South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-26
Not Criminal At
Heart; Lad GiUen
Chance To ProUe
Youth Who Stole Al Cents is
Permitted to Show His
True Manhood.

Taking the attitude that il is bet
ter TO give young man a chance to
go straight than 10 send him 10 the
penitentiary 10 become a hardened
criminal. Judge Chester Montgomery
withheld sentence from Frank
Knapp. IS. when he pleaded guilty TO
burglary in superior court Wednes-
day morning
Knapp was charged with entering
the Interurban station at New Car
Isle on March 2, and robbing the
cash drawer. II was said only Al
cents was obtained.
Atty. Sam P. Schwartz made an
eloquent and touching appeal for
clemency, pointing out that Frank
up 10 the time OF his participation
in the New Carlisle robbery had
been a hard working boy; that he
had assisted his widowed mother in
the care Of her other four children.
ages Z. II. Il and IS. and that he
had simply fallen in with bad COM
panions who had influenced him
enormously.
Questions Youth.
After listening patiently 20 the ap-
peal and TO the reply OF Deputy.
Pros. Hamborsky. who stated that
he felt that some punishment was
due KNAPP. Judge Montgomery ad-
dressed the defendant:
Il wonder sometimes what op-
crates in a young mans mind that
makes him want 10 go out and be-
come a bandit How did this idea
originate with you ?"
Knapp, hesitated and finally said
that he did not know.
After further questioning he told
the Judge how he had been out OF
work, had met five other men whose
ages ranged from 20 70 %, In a
local pool room and they suggested
TO him howghe could get some easy
money
Talks to Mother
Addressing the prosecutor, Judge
Montgomery said.
Il do not believe this young man
is a criminal by instinct; ne doesn't
look like one; he don't talk like one:
he don't act like one. 1t does look
10 me az though the working mind
OF the defendant is not the working
mind OF a real criminal mind"
Knapp's mother. a frail little wo-
man. sat with her sister in the court
room. nervously tugging at a laven-
dar handkerchief The court asked
her 10 come forward:
Tjmidly she came and the court
invited her 20 sit while he questioned
her:
What kind OF child was Frank
while growing up" she was asked:
He has always been a good boy, -
the mother replied He has always
been good 20 me"
She related how he had always
had good disposition and no vicious
habits and that she was greatly sur
prised and deeply grieved when she
learned OF his trouble.
The court then read from a status
which set forth that in cases where
a defendant was under the age OF 81
and circumstances warranted It. SEN
tence could be withheld BY the court
IN order that the defendant might
have a chance 10 become a good citt-
zen.
I'm going 10 follow this section. in
this case" he continued:
That means that al any time il "a
brought 20 the attention OF this court.
or any other court, that your actions
are not what they should be. you
may be brought IN and with no fur
ther hearing be given a penitent!ary
sentence"
Judge Montgomery warned the
mother not 20 hold this as club"
over the young man, that he should
BE encouraged and should have as
sistance and the sympathy Of un-
Outstanding that should exist be-
Eveen mother and son
This court withholds sentence.
You are now released. Go home. get
q good Job and be a good boy"
With fearful eyes The mother and
son departed after thanking the
Judge attorneys and court attend
ants