Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-15
NEGLECT IS CHIEF
CAUSE COMMITTING
CHILDREN TO STATE
Board of Charities and C0rrec-
tions Completes Classification
of All Children Placed in Its
Custody, Showing the Com
plainants in Each Case and
Reason for Commitment
sept15d1t

Nearly half Of the total number Of
children, normal mentally and ply
sically, who have been committed
into the custody of the State board
of charities and corrections since its
organization, have been thus COM
mitted on the complaint of NUM-
cipal boards of children's guardians.
This and many other interesting
facts regarding these commitments
are brought to light by the .classifi-
cation just completed, showing the
compliments in the various cases
and the reasons for commitment.
This IL the first classification of
cases made by the department since
children were first placed in its
custody in 1919. and the work. car
ried on by the department clerks
under the direction Of Secretary
CRUDE B. Cornish, has required about
eight weeks time to complete. Full
data has been gathered in each case.
OF the total number of children
placed in the custody Of the board
: 1866 normal physically and mentally
only 173 have been committed on
complaints signed, by the State
board of children's guardians.
Neglect, including some cases of
complaint Of neglect and inability to
support and neglect and cruel treat
ment, is the predominating cause for
such commitments.
The classifications showing the
compliments and the reason for
commitment in these 1866 cases, are
as follows:
compIainants In Cases
Attorney, 8; Children's Aid
Society Agent, /; Children's Pro-
tective Society Agent, IL; Citizens
(three citizens Of Ellsworth). /; City
Marshal, 8; County Agent, AZ; Healy
Asylum, /; Maine Children's Home
Society Agent, /; Municipal Board
Of Childrens Guardians, 554; New
England Home for Little Wanderers
Agent, IA police matron or officer,
As; Prevention Of Cruelty to Chill
dren Agent, Sc; probation officer or
associate. 10; sheriff or deputy,
100; State Board Of Children's
Guardians, 173; State School for
Girls officer, 6: Temporary Home
for Women and Children officer, 3;
York County Children's Aid Society
Agent, IL; not stated (early cases.,
Sc. Total, 1866.
Reason for Commitment
ADdnQOneu, 90, Cruelty Lredleu, 20,
kept in place injurious to health and
morals, 1856; neglect. $40; orphans,
70; wilful failure to support, 90;
without kindred of sufficient ability
to support. 6S; not stated (eariy
commitments), ia. Total, 1866.
Courts Committing
The Bangor municipal court has
committed the largest proportion
from any single court with total OF
103. While the list shows IA from
the Augusta municipal court, many
of these cases are from other parts
of the State committed through the
Augusta court as matter Of con-
venience.
Municipal Courts-Auburn. 81;
Augusta. IA; Bangor, 1903; Bar Har-
Dor, 3: Bath, So; Belfast, 26; Bidde-
ford. 10; Bridgton, l; Brunswick. 1;
Calais, %; Caribou. So; Cherryfield,
/; Cumberland. IL; Dexter. -;
Dover. 2; Eastport, 9; Ellsworth,
IS; Pennington, 81; Gardiner %;
Hallowell, %; Houlton, 80; Kenne-
bunk, /; Lewiston, 90; Lincoln, 8:
Livermore Falls, 8; Machais, IL: