Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-11-18
Chain GANG No
LONGER At WORK
ON CITY STREETS
Because of Criticism, Judge
Churchman Orders Shackles
Removed From Men
FOUR YOUTHS ALSO
DISMISSED BY court

Judge Churchman today ordered the
chains and shackles removed from the
"chain gang" composed Of vagrants
whom he sentenced to work for a
month on the streets or any other pub
lie work. This action was taken be-
cause of criticism heard by the Judge
on account Of chains being used on the
men. He said that he thought much
of the criticism was due to the fact
that there were four young men
among the thirteen men in the gang
The youngest OF the four. Frank
McGec, was brought into City Court
today by Street Commissioner Pier
son and dismissed from the gang by
Judge Churchman. MCGEE said he was
Is years OF age but looks as II he was
about 16 years old. He came from
New York.
Judge Churchman in dismissing Nc
Gee told him that he hoped that his
stay in the gang would be a warning
to him ard that in the future he would
| lead a useful life. He told him that
he would be paid for the work he had
done. and that he should take the
money he had earned and go home.
He continued: do not make a bum
OF yourself. but become a useful citi-
zen. When you come here again see
that you have money enough 10 take
care OF yourself. There is plenty Of
work now for everybody"
Judge Churchman added that tho
sentence OF a months work on the
streets would be revoked in the cas-,
OF McGee. He also ordered that thu
other three young men in the gang b.
brought down to the court clerks of
hce. paid and dismissed from tn
, gang, sentence in their cases bein
! also revoked. They are. James Nolai
: Harry Grennard and Frank Hoga
y They are about eighteen years
= age each. The men we're paid {
= later. There are now nine men in 4
= gang.
N These men, with McGee. were a
- rested at II o'clock Tuesday night
last week. on a charge of vagran'
~ upon complaint OF City Councilm
"a Burton S. Heal. who found them 10
III ering In an alley in rear of his hon
E Three of the men said they we're fro
New York and the fourth gave Bost'
j. as his home. They said that The
II came here to get work at Carney
e Point, having arrived but half a
hour prior to their arrest.
Judge Churchman considered thei
homeless wanderers, or tramps undt
the law. and sentenced them to b
/. nut 10 work on the streets or othe
1. public work for thirty days. as pro
/, vided by Sections 106, 107, los, los
r 10 and III, of the revised code, unde
s the heading, General Provisions Re
Z specting the Police They were th
T first men sentenced to the chain gane
n This occurred Wednesday OF las
!, week. On last Thursday they wer
told that they would be released \
two weeks If their conduct was good
Judge Churchman ordered that al
additional guard be placed on duu
a with the gang because or the chaln
Z and shackles being removed. Al III
direction clubs were gotten by Stree
Commissioner Pierson from CHIEF Q
n Police Black and given to the guards
+ The guards were directed TO use IN
: clubs on any OF the men who attempt
II ed TO run away. He said that any VIII
3 did attempt to run away were TO
h brought to the police station and loci
l. ed up and that they would be give
a sixty days in the workhouse. Und'
1.-THE law any tramp sentenced to VOL
I. lon the streets and refusing to do
can be imprisoned.
4 Judge Churchman said that he W
i Continued on Page Fourteen.