The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-21
Storm of Protest Is Aimed
at Judge Who Drove
Lad From County.
GIVEN EIGHT-YEAR TERM
Demands for Mercy Flood
Office of Governor
Leslie.

Demands that the blindfold be
torn from the eyes of Justice to
save a 13-year-old motherleSs boy
from the state boys school flooded
the office of Governor Harry G.
Leslie today.
The pleas and demands came
from an irate Indiana populace,
Mortified over the eight-year sem
tence imposed on little John Tooley
Of Princeton because he didn't leave
his home and Gibson county on or
ders of Judge Claude Smith
One letter-that of A. Eugene
Martin, state representative, of Fl.
Wayne-asked the Governor to de-
mand Judge Smiths resignation
and to call a special session of the
legislature for his impeachment if
the Judge fails to resign.
Probe Is Started
Immediate investigation Of the
case was opened by L. O. Chasey,
secretary to Leslie. Chasey is to
communicate with the court in an
effort to learn the facts in the case.
Last week, John, ragged, hatless.
and barefooted, stood before Smith
and admitted he had stolen an old
meat cleaver and tongs from a
blacksmith shop. Smith heard the
evidence and ordered the boy to
leave Gibson county.
Hungry and knowing that few
more tattered clothes might be
needed by lad who was elected by
the law from his own county, the
boy stopped to gather what few
garments he had.
During that time, he visited with
his father, Alfred, who prepared a
cold meal. Taking a last stand. the
father went to Smith and pleaded
with him to permit the boy to stay
in Princeton.
Judges Wrath Aroused
Angered when he learned the boy
had not followed immediately the
courts exile order, Smith ordered
the boy arrested.
Tearfully pleading: Get me nv
clothes and III leave now the child
appeared before Smith the next
morning. Smith turned a deaf ear
to the boys pleas and sentenced
him to eight years in the boys
school.
Northern Indiana newspapers par
tlcularly are incensed by the inn
prisonment of the child.
The South Bend News-Times
wired the Governor as follows:
News-Times readers are in
censed over sentencing of John
Tooley, 13, to eight years in state
school for falling to leave Gibson
county Immediately, after Danish =
ment by Judge Claude j. Smith.
We appeal to you to go into the
case and act to allay unrest
aroused by apparent injustice.
AssaiIed in Editorial
AsSalling the sentence. the Fl
Wayne News-Sentinel printed thn
Following editorial headed IS THIS
"HOOSIER JUSTICE?
A ragged, motherless boy of IL
was brought before a Judge at
Princeton, Ind, charged with
stealing an old meat cleaver and
pair Of tongs from a blacksmith
shop.
The judge ordered the bow into
exlle-ordered him to get out of
Gibson county and stay out. The
boy made ready to take his leave.
but went to say goodby to his
father.
The lad hastily got his few be-
longlngs together and sat down to
a meager supper, while the father
went to plead with the Judge to
permit his son to stay at home.
Not only was the almighty court
unmoved by this entreaty. but
MS honor" was so angered be-
cause the youngster was not vet
out of the county that he sent
police to arrest the offender and
to hold him in jail over night.
Next morning, the boy said.
Get me my clothes, and I'll leave
now" But the almighty court
couldn't see it that way, and the
13-year-old boy went to the Indi-
ana Boys school to serve a sem
tence of eight years.
Hoosiers can't be very proud
OF that record. incidentally. we'd
like to have a Wickersham opinion
on the matter.