NEW YORK WAIFS FEAR INSTITUTIONS. At imminent peril of their lives three lads confined in the Gerry Society building at Twenty-third street and Fourth avenue, New York city, made a daring and well-planned attempt to gain their freedom early one morning, which was foiled by a vigilant policeman. Patrolman William Baxter, on duty on Fourth avenue, caught sight at about 4 o'clock of something white that was dangling from a window on the Fourth avenue front of the Gerry building. While he was wondering what it could be he noticed that it was slowly but steadily increasing in length. Baxter notified the night attendant at the building and went back to watch for developments. Just as he reached the avenue the end of the white object, which varied in width from six inches to over a foot, reached the ground, which is more than seventy feet below the window from which it hung. Baxter saw at a glance that it was an improvised rope ladder. Three heads popped suddenly out of the window and as quickly receded. Then a tiny boy stood on the window sill-he looked like a dot from the street below-grasped the rope and began to descend. The frail ladder swung perilously but the little chap clung tightly to it and was quickly at a third-story window. He shouted something up to his comrades above and there was a tremor in his voice that showed he was beginning to get nervous. Then he swung himself to the window ledge and held on. The policemen came from under the window. The boys at the fifth story window saw them and at once let go of the rope ladder which fell to the ground, flashing in its flight past the boy on the third-story window ledge. The two boy's vanished. "Hold on little fellow!" cried Baxter, fearing that the remaining lad might lose his nerve. "That's what I'm doing," cried back the little fellow in a voice clear as a bell and with no sign of fear in it. He had evidently failed to appreciate the fact that, had he not paused on the window ledge, his companions would have let him drop to his "What are you doing there, anyhow?" asked Baxter. "Well, who are you?" "Want me pedigree? Well, here it is: Frank Webber, fourteen years old; live at No. 2580 Vincent avenue, Chicago; am employed on the Illinois Central Railroad; came here three weeks ago and was copped off by the Gerry agents in a lodgin' house on de Bowery." Barker went again into the building. Baxter remained behind to keep up the little fellow's nerve. "Hang on and don't get nervous," he shouted. "Me nervous!" came back in tones so contemptuous that Baxter couldn't help admiring the lad. In a few moments the window was opened, and Policeman Barker rescued the boy from his perilous position. "You are liable to get into serious trouble for this attempt to escape," sternly said a Gerry attendant. "Yer can't no more'n kill me, can yer?" the boy answered. Then remembering how near he had come to freedom, he broke into a profane objuration of his ill fortune and of Gerry Society methods that Baxter said surpassed anything in the line of youthful wickedness he had ever experienced. The ladder down which the boys had hoped to climb to the street was made of fifteen bedspreads, which they had taken from unoccupied beds in the dormitory on the fifth floor of the building. These they had twisted together and tied tightly. Thus bound, the rope was, while awkward to climb, strong enough to hold a heavy man. The clerk in charge of the Gerry building said he could not imagine how the boys could have so nearly succeeded in escaping. "The windows are barred," he said, "and women attendants are going through the boys' dormitory at all hours of the night." BUFFALO JUVENILE COURT. If ever anyone wishes to study child nature in its every degree of human passions, in its every changeful side, let him be a witness of the semi-weekly sessions of Juvenile Court held on Tuesdays and Fridays by Judge Murphy at the Morgue Building in Buffalo, N. Y. Here can be seen the future hardened criminal in his undeveloped state, defiant of the court, its officers and his parents, of the repentant sinner, who with sobs and tears promises to do better if given another chance. Nearly all of the youthful culprits are of Polish descent and it is interesting to sit and scan each as he comes up to answer the charge, and study their faces. On some you can read the lines of depravity clearly. Their low, receding foreheads, their shifty eyes and general "hang-dog" appearance show only too plainly the future before them. The cases of boys (and sometimes girls) of this type are really pitiful. They seem to have no realization of what they are gradually drifting to by their continued criminal acts, and no matter how much their stern fathers scold and beat or how many tears their heart-broken mothers shed, they still continue on their headlong flight down, down deeper at each offense until they are beyond rescue, swallowed in the stagnant, filthy waters of the sea of crime. As will be vouched for by any police official, a bad "Pollock" is worse than a dozen criminals of any other nationality. They are harder to break than any bucking mustang. They are by nature moral cowards, and it is only when they are sure they have a decided upper hand they act. In many cases the parents of the children are to blame for the deplorable moral condition of their offspring. They seem to have instilled no fear of God or law into their young, and it is often the case that both young boys and girls are encouraged to steal and destroy by their ignorant parents. Aside from these scenes of depravity many humorous incidents occur during a session and on more than one occasion the staid and dignified Judge Murphy has to hide a smile with an oppor tune remark. Nearly every culprit is always accompanied by his parents, his brothers and sisters, or an uncle or two and a swarm of Poles answer the call of the case. The other day one bright looking lad with a rather good face was brought before the Judge. He was attended by his whole family and was charged with malicious mischief. It was evident that this was ine lad's first offense and he was very much awed by the dignityf his surroundings. He was painfully aware of the fact that he must act his best and when asked by the Judge if "he broke that window," trying to remember his manners and becoming confused, answered in a meek voice, "Yes, ma'am." The laugh was on the Judge, but he heroically smothered a smile and went on with the case. The plaintiff was a stout, red-faced woman, who looked as if she had a fierce temper and through the interpreter she told what she thought of the boy and his whole family in words more expressive than elegant. The boy's mother stood by fretting and fuming, trying every minute to get her say in, but was restrained by an officer. Finally her turn came and both women were soon in the midst of an exciting word duel. Words of 80 letters, all k's and ps, were flung across the room as fast as a gattling gun in action, and it took the interpreter, the Judge and two probationary officers to put an end to the melee. The interpreter was called upon to explain what was said but he had been unable to follow such a pace, so the case had to be begun all over again. In the meantime the prisoner had started to cry, thinking perhaps he would be sent away for life. His tears excited the sympathy of his mother and she added to the son's lachrymal streams. Soon one of the daughters began, then another, until a half-dozen relatives were all crying at once. Judge Murphy says that great good has been done in the Juvenile Court in uplifting the morals of the young, and he and the probationary officers have worked hard to accomplish this purpose. When asked how in the world he had patience enough te listen to such proceedings the genial Judge answered: "I really enjoy this work, and if I had my choice between this and Police Court, I certainly should take this post, for I am greatly interested in the work of elevating those youthful criminals and saving them from a bad end." Every homeless child is a menace to PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOOD WORK. Prevalent circumstances in the congested sections of Philadelphia necessarily submit the children of such localities to influences often far from good. The recognition of these conditions and the desire of rendering practical aid to such, has had its expressions in the establishment of Neighborhood Guilds and the placing of probation officers. These neighborhood centers, under the care and direction of those interested in the welfare of the children, afford contact with refinement in cheerful and comfortable rooms where recreation and instruction is furnished and the law of order recognized. Work of this character has been maintained and carried on for a number of years in connection with The Friends' Neighborhood Guild, now at Front street and Fairmount avenue. The work has been growing from year to year and adding to its usefulness as a neighborhood factor for good. New demands and a larger field of work this year will require about $1,000 annually. The plans proposed are, first, for the establishment of a trained worker as a resident at the Friends' Neighborhood Guild to supplement the volunteer workers and make a center more on the lines of the College Settlement. Second, the establishment of a probation officer whose district will be in that immediate neighborhood. The original organization, Beech Street Mission, was established in 1879 by the Philadelphia First-day School Union and continued for 20 years at Beach street and Fairmount avenue. In 1898, by an agreement between Philadelphia First-day School Union and the Philanthropic Committee of Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, the care of the Mission was transferred to the Philanthropic Committee. The present building, 151 Fairmount avenue, was secured during the summer of 1899, and after having been remodeled and equipped to suit the purposes of the Guild, was opened in November of that year. It is conducted under the six following departments: Kindergarten, Manual Training, Savings Fund, Evening Department, Sewing School and First Day School. JUVENILE COURT AND PROBATION OFFICER. At its last session the Pennsylvania Legislature passed the Juvenile Court Act. This act, like those of other states, deails with dependent, neglected and delinquent children under 16 years of age. It prohibits the commitment of any child under 14 years to jail or police station, and provides for a Juvenile Court in which all children's cases shall be heard before a judge instead of a police magistrate. The court was established to avoid bringing children into association with criminals, and to insure wise and systematic consideration of each child's need. The judges are assisted in this by probation officers which the Act provides shall be appointed by the court, being "discreet persons of good character said probation officers to receive no compensation from the public treasury." The duties of the probation officer are to make investigation of the child's case before it is brought before the court, to be present in order to represent the interests of the child when the case is heard, to furnish the court such information and assistance as the judge, may require, and to take such charge of any child before and after trial as may be directed by the court. The probation officer is the child's friend and the court's adviser. These officers are usually women, and they visit and help each child in his home, striving to lead him into safe, honorable paths without commitment to reformatory or prison. They also talk with the parents and endeavor to help them to realize their responsibility to the child. If the child has no home, or if the influences in the place he calls his home are absolutely pernicious, the court commits the child to the care of the probation officer, to be placed in a suitable family home, subject to the friendly supervision of the officer. The Juvenile Court law, if the provisions are efficiently carried out, means the prevention of crime. Through the timely advice and assistance of the probation officer many children who would otherwise become criminals are enabled to live upright, honest lives. Illinois has had such a system for 3 years. In the three years before the adoption of the law there were 1,105 children in prison in Chicago,-in the same number of years since there have been 24. Massachusetts has for 9 years used this system with such success that it has been extended to adult offenders. Experience has shown that by this probation method only 18 per cent of the children who have offended against the law need to be committed to any institution. Judge Beitler, of Philadelphia, after practical experience expresses his opinion as follows: "The whole scheme of the Act is towards preventing delinquents from becoming criminals. It is the ounce of prevention which is far better than pounds of cure. It aims to place the erring child, of years too tender to yet fully appreciate the dangers ahead, under the restraining, guiding hand of an officer of the court. The restraint is that of oversight, the guidance that of kindly advice backed by that power everywhere recognized, the power of the law." Unless the community does its part, the law will be of little value. Twelve good probation officers will be required in Philadelphia to carry out the Juvenile Court law successfully, only seven of whom are now provided. Philadelphia has been districted and it is necessary to have a responsible officer appointed by the Board of Judges for each district. As the salaries for this service are not paid out of the public treasury, it becomes necessary for the citizens of Philadelphia to raise a sufficient fund for this purpose. Substantial aid toward the carrying out of these ends furnishes an opportunity for the fulfilment of a desire which has long had expression at the Friends' Neighborhood Guild, and such work is most surely in the lines of true Friendliness. Chester, Pennsylvania, Court Method. Judge Johnson, of Chester, Penna., held Court at Media one day last month, when the greater part of the session was given over to that class of cases known as Juvenile work. Miss Emma Brewer, who is in charge of the house of detention in Chester, and Agent Watson, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, were present with a long list of witnesses. The first case to claim the attention of the Court was that of Anna and Julia Bence of Chester. A charge was preferred against the mother by the agent for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and she was placed in jail, the children being given over to the charge of Miss Brewer. A. D. MacDade represented the mother of these two little girls, and stated to the Court that Mrs. John Roach, of Scranton, was willing to take the children and care for them. She is a sister of Mrs. Bence, but was not present in Court, being informed that the cases would not be disposed of until next Monday. Mr. Reilly, through his counsel, offered to have the children placed in a Catholic home in Philadelphia. Judge Johnson, after inquiring particularly about the ability of Mrs. Roach to care for the children, agreed to place them in her custody if Father Ryan of the Immaculate Heart Church of Chester will write him a letter saying that Mrs. Roach is the proper person to care for them. The children were sent back in charge of Miss Brewer. The court informed counsel and those interested that Mrs. Bence will not be released from jail until the children are properly cared for by some one. Six small boys were next brought before the Court on the charge of stealing iron from the Tidewater Steel Company, of Chester, and having sold it to a junk dealer. "Where is that junk dealer?" inquired Judge Johnson with some force. "In jail," replied Attorney MacDade, who represented two of the children. "That is the place for a junk dealer who buys from minors," remarked the Court. "What made you steal the iron?" asked the Court of one bright little lad. "I saw others taking it, and the colored junk dealer told us to get all we could and bring it to his place." "What do you do?" further inquired the Court. "No, sir." "You knew it was wrong to take the iron?" The mothers and the children filed out of the court room apparently happy that all the boys had not been sent to jail. Juvenile Record Published by the Visitation and Aid Society. T. D. HURLEY, Editor, 79 Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill. Eastern Office, 53 W. 24th St., New York City. Western Office, Portland, Oregon. The JUVENILE RECORD is published monthly, except in the month of July. Single copies, 10 cents. Subscription price, $1.00 per year. Entered in Post Office at Chicago, Ill., as second-class matter. The JUVENILE RECORD is the official organ of and published by the Visitation and Aid Society and will deal with social problems in child-saving work and give an account of the workings of the Juvenile Court. NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS can commence at any time. WHEN RENEWING, always give the name of the post-office to which your paper is now being sent. Your name cannot be found on our books unless this is done. Four weeks are required after the receipt of money by us before the date opposite your name on your paper, which shows to what time your subscription is paid, can be changed. This will show that your remittance was received. CHANGE OF ADDRESS--Always give both your old and your new address when you ask us to change. PAYMENT FOR THE PAPER, when sent by mail, should be made in a postoffice money order, bank check or draft, or an express money order. WHEN NEITHER OF THESE CAN BE PROCURED, send 2-cent United States postage stamps; only this kind can be received. LETTERS Should be addressed and checks and drafts made payable to JUVENILE RECORD, 79 Dearborn Street, Chicago. ADVERTISING RATES made known on application. AGENTS are authorized to sell single copies and take subscriptions, who bear credentials signed by the President and Secretary of the Visitation and Aid Society. The establishing of a new standing committee known as the Legislative Committee by the Illinois Conference of Charities and Corrections at its recent meeting in Peoria, is to be commended. For several reasons this committee will fill a long felt want and it will accomplish a definite service in increasing the efficiency of the conference. The first duty of the committee will be as members of the conference to keep in close touch with the legislature. It will be an authoritative body which can speak for the conference and for charity workers throughout the state when legislation is contemplated on subjects in which the conference is interested. At least two bills of interest to the conference will be recommended by the committee to the next legislature for enactment. They will be designed to regulate the transfer of children and to provide for state visitation of children who are wards of the Juvenile court or of some charitable organization. These two bills have been approved by the conference and there seems to be no reason why the legislature should not enact such statutes as will be recommended by the committee. The two bills will round out the Juvenile court law and give Illinois. the most complete system of juvenile charities in the world. The Illinois. Conference of Charities devoted considerable of its time to the consideration of the conditions in county jails of the state. Though the conference confined itself to the discussion of the improvement of jails within the boundaries of Illinois, the speakers were men who based their conclusions on an extensive investigation of jails through the country. The unanimous declaration was that the condition of most jails was so deplorable that it was an inhumanity to confine prisoners in the cells. If the average jail is not fit for the adult prisoner how much worse it must be for the boy or girl often sent there on account of some small misdemeanor. In states which do not have a Juvenile court law, children found guilty of petty crimes are sentenced to the county jails. There they are subject to surroundings and conditions which the charity workers agree are too severe for even the hardened criminal. The evident lesson from this discussion is the need of a Juvenile court law for every state in the Union. With such a law children would no longer be confined in jails and they would be punished or reformed just as effectively by other methods. By this time there are few states that do not realize the necessity of Juvenile courts. A few years ago such an argument would have been more valuable but now it is no less effective because the reform for which it speaks has already been accomplished. To-day it will at least emphasize the wisdom of that reform. Many peculiar things are brought out in the Juvenile courts, but there is nothing more peculiar to the average spectator than the universal care that the young offenders take not to implicate their parents in any of their wrong-doings. Records of the courts show that nearly 40 per cent of the boys and girls that are brought in are charged with stealing coal from cars on side tracks. The skill they show in trying to make the court believe that they take the coal merely because they like to risk their lives and carry heavy baskets and bags of coal is worthy of a much better cause. Many of these young offenders admit that they have been taking coal and the judge always asks them if their parents told them to do so. Few of them admit, no matter how closely questioned, that the parents know of the theft of any coal. They will admit taking the coal to their homes, but not one of them will say that his parents knew it was stolen. Some of them assert they took the coal just for fun; others that they did so because a neighbor boy or girl did so, but none admit that their parents told them that they should go out and get some coal. The coal companies and railroads lose thousands of tons of coal each year and the railroad detectives say that 90 per cent of it is taken by boys and girls. The parents invariably promise that they will see to it that the child takes no more coal, but in altogether too many cases the child soon comes back again on the same charge. That the parents encourage or even force the children to take coal is undoubtedly true in many cases, but how to stop the practice as long as the parents say that they did not know their child was stealing coal and the children stand by the parents' story, is a pretty big problem. With the price of coal away up in the clouds this winter, the railroad officers say that there will probably be more coal stealing going on than ever before. Though almost every state has secured a Juvenile court for its largest cities there is evidently a great difference in the method of dispensing justice and dealing with the boy problem by these courts of the same name. The Indianapolis Journal contains an interesting account of the method of disposing of a certain case in the Indianapolis Juvenile court. After stating that the mother of a 14-year-old boy, arrested on a charge of petit larceny, rejected Judge Stubbs' suggestion that she whip the boy, it continues: The woman's actions irritated the judge, who curtly asked her why the boy did not go to school. She told the court that she and her husband were unable to buy books. This response was ridiculed by the judge, who said there was no reason why the boy could not have been in school. The woman started to make a reply, but Judge Stubbs was thoroughly aroused and would not listen. The judge then imposed a fine of $1 and costs, which he said he would suspend if the mother would take the boy into the cellar and give him a flogging. For the second time she refused to do the whipping, and hurried from the court-room saying she could get the fine stayed. The boy was not allowed to go. In a short time the mother returned, unsuccessful in getting the fine stayed and willing to whip her boy. The little party went into the basement, accompanied by Patrolman Woolley. The woman, who weighs more than 300 pounds, whipped the boy until his screams could be heard over the entire building. When she became fatigued she gave the whip to Woolley and asked him to finish the whipping. Before the woman left the police station, Truant Officer Bristow served a notice on her that her case will be taken up by the truancy board. To some of those who have founded Juvenile courts and watched their active operation, the strenuous methods of the Indianapolis Juvenile court will be surprising to say the least. In most Juvenile courts the endeavor has been to discourage corporal punishment. It has been frowned upon even as a method of the police magistrate. When a policeman spanked a youthful prisoner in Chicago, several months ago, there were vigorous protests from press and charity workers. In that instance punishment was administered in a police station and not in the court house building, where a Juvenile court is supposed to watch over the rights of the children and dispense justice. without bitterness or spite. A public whipping is always humiliating, especially to a boy, and with the stocks and ducking stool of pioneer days has been abandoned as a form of punishment for adults. machinery of the Indianapolis Juvenile court and Truancy department, both of which were put into action against the boy and his mother, should have been sufficient, if they are at all competent, without compelling the mother under the supervision of a policeman to beat the lad until his screams resounding through the building testified to the might of the Juvenile court but interrupted the dignity of other courts in the building. Revolting Cruelty Charged to Russians. The That the making of cripples is carried on in Russia as a regular trade, and as a profitable one, has just been proved in a startling way, according to a cable to the Atlanta Constitution. As the result of a dramatic happening at the annual fair now being held here it has come to light that Russian beggars make a practice of mangling and disfiguring children in order that they may show them in public and pocket the alms drawn from tenderhearted people by the sight of them. At the Podkamia fair, in the charge of an old beggar woman, there was a little girl of about 6 years whose condition shocked everyone. She was entirely blind, she was lame in one leg, one of her arms was broken, and her body was a mass of disgusting sores. Money simply poured in on the old hag who had her in charge, one of those who gave being a shabbily dressed woman. Handing the little girl some money, she said: "Pray, my child, for my lost neice, Kitty." "I am Kitty," said the little girl. The hag with her was arrested at once and it was soon proved that she; had stolen the child from her aunt's house at Zarvanic, in Galacia. She took her to the headquarters of a regular gang of which she was a member, and there both the child's eyes were put out, one of her legs and one arm were broken, and terrible wounds were made on different parts of her body. Then the little girl was taken from place to place in the country, the sight of her never failing to bring pocketfuls of money to her abductors. When the people who were at the Podkamia fair heard this story they vowed that they would lynch every beggar on the grounds, and it was all the police could do to keep them from doing so. Investigation proves that over fifty similar cases have been detected during the last year. German Child Labor Law. New and stringent regulation of child labor is about to be enforced by the German government. Children in the eyes of the law are boys and girls under the age of 13 years. Employment of children under 12 years, other than children of the employers, is prohibited under all circumstances in workshops, commercial establishments of any character and in the traffic industry. Employment of children over 12 years of age is illegal between the hours of 8 p. m. and 8 a. m., and before the beginning of school hours in the forenoon. School children may not be worked longer than three hours daily, or four hours in vacation time. Children are debarred, under the age of 12 years, from any participation in theatrical performances in public. No child may be employed after 9 o'clock at night. None under 12 years may be engaged for labor in restaurants and saloons, while the employment of girls for such work is absolutely prohibited. For five years after the law is enacted local authorities may permit children to be engaged in certain industries-such as early morning milk and bread delivery-from 6:30 a. m. until within an hour of church time on Sunday. Employers must make application to and receive permission from the police authorities before hiring children. |