Evening journal., 1918-03-02

to the attention Of Chief Probation
Oncer Farra, who was in when the
case nrst came up. and who after
thorough investigation asserts there
was no harsh or unkind treatment OF
the Mulligan boy. He was questioned
In the presence Of the other boys and
OF their mo,hers-Mrs. Mulllgan not
being in the room at the time-and
was treated kindly" Mr.. Farra said.
ale did not cry or complain OF the
questioning. and admitted he received
some stolen crackers. He was never
dues. lionel by Miss Bunyon or any
other probation officer after that, and
appeared in court twice. / wish to state
emphatically that Miss Runyon is not
given TO "grilling." on the contrary
she is recognized as having a mild
hammered. gentle way In dealing with
boys before her. Miss Runyons
statement Of her questioning Of the boy
/ is borne out by Ms Middleton, who
was nearby and who heard what was
going on.
Il wish to say that during all the
time the case was officially before us
nobody had sa a word about the
Mulligan boy being nervous or high
strung. and we heard no complaint IN
tll after the boy became ILL.,"
Mss Runyon talked frankly OF the
case today. She said 70 was referred 70
her by the police department, which
furnished four names of accused boys
Miss Runyon SAYS she sent word 10
.ihe boys to appear before her on No
lvember 80. The four boys came with
their mothers" Miss Runyon said ~
questioned a boy alone in my room,
and after he had admitted receiving the
stolen cakes, called in his mother 70
have the boy repeat his admission.
allowed tho boy and his mother 20 re-
main in the room while / questioned
the next boy, and then called IN hls
mother 10 hear his admission OF recev-
jng the stolen cakes. The Mulligan boy
was the last questioned, and In the
presence Of the other boys and their
mothers he admitted receiving some
of the cakes. ! sat on one side uf q
table and he on the other, and ques-
TONED him in an ordinary tone Of voice
/ did not threaten him, and he didn
CRY while being questioned. / called
his mother into the room after ! finish
ed questioning him. and had him Ia
repeat his admission in her presence
Mrs. Middleton, another probation Of
lcer. was on the other side OF q glass
partition at the time and could hear all
, that was going on. The boys left The
ofrce With their mothers, under in
structions 10 appear in Juvenile Court
the following Wednesday. Incy an
sppeared in court that day, and Judge
Prickett after talking to them about
! The danger OF receiving stolen goods
told them TO so and TO appear in cour'
! four weeks later, and If there was
nothing further against them I'd
/ would then dismiss them. They ap
neared in court again early in January
Z The Nlulugan boy appeared happy ant
e In the best health. and Judge Pricket
e dism ssed them with some frlendl!
p words about being good in the future
! and not getting into trouble.
- never questioned the Mulligan DO
Z after November 30. and the only tim
& I have seen him since then was whel
, he appeared in court. His mother SAT-
D nothing 10 me about him being ner
e yous or hieh strung and l was sur
- nrised when ! learned he had becom
i'm and that complaint had been mad
r Of harsh treatment. l ce tainiy dld no
treat him harshly or unkindly
/ Mrs. NHddletown. another probation
= oflcer. bore out the statement OF MIS-
Runyon that the boy was not sub
6 Iected to severe treatment.
e Judge Prickett and Clerk OF IN
Court Brown agreed today that IN
- Mulngan boy was cheerful ana appaI
entity well and contented when ne az
G pea-ed in Juvenile Court both tilne'
Is and that no complaint had been mao
2 by the boy or his mother either tim
J. they were in court.
Ie "The boy seemed perfectly Wen an
I contented," Judge Prlckett said, an
,r his mother thanked me for the msnne
!. A. ...hich the case was dlsnosed o. =