The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1916-03-10
me REAS0H.

The recent Hartford county grand
jury found only two prisoners in the
Bel Air jail What is our neighbor' =
recipe for this sign of morality ard
economy Delta Herald,
The query Of our neighbor is the
natural sequel of his comment, and each
is equally creditable to the residents of
Hartford, Her trial terms of criminal
court during recent years have been so
remarkably short. sharp and effective
that now they are generally the subject
of comment only because of their in.
significance.
1t was not always thus. The old jail
was often full. Notwithstanding the fact
that it WAS no more fit for human beings
than are many of the shelters now
furnished Belgian refugees, and We
now remind some of our local students
of crimnology how far short have fallen
their predictions that n humane jail.
house would prove to be dangerous
temptation to the needy to become
petty criminals during the winter season
1t Is not the history of this class that
they deliberately surrender their liberty
IN order to secure public shelter.
Hartford is reaping her reward now
for the past generations protection
and education of her young. Along in
the Eighties her people began to willing
~ submit to more liberal taxation made
necessary by closing her saloons, and by
opening wide her schoolhouse doors for
the full school year She educated this
rising generation to know and to dread
the injurious effects of the saloon and
Its accompanying vice, 80 that when
years of maturity were reached they
naturally hpve followed inclinatiOns for
II higher life instead of surrendering to
the temptations which had 30 often
captured and held fast their fathers.
As is customary in such cases, II
numerous list of volators opposed to
the Local Option law tended to increase
rather than lessen violations of law for
some years, but this class is today
largely supplanted by their more in
tclhgent and morally stronger sons of
today, so that when seen in court now
they are there to support, not to defy,
law and order.
The policy Of our criminal court has
done much to shorten its term and in
crease its responsibility. Grand juries
are charged not to allow their chamber
TO become the favorite channel through
which fractional feuds and family
"frameups' may unload their filthy
venom on the public ear. and cases
seldom come to trial where u proper
presentation does not entitle the state
10 verdict
A further factor is the pronounced
tendency to encourage plea of guilty
followed by n mider sentence where
conviction would almost certainly fol.
low. This promotes economy and higher
morals, and leaves the convict in u
much better position to start out afresh
IN life with higher goal for his ulti-
mate end,
And unless some untoward mishap
should befall II the successful conduct
Of our recently established Juvenile
Court will 20 farther than any other
factor to reduce criminality in Hartford.
Through its strong parental arm it is
in II position to help young unfortunates
into comfortable homes: to Jack up"
morally weak parents to do what they
reasonably can for their children instead
of turning them over to others; and
especially to make youths of from tif-
teen to twenty one feel now its strong
arm and now It's helping hand at time
IA their lives when It is hard for them
TO discriminate between physical courage
and immoral brutality.
Yes, the world is moving on in Har-
ford and when towards the close of
their lives the most active of those
assuming leadership in the fight pause
Ito take stock of their past lives,
what they have done for the betterment
of their iellowmen will constitute their
richest assets.