The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-06-13

Of Lubbock for many months, was
realized Monday morning, when the
June term Of District Court con-
vened
Judge W. R. Spencer. in his
charge 20 the jury, delivered most
forceful address, urging that the
Jury take some concrete action 90
call = halt on the cnrelcWness Of
parents in bringing lp then chill
dren. 10 which he attributed the
committal of such extraordinary
crimes, a. viii have 30 be brought
before this term Of court Judge
Spencer B not "hrrd boiled" By any
mean, but when a stern problem
thnt seems 10 confront The entire
population ~ Lubbock County isI
brought 20 view he throws himself
into the work OF offering a prac-
teal solution, which was thoroughly
demonstrated In the charge be made
the Jury
Il IS time that someone nll 81
halt on the younger generation, and
Judge Spencer ht the thOughilcss,
criminally inclined youngsters a
hard one when he compared court
cases Of ten years ago with those
of today Ten years ago, he point
ed out, the larger majority Of GRIM
inals with whom the court had %
deal. were men of middle age and
older, whose rough lives merited at
tention and punishment, whose long
criminal experience taught them
the lessons Of law lodging. which
was hard indeed for the officers 90
cope with, and who. when caught,
were often dealt with IN the most
severe manner. he emphasized the
fact that the Grand Jury should
make al Investigations with determ-
nation 20 uphold justice IN the ex-
ireme sense. To dismiss III eases
where doubt was IN favor of the
defendant, snd 90 have brought be-
fore the court or example,, such
casrs ~ the majority Thought need.
ed intervention " he strong hand
n the iAw What the judge vas
intcrcstpd n most is that the young
er generation hr called upon %
show FOR their wickcdncrs, in order
that the eyes Of parents be opened
% fhe need ~ closer association
with their children, and anyone
familiar with the cases That are 90
be- brought up IN this term ~
court, especially the most important
one 20 far AZ crlminality ~ concern
Cd, viii realize that Judge Spencer
~ touching vital question. of in
tereet 20 every mother, father. boy
and Rirl IN this county. Not that
All children need the close scrutiny
% their parents. but thar some par
ents At least wake up 10 the fact
that through their carelessncss more
than two-thirds of the cases which
the courts have 90 consider are
dealing directly with young men
and young women IN their teens,
some barely entering that age
We are heartily IN sympathy with
the parent who, through thought
IesSnexs and unwillingncss 70 care
for their children, see them brought
before the courts for the most con
zpicious crimes 81 the present day.
but sympathy Tor them viii not |
open the eyes Of their neighhors,
and this the Judge secu'ed 90 thor 7
oughiy realize. and urged that ac-
iion Be taken which y designed 20 /
make them think.
Tho courts ~ The country within /
= few year. will be overrun with 1
such eases as tie one the writer /
has IN mind, II par ~ everywhere I
DO not take the ivice Of the Dis /
frict Judge, ard others who are IN I
Oh position - know, and take i'm ]
mediate steps curb the restless
ness Of the co1iing generations. 1
Courts and stern Justice are to
harsh Il seems, for these youngsters
10 have 10 bear. bat it Is up 70
either the courts ~ the parents, and
shst the parents fail 10 do the
courts are compelled to do not
merely for the satisfaction ~ pros
ecution, but for the protection Of
society az whole.
Judge Spencer IN a man Of years
and experience, whose knowledge
Of human nature, and the pcrils TO
which Il IA subjected, equips him
well to master the present situa-
tion. and II 10 his opinion that the
parents have the control of their
children in their hands, and that
the courts are too far down the
line 70 offer much sympathy or as
~isfance TO the criminally inclined
youths. and that about all the court
can do is 20 administer justice in
the most able manner, letting the
individual remain az an example
for those who are 20 walk IN the
same steps Of life IN the days that
are TO come.
Modern habits and morality don't
seem 10 walk In the same path. and
she inclination Of the Individual 10
work 20 the interest Of the forces
that be for destruction Of the hu-
man soul shuns morality IN the !
cruelesf fashion, and styles and Gus
toms fif themselves too perfectly I
into the program Of the mischief I
maker for the courts Of this day TO I
Do anything less than take a lead {
inx role IN the oppression of crime.
Parents where are your buys and /