South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-24
TINE FOR ACTION.

Excuses that do not exrIa.n. an ofc.al statement
fhar but makes the incident more deplorabIe should
not stop the inquiry by the large organization Of
South Bend women which demanded an explanation
Of The suspension OF a sentence passed upon a man
who admitted hts guilt assault and battery upon
1O-year-old girl IN picture show
The facts which were investigated and believed
by this organization were few and significantly
simple:
A man. older than her father, approached this
little girl az she sat in picture show.
He put his hands around her and uron her and
Whispered entlcements OF ice cream and candy if
she would with him.
He accosted the little girl again as she left the
theater was with her when arrested by police
man who had been arprissd Of the facts
In the city court this pleaded guilty to
charge OF assault and battery. paid a IS fine and
was given a suspension O; a 3O-day jail sentence
upon the plea Of the deputy prosecutor
Bear these facts In mind and then read the
oficai defense Of Prosecutor Jeilison Of the action
OF his deputy asking for Ieniency and suspension
OF sentence
''In this case the state realized that a wrong
had probably been done, but the story of the
child herself showed that the man had not
gone far enough TO establish absolute evidence
OF a wrong intention. a minister OF the gospel
appeared In the mans behalf saying that ne
had known him all his life. utmost that
the state could do was to persuade the
plead guilty assault battery
The had not gone Tar enough to establish
wrong intention?
+ Let every father and mother ask themselves what
old men have IN mind when they accost strange
httle fondle them then offer them childish
brides 70 accompany them.
Must child be ravished broken and destroyed
before there is 70 be any protection from such
nenaces?
Must the law wait until outrage and felony have
bigh,ed the life of little girl before it can protect
( The community from righteousness?
{, The man pleaded guilty to a crime. That inn
piled confession that ne had placed his hands
upon the strange little girl placed them there with
some wrongful purpose and intent
n That the prosecutor persuaded him to plead
guilty to such a charge will not add TO the prestige
iof that Office The people have little desire merely
20 collect fines OF lawyers fees. They do want pro-
tection-and this admitted his guilt implying
all that was originally charged. the people WI well
wonder tho motive that inspired this prosecutor
to ask thar The sentence Of 80 days in JAIL light
enough for anyone who would mistreat a child
any manner. be set aside and the given his,
liberty.
+ If there was a bargain in advance that the Flea
~ guilty be paid for with such suspended
sentence the matter is infinitely worse
The explanation does not explain will
members Of the wouaan's orsa Dization which has
been refused new warrant for this man, be satis-
fed with any excuse for not permitting this little
girl. the young man who the whole affair. the
policeman who made the arrest. ten their stories
E 10 a judge who would have been better informed
to the desrabiiity for such astounding cemency.
Every father and every mother. especially those
who unable to give their children constant
-watchfulness and attention will demand that this
community be made safe against such dangers TO
iheir little girls
II Il time 10 act and act quickly