New Britain herald., 1915-10-13
PROBATION OFFICER
 MAKES HIS REPORT
27S People Have Been Given
 Benefit of Another Chance

this morning the report of the proba- tion officers for the past year, embody- ing statements from Probation Officer Edward c. Connolly and former Pro- bation Officer Lyman s. Johnson. The report is as follows:
 "Hon. James T. Meskill, Judge, New Britain City and Police
 Court.
 Dear Sir:
 "Following custom in the court over which Your Honor presides, I submit herewith the statistics for the year ending September 30, 1915:
 "The number of probationers car- ried over from September 30, 1914,
 was 136 The number now on the
 list is eighty-nine, composed of fifty six men, three women, twenty eight boys and two girls. The whole num- Der placed on probation during the year is PTS, making a total of 414, in cluding those brought over from last year. made up as follows: 253 men, twenty women, 13S boys and three girls.
 "The amount of wages collected is $1,312.62; fines and costs collected $1,94S.75; cash on hand and in bank' received on unsettled accounts, S48O.97.
 Number of cases settled out of court seventeen; number of superior court cases, three.
 Having served only one month as probation officer, from September l, when appointment took effect and, therefore, not qualified to review of ct T16 wifi characteristic kindness, MT. L. s. Johnson consented to do this and I take pleasure in handing you his re- port embodied in letter herewith, up to the time he retired as probation officer.
 "As it is not probable I will be af- forded a better opportunity to pay tribute to the probation system in it's entirety as conceived, planned and carried to it's present high state of efficiency by MT. Johnson, I do so now. Only those intimately connect ed with the court are aware of the un- selfish service he has rendered New Britain, and of the time, zeal and de- votion he has put into the work. The regret and good wishes of all go with him in his voluntary retirement from active service in connection with the court.
 Respectfully yours,
 EDWARD c. CONNOLLY.
 Former Officials Report. Dear MT. Connolly:-
 "Complying with your request for resume of probation work for eleven months ending August 31st last, it may be said in general that there was no essential change in the con- duct of affairs and experiences common to preceding years unless in the marked decrease of juvenile de- linquents during the last six or eight months. It is a long time since we have had so few. This I am ap- prehensive is owing to a combination of preventive measures in more suc- cessful operation than formerly. Among those may be mentioned out of-door employment on farms during vacation. period. Many of our boys now find ready lucrative and health full employment during this danger ous period of idleness. Some of our probation boys have spent a part of the summer. in tent life few miles from the city but remote from habi- tations enjoying themselves in woods and fields and have returned in viz orous health and spirits. We have learned of nothing to their discredit during their stay. The play grounds have also been a cooperating agency. The Boys club, under the able man. agement of MT. Crawford, has doubt less contributed to the same result.
 "If to save our boys and girls to society and from a criminal life, pre- vention is the key word to be passed along the whole line of benevolent service in their behalf
 Tribut to Miss Osborn.
 "The great good fortune befalling us in securing the intelligent and in- terested service of Miss Elsie c. Os- born, agent of the Charity Organiza- tion, as assistant probation officer, is of incalculable value. The public would be surprised to know how ul- timately the work of the Charity Or ganization and that of our courts are associated. Though attended with some embarrassment, the information she is able to impart and that she is able to acquire in court proceed 1ngs leads to a happy solution f many otherwise intricate problems af- fecting soiled regulations with which our court and benevolent societies have to deal.
 And here it seems fitting that brief mention should be made of the great value of the cooperative ser- vice which now so largely obtains l throughout the reformatory, reme- | dial and benevolent agencies of our | city. From a period just prior to con- | solidated government there was little cohesiveness or apparent disposition l to cooperate service along any lines of philanthropy and civic welfare. To- l day there are upwards of forty diff 1 ferent churches and societies in active l and friendly cO-Operation with the