The Washington times., 1935-01-22
.SEN. KING READY.
FOR PROBE ON
The HILL
Rep. Randolph Takes Hand
In Shifting Case; Many
Complaints Pour In
(Continued from Page y

need their parents at tnlS
crucial time in their lives.
r. They come from excellent
homes. Their parents are will
ing to care for them.
NOT CONSULTED
"TheSe are good boys, not
problem boys. Yet their parents
were not consulted in this
court. The whole future Of
these boys is at stake at this
time"
Mr.. ,Cusick sought to read let
ters to the court from school
teachers and principals, testify
ing as to the characters of the
boys, but the judge refused to
allow this, holding it would be
improper"
Opening his argument, Mr.. Gu
sick said:
''It Is a rule of law, a princi-
pie Of law. that a person &C
cuSed must be advised before
making a statement and warned
that he does not have to testify.
"This was not done in this
ease, a clear violation of the
rights Of these defendants.
JUDGE is UPSET
another principle Of law
was violated when these chill
dren and their parents were not
allowed to be heard"
Judge Bentley, who seemed
upset by Mr.. Prettyman'S view
of the case, a view which seemed
to censure the part she played in
committing the boys, would not
give Mr.. CuSick any satisfaction
as to when she will rule on his
motion to set aside the judgment.
When she refused to admit the
boys to bail pending this decision,
Mr.. Cusick noted an exception.
Mrs. Penn was not in court
70: the hearing, being confined
to her home with a severe cold.
The parents of the Tanning youth
we're in the courtroom, which was
packed with persons who have
been taking a keen interest in the
case which has stirred official
Washington.
King to Take Action
Meanwhile, Senator william H.
King CD, of Utah, chairman Of
the Senate District Committee,
prepared to present the case be-
fore that body to determine if a
probe of Judge Bentley's actions
should be started. and, if so, what
the scope of such an inquiry
should be.
Senator King voiced objections
to the appointment of Judge
Bentley to the juvenile bench,
and stated that he has received
other complaints about her con-
duct.
The House District Committee
was also preparing to investigate
Judge Bentley's judicial actions.
Representative Jennings Randolph
CD of West Virginia, chairman
of the subcommittee Investigate
ing crime conditions in the
District, announced that he will
summon Judge Bentley and
others concerned in this case to
testify before that body on the
ease which has aroused such
widespread condemnation.
TarbeII AssaiIs Her
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, who
supported Judge Bentley'S ap-
pointment, came to the defense
of the woman jurist yesterday,
stating that she was sure Judge
Bentley had made a thorough
investigation of the case before
rendering the "two-minute YER
dict"
The Monday Night Club.
meeting last night, adopted a
resolution praising Judge Bent
ley for her conduct of the court,
and also praised the training
school to which the boys we're
committed.
But from other quarters pro-
tests over Judge Bentley'S action
continued to pour in. Ida M.
Tarbell, distinguished author, as
sailed the judge for not having
"the patience, sympathy and un.
derstanding for the position she
holds"
Judge Ben M. Lindsey. per.
haps the greatest juvenile court
authority in the nation, tele-
graphed from California, where
he is a member of the State
superior court, that children
should be kept in their homes,
under the care of their parents
and under the eye of a proba.
tion officer rather than be COM
mitted to an institution.
Crosby Adds Word
Such trials, he pointed out,
should be conducted with great
care. with ample time and in
formal and helpful consultations
with the parents in an effort to
solve the difficulties in the best
manner for the sake of the
children involved.
Percy Crosby, famous artist and
creator of "Skippy." that delight
ful imerican boy depicted in The
Times each day, assailed the
quick verdict, saying:
"Any reform school Is .
preparatory school for the
penitentiary. Youths sent to
institutions without a fair hear
ing when they are young will
return to society, SO times out
of 100, with their hearts filled
with bitterness. their minds