Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-04

belt and wear it where God meant
it to go. I ruled out those black
leather motorcycle jackets and
made 'em get a jacket and tie
if they could afford a tie"
The road to the often frustrat-
ing job of dealing with Juveniles
was a long one for Mr.. Purcell.
After attending public schools
in and around Archer City-popu-
lation, 2,000-he set out for Texas
A&M. picking up a degree just
before World War II in animal
husbandry.
During the war, he was an in
fantry officer and fought through
Tunisia and up through Italy. He
came out major in 1916.
Back home, he attempted to talk
a younger brother into the prac-
tice Of law. He convinced him
self, instead, and was off to Bay
lor. graduating there in 1949.
A District Judge
For two years he practiced in
Big Spring and then moved to
Wichita Falls in 1851. BY 1855, he
had been appointed to the bench
as District Judge and in Texas
they handle everything from MUIR
der to Joy riding.
He Immediately made his mark
in his handling Of juvenile cases.
Besides haircuts he also ruled
out boots for those who spent
their young lives some distance
from the nearest steer-he began
trying to instill responsibility.
Not only did the teen-agers of
the county begin to feel and re-
spect a new toughness but par
ents found themselves thoroughly
involved.
IF I placed a kid on proba-
tion," Mr.. Purcell drawled, in a
matter-of-fact tone, "he would
have to agree he could only go to
school or church without his par
ents. Any place else he went he
had to be accompanied by his
mother or father.
Il had them sign a statement.
And they signed practically in
blood and it was solemn thing"
Judge Purcell said with q flicker
of a smile.
The trial" or hearing was con-
Quoted in the somber atmosphere
of very high court. 1t was never
on a chat basis, in the judges
chambers or on the same level
in the court.
When some boys were caught at
the traditional practice of bust
ing school windows, II had the
boys and their daddies fix the
damage" Mr.. Purcell said.
The Airmen's Cose
After gang had Jumped"
some airmen at a nearly base and
were arrested, he gave the boys
80 minutes to get from school to
the court. For weeks, every after
noon, they studied in a room at
the courthouse. Their parents had
to come and pick them up around
$50 pm.
1.-THE first time the boys came
down." Mr.. Purcell said, 1.-The
whole school followed them down.
They stood around outside the
court and yelled and the boys
hung out the windows. They were
heroes.
We'll. had the bailiff go out
side and bring every one of those
kids inside the court. We took
their names down and I told
them if we caught them around
the court again they could come
in and study. And I told them if
they ever went into the service
they were going to be in strange
place someday and maybe they
wouldn't like it so much if a gang
jumped them. They never game
back"
If youngster was picked up
for stealing. the judge ordered
him to go to work and pay it
all back-and it was the Judge
who often got the job for the boy.
He had his troubles. He failed
to get a bill through the Texas
Legislature which would have
given him power to waive a jul
venile under IT to adult court, in
cases of a serious offense. To get
around that, he explained in criti-
cism of Texas law, Texas judges
often have to merely wait until
a jailed juvenile has a birthday