The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-30
What Is Justice?

Perhaps the case of Daisy Sullivan may
start some real thought concerning justice,
crime-and other things.
Certainly there is something wrong when
: it is possible for bewildered judge to send an
18-year-old girl to penitentiary for two years
and up to fourteen years for unlawfully taking
two oranges. For in the final analysis, al
though the crime was forgery, the entire
profits Of this girls "crime" consisted Of the
two bits of fruit.
Certainly there is something more wrong
when the Judge, in explanation of his SEEM
ingly severe sentence, says that he chad been
told" that the girl had been wild.
Justice by gossip is hardly within the phil
osophy of our system Of justice.
Just what that community expected OF
girl who had been motherless, coming from
home Of extreme privation, is more difficult
for the imagination.
If the girl had shown indications of Wild
ness, there are others in that city of Bloom
field who should share some of the blame.
The boys of Worthington, whose escapades
had been whispered to this judge are at liberty.
They are in their homes safe and sound. So
are the men who may have taken advantage OF
the weak social position of the girl, and the
social lines are drawn as closely occupa-
tions and clothes in the little towns as they
Aare in larger centers.
Forgery is serious crime.
But compare the background of this girl
with that of the bankers of this state who
recently have been discovered in their for
geries.
The sentence of the 'Shelburn banker who
was the FRIEND business associate, and init
mate Of United States senators, congressman,
and politicians the custodian of their notes,
given for the purpose of raising money not
Immediately in hand for the fotation of stock
selling enterprises, was exactly the same
that given to this motherless, uneducated I'M
protected girl.
The difference of the crimes is in the
amount. The girl had no imagination beyond
the pitiful sum of $3.50. Perhaps she could
not have obtained more than that.
The banker admits forgeries running above
$150,000. Behind him is a trail Of wrecked
enterprises of blasted hopes, of suicide of loss
to the industrious The girl got two oranges.
What the girl did was wrong, very wrong
Her offense against society is plain and I'M
mistakable. 1t is easily measured in money
and in enOrmity
But if there is justification for sending her
to prison cell for two years for those oranges,
how long ought the banker who stole his many
thousands from those who trusted him ought
to remain behind bars?
In the search for the real criminal it NAV
be just possible that some inquiry should be
directed to the crime committed against the
girl herself, for she most certainly was the
logical and inevitable product of her environ
ment.
What shall be said Of the community that
permitted this girl to work for pitiful sum
each week, to undergo sacrifices, live in penury
without a sympathetic word of encoura cement
without welcome or bit of interest?
What does a community expect of Sc
week dishwashing girls? Was there any one
lin her city who offered home or a helping
hand?
Justice is a wonderful ideal But what is
justice? And just who are the guilty?
Glass on Wall Street