The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-24

general call of the warden, without desig- nation by name. The object was to as- certain from them the conditions, the surroundings and the character of their homes, whether they had been brought up under proper environment or left to make their ways as best they could Each of them was asked, in addition to his age, residence, and offense for which he had been arrested, the extent of his education, whether he attended church and Sunday school. or either; whether he worked and at what, the numbers of times and for what he had been ar rested, and similar questions that would give an insight into his young life and the circumstances that influenced him in his conduct.
 Of the boys interviewed two are 16 years of age, four are r, one is IS, and one is 70. The charge against two of them is vagrancy. Thefts of automobiles is charged against two, of bicycles one burglary and grand larceny against one, highway rob bery, one, and murder, one Five are in for their first time, two the second time, and one the third time The period of their present incarceration ranges from four days to 14 months.
 Only one claims never to have attended
 school, two passed through the fifth grade, three the seventh grade and two the eighth grade. Three said they had never attended church or Sunday school, one attended irreguarly and the other five said they were regular attendants at both church and Sunday school
 Both parents of three of the boys are dead, the father of two, the mother of one, and both parents of two are living. One lives with a sister and one with a brother. All say their home surround ings were good good homes, good clothes nIa fr1r anG good treatment being given them.
 One served four years and a few months in the navy, according to his statement, and was discharged a few months ago as the result of shell shock received while at target practice.
 Obviously it would not be fair to the
 boys nor to their families to mention
 their names in connection with the of-
 lenses with which they are charged,
 and more especially would it be unjust
 in view of the fact that they are yet to
 be tried. They talked freely with the
 understanding that nothing they said should be used to their prejudice when they are placed on trial Initials, which
 are not their initials at all, are therefore
 used in connection with the statements
 they made.
 A. B. is 1T years of age and lives with
 his father, his mother being dead. He
 is charged with burglary and grand larg
 ceny the specific allegation being that
 he and two other boys broke into ana robbed a restaurant This is the first time
 he has been arrested. He says he was
 in school six months, entering the fourth
 grade on his representation that he had reached that grade in another schooi,
 shortly afterwards being promoted to the
 fifth grade. He was unable to explain
 how he succeeded in fooling the teachers
 but stuck to his original statement that he never attended school over six months He work about year. He was ar rested December 29, 1918, and had his preliminary trial a few days ago, the judge withholding judgment for the time being He describes his home conditions and the moral influences surrounding him as good though he never attended churcf or Sunday school
 B. c. is 20 years of age; both his fath- CT and mother are dead, his father SIX months and his mother shorter time He was four and a half years in the navy, suffering from shell shock while at target practice six months a1ter ms second enlistment. After eight months 1T the hospital he was discharged because of disabilities, and from the hospital he came to Birmingham, making his home with his brother and securing employ ment as an electric craneman. lie IS charged with taking an automobile. He was arrested about two months ago was indicted by the grand jury and ls awaiting trial. He says he was Just re- I covering consciousness from orunh when arrested, though he claims this te be the third time he ever drank lntoxl- eating liquors He says he never attended school though he reads and writes, ane as boy was regular attendant al church and Sunday school 1 c. D. is r years of age, passed throusr l the eighth grade at school, atteno' church and Sunday school regularly never drinks; his father has been deae l four years, his mother is living. lie Il charged with murder and has been il | jail If months. He says his assoclatioii' have always been with good boys
 l D. E. is Is years of age; his fatner ane
 mother both living; passed through th' seventh grade at school; never attends | church or Sunday school; left school II l December. 1917 to work. He was arrested l Ia mary Is. charged with vagrancy. I'm: | is his first arrest
 l E. F. is Is years of age, came from | farm to Birmingham short time ago | ia ther dead; mother married again. pu l both mother and step-father treat nm well; good home; passed fifth grace q school; attends church and Sunday scnooi | He was arrested January io' i'i'' N with vagrancy. Claims to have worked | short time in Birmingham.
 1 F. G. is r years of age; father ant l mother died before he was two years old lives with grandfather who treats hin | well and gives him good home; worked as a machinist's helper two or thre years; passed through seventh grade a 1 school; never went to church or Sun day school; arrested January 1S, 1918