The Alaska citizen., 1916-02-28
Phone 262 Phone
THAT JUVENILE COURT.

An act was passed by the terri torial leg g.slature at its first s"5- sion and was approved April 24, 1913, establishing juvenile courts i'll Alaska, providing for the care ol dependent children. to create guard.- ans in Alaska and for other pur- poses"
 The governor of the territory wa given the appointing power, and in due time selected Mrs. Luther C. Hess. to act in conjunction with the presiding judge and marshal ot the Fourth division.
 There the matter has rested to the present time. evidently nothiD@ worthy of their official notice hay ing attracted their attention. Mrs Hess. the third member of what IS known as "Tna Board Of Children's t,uardlans,' has been absent from the city tor '"a past several months, and from all accounts will be ab- sen; at least that much longer. During her absence the board of the Fourth division will consist solely of Judge Bunnell and UniteI States Marshal Erwin.
 Section , of the act gives the board the authority to commit and the paragraphs following give the otfenses for which commitments may be made. Paragraph W All children habitually begging or re cciving alms," paragraph (g) All children known by their language or life 10 be vicious or incorrigi blp"
 jury is praiseworthy in ferreting out those people said to be guilty ot crime with children or those under the age of consent. and they should not stop until every individual in whatever walk of life he may be, is brought before the bar of justice 10 defend himself against the base charges
 But after the convictions or ac- Quittals, whichever the case may be, what then? Are these same children 10 be turned loose to lure more men on to destruction. or will they come under the head of paragraph "g" and be taken charge of by their legally authorized guard- ans?
 Some of the same children whose evidence In the present cases will cause many to drop their heads in shame have been the subject mat ter of similar transgressions for the past eight years, and if they are allowed their liberty there will be still further prosecutions for similar offenees with every sitting of the future grand juries. with the same revolting evidence given by the same children.
 At least one of the principal wit nesses in the present cases is going through the ordeal for the SeCOHu luuet anu It beellS IehSou- able to suppose will occupy the same position in years to come if some thing is not done.
 Parents having one sad expert ence should see that an opportunity is not given for a second offensc, and if they do not extend that o{ of ing brought to grief, 1t would seem that they are not proper persons to have the care of young children placed in their charge and the au thorized guardians should step in and assert their rights.
 Some of these children. at least certainly should be denied the right 10 lure men to destruction. If half he stories told in this connection are true, more demoralizing con dition never existed in any com munity. AS for the truth or falsity of these stories we are not able to form an opinion and do not wish to influence the mind of anyone but every show should be given all those so freely linked up by rumors with these crimes to clear themselves before a jury of their peers. If they are not given this opportunity the tongue of scandal will wag for all time to come, other. wise they will be convicted if founl guilty and acquitted if the reverse