The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-11-26
C0URI KIND TO YOUTHS
FATHERLYTALK WAS GIVEN
TRIO AT AUSTIN
They Were Accused of Downfall
Of Young School Girl, Now
Mother

wave OF immortality that has been ex-
listing In our city" declared Judge
Weber, in speaking of the necessity
that devolved upon him OF sending
three boys TO Redwing for a statutory
offense against fifteen year old girl.
She Ii branded with the Scarlet Let
er,
The hearing given these three boys
was one OF the most impressive ever
held here. The state law requires
that juveniis trials shall not be pub
lilo but the court may invite such per-
sons to be present as are interested
In welfare Of children. Court was
held in the county commissioners
room, with Deputy Sheriff Carmichael
as court officer. Those present rep
resented many walks Of life. There
were three clergymen present, three
who have given much time to the BOY
and girl problem. members OF thu
county board Of commissioners, Mayor
Page, business men who have shown
an interest In the, boy life OF our city,
the police matron who has a wide
knowledge Of the shadowy side OF our
city life and who has been quietly
but effectively at work for the bet
iterment OF the morals OF our young
p'sSR B.n to.r. was Judge Weber. sit.
ting at The deskS)yer which the child
mother OF fifteen years Of age had told
him her story. q story OF moral delin.
quency that has never been equalled
In this city or county; the Judge who
during all the time he has filled the
Office has ever tempered justice with
mercy. They felt that ii was mat
ter that he would handle for the best
interests of the boys and for the com
munity. Was the wronged girl to be
considered also?
The Three Boys.
Then there were the/th boys
there are four others accused in this
matter, three of them adults, who are
yet to be tried). The three boys had
already told of their completely so
they were not asked to plead. They
were each about seventeen years. Fine
looking lads. Clean appearing boys.
Their records were Of the best. They
were honest, they were workers, they
used their money for helping their
parents and one OF the boys had near
ly $1,000 laid by. No doubt all were
from highly respectable parents. Their
names were. not made public.
But somewhere along the path OF
life there came a temptation and they
fell. They violated one Of the most
important laws upon the statute book,
statute for the protection OF girls.
o. one OF the boys. He was at his
home in Iowa when the news. came
hat his son had been arrested. He
anne here to do what he might for his
oy, but the law Is memorable In cases
this kind. He knew that there was
0 escape of punishment and his only |
romment a fter.the trial was:
What will be done with the girl
hat has helped to bring this disgrace !
pore these boys?" 1t Is always so.
rho tgoman must pay.
She has already paid heavy penal |
ty for her sin but there Is no question |
~ the juvenile court will handle that
art OF the problem to the interest
of all.
Judge Weber in an opening address |
enlignten those present said in part
Is follows:
we have held this office for the
asst ten years and in all that time /
here il no natter that mas claimed the !;
ttention OF the court that has been of;
o much impoi lance as the one before |,
as today and which involves the de- ;
in4uency' OF these boys. We have
ad hearings concerning handed |
1khts and some where large sums of /!
noney were at stake, or some boy had
cen fighting, or had taken property
hat belonged to another person, but !
.
irtue and morality. So we feel to-
lay responsibility and sense Of duty
hat We have never felt before.
First Case In Court.
- This. Is the first time, in the history
OF Mower county, covering a period !;
OF over sixty years, that any court
has taken action involving this kind
OF delinquency committed by boys of
the age of these. and it is, go far as
I'M ~ ma Tn all
OF the state. So f9r this reason all
have gone slow and have given this
matter much thought and conaidera I
ton. But whsh the home, the church
and the scbopis fail to impress our
boys with the Importance Of true res,
speet for all woman kind, Il is time
. that the courts como to the rescue,
to1 We fear, nay We almost PREDICT |
If sourethtlg is not done in this res
pecs some father or brother OF girl
that has been wronged, will at the
IN his own hands" TO the lasting dis
grade and shame Of this county
In q snnsH bone in this city, in the
latter days Of August, a sturdy girl,
who had buf few days before at
tanning the sse OF fifteen years, andt
Who was planning and hoping that in
the prsseM school year. to finish the
6tn gra0a. 90ean0 III anu IN Few
hours o bate was born to the world
WHO wfllfnot know q father in It's own
rtxm NS%srs-
"Nov ia the present instance. all
these boys ara bfAustrfous and have
not been ttaV5s6a2sd In any other
trouble aHfde1tneusncy and we cannot
updsrstsEd tie Geuatton except in the
foi10gfdg Wy And u appears to US
that these boys a1ader the influence Of !!
eyn associates. wore converted to a +
new creed, md began to worship q
faiss god. the god Of lust, and 50 de-
tou1 were they IN belief Of their new
crefA. the< they forgot all decenoy
end vfrtFG and beoens devoid, for the
time bs3ux zof all self respect and
self rsStsy4nE md In this way It was
possib3b fcr them 10 be delinquent as
alleged M TIE f6mpfsfut,
II b Sna not foy me tact that this
caa6e fnf3sfeB more than ordinary
dSpysSfzy 10 5nd ifsge no dffiicujty
In d1sp6sanE 81 this matter In q far
more faxnrabfs Hsusy to these boys be-
fere usES
Judgs, Wpber- aid NOT sentence these
boys - tise uSaRaf hard set phases, but
said be TeS pEacfog than under the
guardtxpsfttp sof tchn r. Fulton. sup L
o.