The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1921-07-05
BOYS AND GIRLS
ARE MAYNARD
JUVENILE JUDGE LARSON SAYS
YOUTHFUL JOY-RIDING LEADS
TO REFORMATORY.

Sioux Falls, July 5.-"Joy riding
is a straight path to the state reform
school for young people under Is
years of age, anda thriving highway
to other institutions, such as hospi-
tails, state prisons and correction
schools" declared Judge Lewis Lar
son today. He referred to several
cases in recent weeks that have come
to the attention of the Minnehaha
county juvenile court, of which he is
Judge.
Officers of the Juvenile court do
not say that every young girl and
boy who enter an automobile for a
joy ride will land up eventually in
some one of these places, but there
have been numerous examples here
of late that might serve to bring
out tn point most forcefully," he
said.
For example, not over a week
ago, there came to the attention of
the juvenile court a case where two
boys and two girls made themselves
comfortable in an automobile, and
motored to a dance in the evening at
Dell Rapids. Not being satisfied
they drove still further from home,
and landed at Madison. Being
moonlight night--the kind of night
that seems to be best suited to joy
riders of this section of the state
the quartet took their time in tour
ing over the country, and returned
TO Sioux Falls about o'clock in the
morning The girls were then afraid
to go home, and the boys took them
to Harrisburg, where a room was
provided for the girls at little ho-
tel there.
From the story told to the juven-
lie court few days later, the girls
were called for by the young men
about o'clock the following after
noon, and they returned to Sioux
Falls. Where the girls stayed in the
meantime. could not be learned but
again that night, together with the
boys, the quartet resumed their
Journey over the Dakota highways,
Just where they had left off. That
night they attended a dance at Wall
Lake, made another trip to Madison,
and arrived in Sioux Falls at an ear
ly hour in the morning, when the
girls were "let off" at their homes,
and the boys made their departure.
"In the meantime, both the police
and this court were notified OF the
disappearance of the two girls, and
while questioning the mothers OF the
young ladies', neither of whom was
over IT, we found that they were
very lenient with their daughters,
and seemed to allow them TO roam as
they pleased. Now with such prac-
tice is it any wonder that there are
so many joy riders around here! L
say, girls under IS should be super
vised by their parents just as much
as when they were two years Old.
AS a result Of the Joy ride that
lasted approximately 48 hours with
the Sioux Falls youths, one boy, VINO
was not yet 18, and who had been
previously placed under probation by
Judge Larson for an offense which
he committed a year ago, was sent 10
the state reformatory at Planklnton
late last week. According to Judge
Larson, the boy, whose name is with
held, being a minor was supposed to
be working on a farm until he was
18. after which time the juvenile
court loses it's control over children.
However, unknown to the officials
of the juvenile court, the boy had
slipped into Sioux Falls several
weeks ago. Had he not been impli-
Gated in the 4S-hour "joy ride" Off
cials would probably never have dis
covered he was not performing the
duties assigned to him during pro-
hn fi0n