Evening star., 1953-11-18

son reQl1eQ, is CIaG papers are I
filed against particular indi-
vidual,"
81 think that is an astounding
situation" Judge Holtzoff de-
clared. But ! see from reports
in the press that steps are being
taken to cure it.
II think also, in case such
as this, the Juvenile Court ought
to waive jurisdiction !. so that
both perpetrators of the crime
could be tried together in this
court"
The case the judge referred
to was a houSebreaking and lar
ceny case, involving an adult and
a 17-year-old juvenile.
The adult, Gene Hurdle, 20, of
the 3100 block of Dunbarton ave-
nue. NV. was found guilty by
jury yesterday in Judge Holtz-
offs court. The younger youth,
who has turned 18, the cutoff age
for Juvenile Court, since the
housebreaking, was turned over
to juvenile authorities according
to Mr.. Smithson.
Continuing his comments to
Mr.. Smithson, Judge Holtzoff
said that it was unfortunate
that the provisions of the Dis
trict Juvenile Act make it ex-
tremely difficult to try adult and
Juvenile co-defendants together.
Option Prevails Elsewhere.
The judge cited the Federal
Juvenile Delinquency Act, which.
he said, prevails in all Federal
courts but this" as "giving the
United States attorney the op-
ton to prosecute any juvenile
in the same manner as an adult"
Your office" the judge told
Mr.. Smithson, "ought to have
that authority, which it does
not have under the present
statute. 1t would be we'll if an
amendment to the act could be
secured. Accordingly, l suggest
this matter for the consideration
of your superior officers"
Questioned by reporters later,
Judge Holtzoff, who helped draft
the Federal act which gives
United States attorney waiver
option, declared that such a law
here would help combat juvenile
delinquency.
He pointed out that Juvenile
Court may commit an offender
to AN institution only until the
violator's majority is reached. A
Federal court could give sitter
penalties.
Evidence Presented Twice.
In addition. he said. such
law would end the necessity of
presenting witnesses and evi-
dence twice in cases in which
adults and juveniles are CO.
defendants.
Mr.. Smithson told reporters
later that, when he called the
record section of Juvenile Court
to find out the disposition of the
case in question, he was told only
that the youth had been COM
mitted to the National Training
School.
He said he inquired as to the
length of the sentence, was told
that the information was mot
available" and was told to talk
to another attache. He did not
make the second call.
Judge Cockrill said she had
not handled such case as the
one described by Mr.. Smithson.
In addition, she said, juvenile
records always are sent to Dis
trict Court upon request, in
cases where a juvenile has
pleaded guilty or has been found
guilty in that court.
Second Offense.
The juvenile in the current
case had pleaded guilty to a
second housebreaking-an Of
fense that occurred after he had
passed his 18th birthday. On
that case, he was arraigned in
the District Court.
He is James L. Hill, of the
3100 block of Prospect avenue
NV. He has not yet been SEN
fenced. Hurdle, 20, was indicted
with him in this case. Hurdle
has not yet been tried.
A servant was beaten with
stick during the housebreaking,
and a second charge of assault
with a dangerous weapon was
added. The crime was committed
last August 20.
The houSebreaking in which
Hurdle was found guilty yester-
day occurred last August 18.
This was before Hill had become
18. So juvenile papers were made
ont oooiyct Io;,1o -. -. z.1-z-z...