Evening journal., 1918-03-02
BOY STR CREA after
|. he LEFT COURTROOM
Brother of Francis Mulligan
Alleges Harsh Quizzing
Was Cause
TREATED KINDLY SAY
PROBATION OFFICERS

Francis MulIigan. aged 70 years, OF
Shallcross avenue and dupont street. is
paralyzed at his home He was stricken
after his dlsmis al from Juvenile Court
by Judge William S Prckett on Jan
uary 3.
The boys mother, Mrs. Elba Multi
gan, and his brother, c. N.'R. Mulligan.
allege that the condition Of Francis is
due TO what they charge was grill
ms by Miss Elmira c. Runyon, a pro-
bation officer OF Juvenile Court
Miss Bunyon and Mrs. Minnie T. Mid
dleton, another probation officer, how
ever. deny that Francis was "grilled."
and s5h he was treated kindly and in
the same manner as three other bows
who were before them at the same time
Francis was questioned in the presence
Of the three other boys and their
mothers, Miss Bunyon says, and she
never heard any complaint about it un-
Oil after the boy became IN i've weeks
afierward
No complaint Is made Of the way the
Mulligan lad was treated in Juvenile
Court by Judge prlckett. Clerk OF the
Court Harry II. Brown, Chief Proba-
tion O1cer Elwood r. Farra and judge
prickett agree that the boy was cheer
ful and apparently in the best health
when in court both times, and they
were surprised to learn that he had
tainted while on the way out Of the
Public Buildings.
The Mulligan boy and three other
! boys. were accused by the police the
latter part Of November, Of receiving
cakes stolen from the National Biscuit
Company's store house, Gilpin avenue
4 and dupont street Captain Kane
| turned the case over TO Miss Runyon.
who summoned the boys TO appear be-
| foe her on November 80. They came
with their mothers Miss Runyon says
the Mulligan boy. after questioning. sd-
mitted receiving stolen cakes and the
/ other boys admitted their part In the
affair. Tho hoys were before Ju ige
Prickett the following Wednesday
/ The iudge pointed out TO the boys lb3
/ danger Of receiving stolen goods and
/ told them he would let them 60 and
/ they would have TO come before him
I four weeks hence II there was moth
ing further AGAINST them they would
/ be dismissed then. the Judge said
on January the boys were in court
and were dismissed by Judge Prickett.
who admonished them to keep out OF
trouble and not 20 steal or receive stolen
goods After leaving the court room,
while on the way up stairs. the Multi
gan boy tainted. He was taken home
and paralysis resulted. DR.. John Pal
uer was called in and ascribed the
boys condition to mental shock. The
lad is still paralyzed and apparently
VIII be paralyzed for life.
since then his brother G. Y. r. Niul-
liean, who is a superintendent for the
sun Shipbuilding Company, Chester
has written two letters TO Mayor Law.
son, complaining that the condition oi
/ Francis is due to the manner In which
he was questioned by Miss Runyon
Mr. Mulligan in his first letter wrote
: Wilmington. Del. February Q, 1918
Dear Mr. Mayor: ] am not certain
that l am going through the proper
channel 10 Obtain the desired object
but believe that ! viii have your CO.
operation in any event in safesuardina
n repetition Of the following condition
During December last. by brother
Francis. aged ~ years, together with
some other boys about his own age
was ordered before the Juvenile Court
In connection with the theft Of some
biscuits or cakes from the National Bis
cult COmpany's warehouse. GilpiT
avenue above dupont street. His con
nection with the case was very remote
10 soy the least, as the only way he was
concerned was the boy who did act
ually take them. named Fred Donovan
gave him a few Of them at a point re-
! moved from the premises where They
were taken.
I In other words my brother positlvel!
did not know that the cakes he received
: were stolen. the circumstances beinl
2 such that there was no good reasoI
Y why he should.
2 However the woman agent Of th'
Juvenile Court, who conducted the pre-
G lminary investigation Of the case pro
- ceeded TO grill him In the most ap
- proved third decree manner, as II sh
o. were dealing with a hardened crimina
rather than with q mere child with al
b absolutely unblemished record, will
!. the evident intention OF making hin
admit that he participated in the act
r. ually theft Of the goods or was presen
s and witnessed the act.
b. she did not succeed In establshin
either Of the two points. but what 81,
d did succeed in doing was 10 reduce Oh
F. cause him to suffer a severe menta
shock, which has resulted IN his becou
n ing paralvzed on the entire left side q
j. his body So far as can be ascertained q
this time, this condition is permapen
and he has been compelled to renal
in bed since his last appearance befor
Iudso Prickett the early part OF Jan
uary.
1 My object in bringing this 70 you
' attention is this:
"la) The woman agent Of whom
N speak Shows by such conduct a wo'
i fui lncapacity for her work.
: "fb) Her lack Of judgment in dealin
n with the children coming before N
: court Is, in such a Circumstance as
M have Just related, a danger--a menace
4 which should be removed.
4. "tcl You can readily appreciate d
" lrreparable harm done the boy, who
IS thus rendered a helpless cripple for III
sr I'D SO far as my brother is col
he cerned. there Is nothing that can
D ldone There is no remedy. so far as
N can learn, but for the sake Of oth'
le child-en az this city who may chan,
10 come under the jurisdiction Of q
IS Juvenile Court this work should be
-c the hands Of a person competent
Pc iudge the character Of the child vii
.y whom they are dealins-this in ord
ID that some other child may rot sun
NJ similar fate as nv brother.
lef please believe that it Is In no wi
y my intention to cat any reflection {