The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-19
Professor Charles of Topeka
Tells Crime Convention
Juvenile Delinquents Have
Small Mental Capacity.
JOINT CONFERENCE STARTED
Many Experts on Criminals
Grace Lawrence Program.
Making Conyicts Useful Citi-
zens Important Problem.

Lawrence, Kan, Nov. 19.-"Society
has undergone radical change in its
attitude toward the treatment or
criminals" said Prof. H. w Charles,
head of the boys industrial school at
Topeka, in an address before the ran ran
sas Conference of Charities and Cor
rections at the University Of Kansas
Thursday evening.
I'm a recent investigation of the
mentality of the inmates of sixteen re.
fornatories it was discovered that
more than so per cent were recipe
minded. In some of the institutions
the percentage went as hlgh as 81 per
cent. A survey of the boys IN the
state Industrial school at Topeka
shows that only 16 per cent were nor
NAL, while Z per cent Went SO Tar
down the scale of mentality that they
would never be Self-Supportlng pul
would require permanent segregation
The problem of delinquency VIII pegln
to be solved when our corrective inst1-
tutions cease to become dumping
grounds for the feeble-mlnded.
Don't Knows Right from Wrong.
"A large and apparently increasing
number of children are born without
sufficient intelligence to know rlght
from wrong 1t is from this class that
our criminals are recruited. Every
thoughtful study of the crlmlnaI
classes show the close relationship be
tween feeble mindednesS and cr1fnl-
nality If there is such a th1ng as
criminal type, it is only another name
for a type of eble-mindednesS-
Mr.. Charles advocated medical ex-
animation in connection with the
handling of criminals.
ton of the Kansas Conference OF
Charities and Corrections and the
Kansas state Society of Criminal Law
and Criminology, which started at the
University of Kansas Thursday night
will be of interest to public spirited
citizens in this and adjoining states.
"Crime-Its Cause and Prevention
is the central topic for discussion and
some of the leading authorities on
subjects dealing with the relation OF
mental and physical defects OF PRISON
ers to the crimes they commit, the
correcting of these faults and proper
methods of turning the prisoner back
into a respectable and trusted citizen
appear on the program today.
Colorado Expert Speaks.
Both those who are interested in
good roads and those who have feel
ing for humanity will find the Illus
trated lecture of Thomas H. lyman OF
the Colorado state penitentiary, who
has had much experience in outWork
for prisoners, enlighrening. Mr.. lyman
believes that the men should be put
more on the honor system, with less
repressive work and more chance for
recreation and enjoyment of the
things in the home of a well-ftxed
citizen.
captains Edgar Ming anu H. .. ASA-
rick of the United States disciplinary
barracks at Fort Leavenworth, who
have had experience with prisoners
discharged from the army and are
embittered against any kind of restric-
ton, will address the meetings today
and tell about the way the inmates of
the prison are changed from the ordi-
nary type of prisoner to a. desirable
soldier again.
other prominent speakers on the
program, who have experience with
adult and youthful viorators of the law
are: Judge ]. c. Ruppenthal of Rus
sell, J. E. Codding of the Kansas state
penitentiary, Judge John T. Simons of
kansas City, Kan, Harry c. Bowman,
member of the state board of control,
and the Rev. E. A. F'riedenhagen,
president of the Society for the
Friendless.