii Linn
on a charge Of burglary, entered a
plea of guilty and was sentenced to
TWO years in the reformatory at Gran
lite. Sentence was pronounced by the
court only after closely questioning
the boy as to his life, his schooling, en-
yironments, associates and lastly what
part he played in the robbery of Rick
ers store last Augus1.
After the information had been read,
Judge Linn asked the lad if he under
stood the meaning of it and he replied,
yes, sir. It's alright, but that ain't
my name 1t says Bill McCandless'
and my name is William. didn't have
anything to do with breaking the glass
or turning the lock. The other boy
done that while was in the buggy.
helped him carry the stuff out though.
I took it at the door and carried it to
the buggy"
why did you rob that store, Will
liam? asked Judge Linn
''I wanted money to buy clothes
with" replied the boy,
Wouldn't your father give you the
money!"
He didn't do it, answered William.
BY plying a lot Of well chosen ques-
tions, Judge Linn drew from William
a story that forced one to wonder If
the boy had had an even start in life,
with the belief that some time he will
make good
1t was the story OF lad, 16 years
old, who for Il long years has been
motherless, the very time in a boys
life when he so needs the loving care
and attention OF maternal parent.
William had gone to school some few
years, and had advanced in his studies
to the Fourth grade Evidently he had
fallen in with very questionable asso-
ciates, companions who had doubtless
had to do with his start on the wrong
path When he was about 2 years Of
age he was sent to the school Of cor
rection for boys at Pauls Valley for
stealing some beer. He had most GER
tainly conducted himself well at the
institution, for he had been paroled.
What do YOU. want to do when you
get out, Williams2 Are you going to
go on like you have started?' asked
the court
Il want TO get a job and work when
it is over, answered William. "This
is going to be the last
Following the reading of the inform
alton. Judge Linn said, What do you
want to do? Do you want TO plead
guilty or do you want to get lawyer
and try the case?"
After some moments of deliberation
McCandless said. 'Oh, I'll plead guilty
and have it over with"
"But that's not the right spirit,
Don't plead guilty just to have it over
! with Don't plead guilty unless you
are guilty"
More moments of deliberation, then,
"Pll plead guilty"
Sentence having been passed, Judge
Linn said, "Now, William, you can
make man of yourself. You have
plenty OF sense, you have bright
face II you want to straighten up and
be man when yoGa come out, every
one will help YOU If YOU make good
! prisoner, obey the rules of the reform
atory and give them no trouble, you
will not have to spend two years there.
The county attorney will help you.
will help you and lots of other people
in Chickasha will help you to get out
before two years Then when you get
out, if you want - do what is right
and be a man. all the good people will
help you. But now listen, If You keep
on in the way you have started, II you
keep bad company and if you don't
try to make man Of yourself, they
will not help you and you cannot ex-
pect them to be good to bad boy who
went try to he good"