davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1921-11-27
Every One of the Bad Boys
Truly a Mental Case

Before answering these questions-if any
student Of life is bold enough to answer
them-it is to be remembered that while
these bad boys are called incorrigible the
true basis Of their incorrigibility is their
mental inferiority. or the $50 members OF
this class segregated at Elmra every one
Is mental case.
Another bit of statistics not to be forgot
ten is this one: more than half of the bad
boys released from institutions on parole
have violated its conditions and have been
recommitted Unable as they are to com.
pete successfully in the industrial world
unless parents or friends are active I'm
their behalf disaster quickly overtakes
them The incorrigibes cannot make their
way alone and soon become the easy tools
ri crooks or schemers who may want them
10 hold the bag" or in some way act as
accomplices in nefarious acts.
But is this type OF bad boy" to be perma-
nently incarcerated? One revolts at such
a sentence for unfortunates and It is prob
able that the middle way is the right one
This looks to some form of permanent
custody or custodal care And with the
development of the special training class.
which is a new thing and only now being
tried out, more and more incorrigibles may
be saved
II is pleasant TO be able to end on a more
cheerful note. Leaving out these mental
and physical detectives. the record from
.he Elmira Reformatory of the average
paroled inmate is very good. OF SCI pa.
rolled in 1920, 500 have complied with the
conditions of their release and are in good
standing with the institution. Figures
showing almost equally good results were
reported at the Jacksonville conference
from similar institutions of other States.
The bad boy is with u.s. yes but II Is
possible to take heart, for the wardens
Of the country. the welfare societies and
the children's courts say that he is getting
fewer.
The New York herald., 1921-11-27
JOHN S. KENNEDY,
President of the New York State
Commission of Prisons, who tells of
new penal methods.

and to study the mental peculiarities of
bis charges.
In each case the boy has been studied
in the psychological laboratory and the re
suits of these mental examinations have
demonstrated that not even one of the $50
boys studied at Elmira and assigned to this
special training class could be considered
normal. 1t has been established that the
incorrigible suffers from a physical or men
tai defect which probably explains his ac-
lions in the reformatory just as it did his
actions before he was sent there.
A careful observer of these types, while
possessing no special knowledge of either
psychology or psychiatry, says of the incor-
rigibles:
They appear to be in a grade by them
selves. Nature for some reason appears
to have denied them most of the attributes
Of normality. In temperament they are
nervous to degree and they are physi.
cally, as well as mentally and morally. un-
balanced. What makes their condition
more depressing to witness is that they
are ignorant of their condition, and hav-
ing no power of introspection they are un-
able to see their foolish actions as other
people see them. There are among them
as many types as individuals and each bad
boy must be dealt with as an individual
case, distinct from the others"
The incorrigibles in Elmira number
USUALLY not more than per cent. of the
entire reformatory population. About 10
per cent. of the population of the reform
atories may be considered segregable-in
need of custodial care-but this figure in
cludes the mentally defective inmates who
may be tractable, occasioning the institu-
tion little trouble in discipline, yet still be
unfit to be at large permanently.
The problem in reference to the incor-
rigible boys is whether or not they shall
be permitted to go back into the commun.
ty and continue to be the menace they
were before their commitment The real
question takes on a material aspect: Is
such boy useful or useless; is he dan.
ger and unfit for freedom; would his being
at large interfere with the wellbeing OF
society?
The New York herald., 1921-11-27

Not all are to be excused on the ground
of a mental or physical defect; in fact
grist sent the other day to the Children's
Village, the Jewish Protectory and other
safe places seemed just little brighter
than the ordinary kid.
possess the power to see through roof and
wall in order to find whether or not bad
discipline or no discipline on the part of
parents had made these children bad"
Judge Talley feels quite sure that the
majority of the bad boys brought to his
court as prisoners are children spoiled by
their natural guardians. He has advised
the return to the wholesome use of the
birch. More whippings at home says he,
would mean fewer child criminals at the
bar OF justice. In imposing sentence the
other day on prisoner charged with grand
larceny and burglary Judge Talley de-
nounced the youth as 'leper" and
plague" against whom the public was to be
protected. He did protect il In the case
of this twenty-threeyear-old criminal by
sending him to Sing Sing for the maximum
term of ten years.
There were no allevfations to be pleaded
for this young criminal because of defect
in mind or body. and the one used by the
prisoners counsel that his crimes were due
to doting mother did not get sympathy
from the Judge. His feeling IL strong that
The New York herald., 1921-11-27

Of the inmates of prisons and reformatories
exhibit mental abnormalities and are In
need of much more specialized treatment
than is afforded by the ordinary routine
methods employed in the average penal
institutions; that from 81 to 80 per cent.
OF such inmates are feeble minded and only
possess the intelligence of the average
American child Of IL years or under.
"A start has been made by making the
Naponoch institution a clearing house for
Elmira and other institutions of correc-
tional purpose. Delinquents and criminals
sentenced to the various penal and correc-
tional institutions of this State will receive
close study at the clearing house, with it's
medical clinic attachment, and when the
method of reconstruction is determined
upon they are then to be distributed to the
various penal institutions according to the
needs in each case.
"It is great step toward finding the best
way of handling the problem generally, and
particularly is it the right way with juve.
lille delinquents. Take Elmira, for exam
pie; by having such a clearing house in
Naponoch the warden is able to establish
an actual physical segregation of certain
types, and this helps him solve the disci-
pline problem.
"In the treatment of bad boys the object
after all is so to reconstruct the personality
of each one that he may be restored as
promptly and as permanently as possible to
his normal relation to society. complete
reformation Is rarely accomplished within
prison walls and much depends on after
work. But"
Here what Mr.. Kennedy said should be
given line by itself:
"The number of bad boys is steadily de-
creasing and the records of all institutions
in which our commission is interested al
ready show that the crop of 1922 is
going to be agreeably less.
"The chief reason for this is, l repeat,
because an effort along intelligent lines is
now being made to discover the mental
disease, deterioration or feeblemindedness
before they are sent to prison. Taken thus
by the forelock crime is preventable"
day at the children's courts, either in
New York or Brooklyn, would be sufficient
to allay any undue enthusiasm because of
the reforms thus far under way There
are still strange cases presented and queer
developments which augur Ill for the future
career of the youth under examination.
There are still a lusty lot of bad boys
around.
The New York herald., 1921-11-27

of the men received at Elmira have already
been in some correctional or eleemosynary
institution or have extensive police records
and have failed to comply with the con-
ditions of their release from such Juvenile
institutions
"The reformatories for boys, both juve
nile apd intermediate. have many difficult
problems sent to them and their percent
age of recoveries. considering the material
with which they work, is high and their
efforts credtable. 1t must be borne in
mind that it is only failures about which
the public is generally informed. These
institutions cannot point with pride to
their successes they are perhaps the only
institutions of an educational character
which are made prominent by their fail
ures"
Never before il is DR.. Christians opin-
ion, have there been so many influences
at work as there are at present for the
conservation of youth. He adds that it
is usually the boys who have failed to re.
spond to the efforts directed toward their
reclamation who finally are sent to correc-
tional institutions. In conclusion he uses
these words
Il am optimistic for the future and be-
lieve that the delinquent youth of our land
will respond to the efforts society is put
ting forth for their betterment."
In every institution designed to reform
bad boys there are found some who refuse
TO adapt themselves to the routine of the
place and by their frequent conflicts with
the discipline earn for themselves the term
incorrigible. This small group, for IL is
seldom numerous, stir up trouble among
ether inmates who ordinarily would be
well behaved The management of this
class, whether in the home or in an insti-
tuition is still difficult problem
The New York herald., 1921-11-27

chorus OF majority of the men and
women on this committee. II is echoed
in the statistics offered by authorities in
the leading cities throughout the country.
Charles r. Chute, secretary of the Ma
tional Probation Association, said at the
same convention:
mo statistics have been produced any
where showing general crime increase
A Chicago crime commission makes the
statement that there has been no crime
wave in Chicago, but a marked decrease
in major crimes during the last year sta
tistics from the courts Of forty-two of the
largest cities in New York State show
decrease of about 10000 in the total ar
raignments during 1920 as compared with
1919"
AT a meeting of the New York State AS
sociation of Magistrates held in Utica on
November IL and 12 a paper was read by
Charles e. De Angels. Assistant District
Attorney, who sent out a questionable to
the chiefs of police of fifteen different
cities in the United States. He concludes
that the so-called crime wave is largely
matter OF an increase In spectacular
crimes and that crime as whole remains
in about its usual proportions.
Reports of the Prison Commission Of
New York State show that there has been
a very large decrease in commitments to
penal institutions of all kinds in New
The New York herald., 1921-11-27

parents have no business to "dote," but
should do their duty by children in ad-
ministering punishment at home
How many bad boys are created by over
indulgence and foolish forgiveness with
no penalty attached can only be conjec-
tured. This type of bad boy, however, we
have always with us.
At the prison conference held at Jack.
sonville, Fla, recently George L. Sehon of
Kentucky, a member of the committee on
Juvenile delinquency made report on the
boy criminal. In part it read:
To-day I stand a subscriber to the opti-
mistic belief that Juvenile delinquency is
not now on the increase. This note of
hope and encoura cement is sounded by
The New York herald., 1921-11-27
Segregating Incorrigibles
Important Part of Work

Nowadays it is customary to take the
so-called incorrigibles from the other in
uates and give them sleeping rooms din
ing room and a general work. instruction
and recreation room apart from the others.
In Elnira space was made for thus segre-
eating this class when Napanoch took
away the hopeless detectives. There the
bad boys receive a certain amount of school
of letters instruction and do some manual
work, part of which is to keep the grounds
and that part of the building assigned to
them in good condition. Most OF the day
is given up to outdoor sports or indoor
games. A special officer, noted for horse
sense is over them to control and direct
The New York herald., 1921-11-27

in
of PianSpe Optimistic lyof Scientific cTreatmen

York State for the last three or four years.
However, John Tremain, secretary of the
commission, stated last week that there
had been an increase during the last few
months in these commitments.
Frank J.. Christian, superintendent of
the New York State Reformatory at FL
mira, has sent the following figures to be
incorporated in this article The popula-
ton of Elmira and Napanoch from 1910 to
1916 was 1881; from 1916 to 1920 the aver
age population of these two institutions
was 1,026 The population at Elmira to-day
Is 1,0S5.
There was marked decrease in the
number committed during the war; at one
time the count during this period ran as
The New York herald., 1921-11-27
DR.. Christian, Superintendent,
Explains the Figures

In calculating these figures DR.. Christian
said:
ut appears that the size of the reform
atory population has always been. and
probably will continue to be, greatly af-
fected by industrial conditions. We get
the lowest stratum of society, a stratum
that for one reason or another cannot or
will not adjust itself to social conditions
In extraordinary times like those of the
last few years adjustment is easier; the
line of cleavage therefore runs lower down
and the stratum is less in quantity and
poorer in average quality.
Statistics indicating the number who
conduct themselves properly after release
form correctional institutions are likely
10 be misleading. IL is necessary to have
a record of these individuals over con.
siderable number of years before final
judgment can be passed. Many of the
published figures show altogether too high
a percentage of recoveries
"For instance, OF the 500 men paroled
from Elmira in 1919 and 1920. 81 per cent
are still conducting themselves in accord
ence with the conditions of their release
After reporting for two years on parole
most of these men will be granted final
release from the Jurisdiction of the reform.
atory: there will be some among them who
will again relapse into crime.
"If we consider the statistics covering
paroles for period of ten or fifteen years
and class as failure every inmate who
did not in every respect live up to the
conditions under which he was released,
we find that 81 per cent can be classed
among the successes.
1T is well to remember that IS per cent
The New York herald., 1921-11-27
BY WILLIS STEEL.

w 7 HAT of the 1921 crop of bad boys;
wv is It rich and full, or must this
glorious period of holdup fail
for lack of nursery nourishment? The
crime wave that one must be born dumb,
deaf and insensible In every way not to be
aware of, gives rise to this question. Grad
ually our present Dick Turpins will be
eliminated if history should repeat itself,
and only the oncoming generation is looked
for to fill the places vacated by way of the
gallows, the electric chair or Imprisonment.
Like every other school. the school of crime
can only be perpetuated by the kinder
garten class.
The prison commissions, the wardens of
reformatories, tell a hopeful story Bad
boys are decreasing in number in the vari-
Gus institutions and if the ratio existing
between the populations of these places and
the penal institutions means anything, it
is that there are fewer bad boys growing
up in the country than has been the case
in the preceding score of years.
John S. Kennedy president of the State
Commission of Prisons, is of the opinion
that these figures tell a remarkable story.
Seventy per cent. of the juvenile delin-
quents, male and female, from the ages of
16 to 30 placed under probation and having
served out period of surveillance, are
never heard of again This means that
they have been saved to society. 1t also
accounts for diminution in the popula-
tions of the prisons.
"The children's courts the welfare socie-
ties, have all done splendid work of refor-
nation and should be highly praised. The
Judges also, those who have understood
what fine institution such reformatory
as that at Elmira is for one instance, and
Lave therefore committed to it cases about
which there was a saving possibility. have
wrought well. 1t is to be hoped that this
understanding may be enlarged and ex-
tended. l wish that our Judges might per-
sonally visit ElmIra and appreciate for
themselves what the institution is and the
kind of work it is doing
The New York herald., 1921-11-27

low as $50. There is very close relation
ship between industrial conditions and
commitments for criminal acts. During
years when labor is in demand and wages
high the records show a less number of
commitments to penal institutions, and
conversely, when industrial conditions are
at low ebb the unemployed are in fire.
luent conflict with the law. The least de-
sirable of the unemployed-those first dis
rensed with when work becomes slack
are the number from which the reforma
tory population is largely recruited; thus in
1908, year following financial and indus
trial depression, the reformatory received
l,500 inmates while during the years of
the world war, when men were in utmost
demand and wages extraordinarily in
creased, the greatest number received in
one year was 700
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-11
TRINITY CLASS
HEARS OF T. u.
President Gordon Relates
History of Institution
at Dinner

\ personal acquaintance with the
University Of Tulsa was given mem
sers or the Trinity Mems club, din
ing together according to regular
custom at the Trinity Episcopal
church Thursday night. through an
Introduction TO the institution by
president j. NJ Gordon.
Doctor Gordon skctchcd the his
tory ~ the institution from Us very
beginning. coming down the years to
the enlargement of Kendall college
into the university lie cNpatiated
on the splendid location and uppor-
tunity OF the school, calling atten-
tiou to the statistics that a majority
of the student body of an schools
comes from within 59-milc radius
and that the local Institution Is in
disputedly master OF a territory OF a
17-mile radius.
or program of moment upon
which the university is now on
gagged, ne said; 81 am not priv
ilogcd 20 disclose all that has been
done IN the last four weeks hut I
can say that certain men Of Tulsa
with outstanding Influence have
been " o r ng earnestly. n
quietly, 10 the end that great
Christian education program will be
felt I'm a very definite way, not by
Oklahoma alone, but by the entire
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-11

A dome extends upward into the
bottom OF new tea Kettle to in
crease tho heating surface and cause
water TO be boiled quickly.
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-11
ADMITS
HELPING CHESTER
Says She Falsiiied About
His Whereabouts to
Shield Him

kANSASS'1TY Mo-, March 10
That she ftkified to J. II. Kimbrell.
special prosecutor, as to the where
abouts of Denzel Chester, the night
OF october 2, last, and that the
falsehood was told 20 shield Chester.
was declared on the witness stand
here today by Mrs. Blanche Ryan At
the preliminary hearing OF Chester
on a charge of having murdered
Miss Florence Barton. a society girl,
on the night in question.
Mrs. Ryan declared that she had
said Chester went to a drug store
for her at 1880 p. m. that night.
She did 1t. she said. at the instance
OF Chester, adding "he framed an
alibi."
Chester has been identified by
Howard Winter, Miss Barton's
fiance, as the man who approached
their motor car on a lonely road
and fired into the machine. wound
ing Winter in the left arm and kill
Ing Miss Barton.
The woman's testimony came as u
climax TO an all-afternoon hearing
at which the courtroom of Justice
John George was filled to capacity
with an overflow crowd jamming
the doorways and yard leading to
the building.
Mrs. Ryan, with whom Chester
boarded, at session of the prolim-
mary last week testified that
Chester was nervous for two days
after the killing and that he left
town the Tuesday following, after
having admonished her, she said,
never to tell that she had seen him
wearing brown suit and brown
cap. The man who shot Miss Bar
ton. according TO Winter, wore
clothing OF that description. Chester
was arrested at Great Falls, Mont.
several weeks after the killing, by
operatives OF private detective
agency. He made a sensational es-
cape from q moving train near
Broken Bow, Neb., while being re-
turned to Kansas City and after his
recapture, twice attempted TO Kill
himself in his cell at the Broken
Bow Jail.
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-11
TULSA WILL CLOSE UP
All Hospitality WIN Do Shown visit.
Ing Players ut Basket Meet

Glasses will be suspended at tho
University Of Tulsa Friday as stu
dent body and faculty devote thcn-
selves TO offering hospitality to tho
go visiting teams for the annual
basketball tournament OF the first
congressional district. The collegians
viii meet incoming trains, convey
visitors by automobile to the univ
versity, guide visiting students on
inspection tours of the campus and
make themselves generally agree
able. Residents OF Robertson hall.
tho mems dormitory. will turn the
dormltory rooms over TO those from
out Of town and themselves lodge
Off the campus. Teams from Fair
fax. Nowata ana Quapaw had ar
rived last night.
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-11

Experiments are being tried in
England with pumps in which explo.
slons OF gas and air act directly
against the water to be lifted.
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-11

India produces more varieties OF
4 OIL seeds than any other country
and has an output in normal years
eNceeding 1000 900 tons
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-11

southwest and indeed the whole
country"
Doctor Gordon quoted excerpts
from numerous letters OF congratu-
iation. evincing interest in tho local
institution over a wide area In pass
ing. he declared that the university
will always he non-political and ex-
pressed his thankfulncss that II will
depend upon the direct support ot
the people Instead Of the indirect
support OF the people given state
institutions through the fitful gem
eroslty OF legislatures.
About sovcnty-flve men attended
the dinner.
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-11
business Men Urged
to Forget Dollars
for Lenfen Services

TO business men and women
engrossed in strenuous pursuit of
material things. as embodied I'm
the dollar, opportunity for week
daY spiritual renewal is offered
in the short inspirational services
being held each Wednesday and
Friday noop throughout Lent at
the Orpheum theater under the
auspices or tho six downtown
churches, which Instituted the
series primarily tn bring spiritual
refreshment and instruction at
the significant Easter period 10
those In the rush OF business,
professional or industrial life.
The topic for todays service
will be Deliver US from evil" a
petition from the Lords prayer
to be discussed by Rev.tW. O. An
dcrson OF the First Baptist
church. sermon, songs and spe-
cial music, combined. will not take
second over 25 minutes.