The Washington herald., 1918-04-06
A CASE IN POINT

Some weeks ago two boys went
few miles out into the country
to do little shooting. They had only
one gun. carried by the older boy.
In the late afternoon. when Il was
dark. the boy with the gun saw .
bird moving in the underbrush. He
raised the gun quickly. fired. and
wounded his companion. who. later.
died.
There was no question about the
Incidents being an accident. The
boy with the gun was. naturally.
overwhelmed with horror and grief.
Then began the work Of the au-
thorities. and more stupid and cruel
work could hardly be imagined. II
might be taken as an illustration
Of the need. lately emphasized by
many authorities. OF having psy-
choiogists associated with the ad-
ministration Of Justice.
When that death took place the
person TO be considered. and most
SaiNAaiiy NOiirAdtNto was NIc
boy. As the result OF what might
have happened TO any one in the cir
cumstsnces. he would have to carry
through the rest of his life a MEM
ory both painful and dangerous.
Everything possible should have been
done TO protect him from being
hurt by that memory.
But did the government try to
protect him? Not at all. On the
contrary. they proceeded to give the
memory hideous emphasis. They
held the boy for examination.
During the weeks that followed
that memory was associated with
the thought of murder and with
fear. At the examination the boy.
in tears, told the story and told IL
in a way that was very pitifuL
The Judge, doubtless with the
best intention in the world, gave
him a lecture on the importance OF
not being careless and paroled him
for three years. with the statement
that during that time the thing
would hang over" him.
As the Judge talked he doubtless
felt that he was a very superior
and wise being. And yet he may
have done that boy an injury OF
serious kind.
What could have been done in this
case?
The most important thing to be
done was to impress on the mind
OF the boy the realization that the
killing was an accident. that he
could not be considered in any way
to blame. and that. though he had
been the unfortunate agent, there
was no reason why he should let
the death torment him and that the
best thing for him to do was TO try
to keep 1t out OF his thoughts.
The whole life OF that boy may
be changed by that experience and
by what followed For three years.
by being held under the lurisdic-
minded that he is under a cloud.
IL he is healthy in mind and in
body he may be able TO react in a
healthy way and not be seriously
disturbed. AS he grows older the ex-
perience and all the associations may
fade into the past and become un-
real and bother him only at brief
intervals and then not seriously or
bother him not at all
On the other hand. IL he is in
clined 10 be sensitive he may be-
come morbid, and the consequences
may be most unfortunate.
There is, OF course. the possibility
that the ordeal may have a SOLDERING
effect and make him a better man.
But it is unpleasant to think of a
boy being disciplined in this crueh
way. instead of developing sponta-
neously and happily.
Many things generally considered
bad are merely unfortunate and
ought TO be minimized in their ef-
fects or forgotten altogether. But