Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-28

point q woman referee to hear all girls
cases involving immortality and that he
VIII hold private trials for children,
Robert Fulton, candidate for the Re
publican nomination for Judge Of the
juvenile Court, today issued a statement
outlining his platform. Mr.. Fulton be-
Aes a nineteen-year-old statute should
pinvoked whereby all curiosity seek
ers may be excluded from the room and
that every effort should be made to win
the confidence and friendship OF the chill
dren who come before the judge.
Mr.. Fulton formerly was pastor Of the
Fourth Presbyterian Church and has de-
voted much time to juvenile work, both
in Marion County and in other States.
He left the ministry several years ago
to take up the practice Of law.
MUCH MONEY SPENT
FOR THE PAID WORKERS.
Mr.. FultOn's statement follows:
The Juvenile Court Is In many ways,
one Of the most important In the country.
More money Is spent upon this than
any other, and no other county court has
such a large number Of paid workers
About two thousand cases a year are
tried In the Juvenile Court, by far the
largest number tried IN any court in
collected and disbursed to needy fami-
lies. The Juvenile Court is held in a
large room IL the basement Of the court
house and is =eaehed through a long,
unattractive than the courtroom it
self. The quarters occupied by this
court are such as no other judge in the
county would tolerate and there Is a gen
eral sentiment that the court should be
moved. Surroundings that are unit for
adults, surely are not fit fOr children
There are striking differences be-
tween the old fashioned juvenile Court
and the fodern and many OF our cit
les have entirely given up the old forms
and procedure and are operating upon
altogether modern lines, greatly to the
pleasure and satisfaction OF all con-
cerned. The modern Juvenile Court seeks
. avoid even the appearance OF a prose
Jon, and a legal trial. and its chief
&rpos Is to win the child's confidence
and convince him hat the court Is his
friend and seeks only his welfare. The
idea OF punishment is entirely secondary
and the great purpose is 70 learn why
the child committed the ohense and how
10 prevent his repeating Il in the future.
The very appearance Of the old style
courtroom has passed in the cities that
have been wide awake TO social reform.
Our statutes make specific provisions
which enables us to have a modern court
room: All trials OF such children as are
affected by this act shall be held IN cham
bers, or In the juvenile courtroom.
A judge who cares to take advantage OF
L4A6 DLUFAcAuu Will dA uklNG Ut CAdbAGu u
leave the old courtroom and move into
some smaller IA more suitable quar-
fers. The noted Juvenile Court in Wash
tngtOn, D. C., presided over by a woman
judge, is held in a building entirely re-
moved from the courthouse.
PUBLIC TRIALS No
LONGER COURT RULE.
Public trials OF children, IN which
girls as well as boys, have been exposed
10 a roomful Of curiosity seekers and
gossip mOngers have entirely passed.
Even the terms used in criminal courts
are not applied in children's cases. No
unnecessary shame or humiliation is
placed upon the child, he Is shielded so
far as possible from all that ~frightens
and intimidates him. The child. after
witnesses are brought in, one by one,
and each is excused when his testimony
is given, so that no One, not concerned.
knows who testified or what testimony
was given. In this kindly n sensible
way, all gossip and scandal are b3nished
kand the court can act for the benefit or
he child without exposing him or his
amily to unnecessary humiliation.
k"Our statutes contain another wise pro
lion, which has not been taken advan-
e Of in the nineteen years since this
became q law: The judge OF such
urt is hereby empowered to exclude
ON the courtroom at such trials any
nd all persons that, in his opinion. are
Tot necessary to the trial OF the case.
Y1n the light Of this authority no judge
| IS Ntifed in exposing a boy or girl TO
u Humiliation, embarrassment and
IA Of a public trial. Those who
IT. sd this law deserve a debt OF graft
tude for arming the court with this far
reaching authority. II 1 am elected I
shall take advantage Of these provisions
OF our statutes, shall hold the court in
chambers and shall exclude from the
room all those not necessary to the trial
Of the case. I shall, however. welcome
any Information or assistance which an
interested party can give and shall
gladly cooperate with all agencies for
child welfare.
Another and equally wise and hu-
name practice Of the modern Juvenile
Court is exercised In cases where G'rls
have been charged with immoral con-
duct Not only Is It objectionable that
such a girl should be exposed to the
IN the better organized courts Of our
country these cases are heard by a WON
an referee, who patiently and kindly
gathers all the facts and circumstances
surrounding the girl and the girls ofense
and then submits the results 10 the court
for his approval. This is not only q mer-
cifdI thing, but It is evident that the
right kind Of woman will be able to do
this work much better than q man. My
promise to the mothers Of Marion County
is that If ! am elected, this reform will
be instituted in our Juvenile Court and
girls cases, involving immortality, will be
heard By q woman referee.
''One OF the reasons that has operated
TO decrease respect for our Juvenile