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Indianapolis Juvenile Court.

Hon. George W. Stubb.

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BY JEAN COWGILL.

Indianapolis is a city of homes. True it is also a city of factories and poesy, of legislation and a monument, but more than anything else, it is its homes which give it a solidarity and a steadfastness that are perhaps unmatched in any other American city. This being so, it is only natural that Indianapolis has what is probably the most remarkable force of probation officers in the world. No one, I think, gainsays the worth of their accomplishment no one who has made investigation into their methods and organization, I mean. Because it is a city of homes, much the larger portion of the force of probation officers is volunteer! The reason is simple your home lover is always interested in homes other than his own. When misfortune steals into his domain, he is quick to lend a helping hand. There are four hundred and fifty men and women in the Indianapolis volunteer band of probation officers. They are persons of intelligence and standing in the community. Because their work is voluntary, it is loving and thorough. Nor is this in derogation of any paid system of probation. There are cities like Chicago, for example where such a system would be impossible. The next best thing to it is but more of that farther on. Indianapolis and its singularly effective juvenile court which makes demands upon these same four hundred and fifty probation officers.

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In fairness to Indianapolis, I want here to state a few facts concerning my recent visit to the court. They are facts for other communities, especially. 1 did not blazon the fact that I was the representative of any publication. I went visiting out of curiosity apparently. My curiosity met a prompt set-back. They did not care to have their court proceedings viewed by merely curious spectators. A door loomed before me, large and formidable.

"All hearings are in chambers," said a court officer. Then I told him what I had come for. He was discreet and polite. He found me a seat among a small crowd of volunteer officers, where I might easily

have been mistaken for a new member of the force, and did not tell the court that anything had happened. So the court was unconscious and natural.

George W. Stubbs is the Judge of the Indianapolis Juvenile Court. Once he was a police magistrate. There it was that the child problem came to him with its full meaning. Before ever there was a juvenile court law upon the statutes of Indiana, he had formed in his police court, what was morally a children's court. Also, he had a system of parole for adult offenders. Both these progressions he determined upon because he was beginning to see that there are no accurate methods of determining the deterrent power of punishment, as practiced in our courts. Specifically, it was in 1901 that he began to consider these things seriously. Before that he had served one term and conditions did not seem so hopeless. During the first thirty days of his second term, however, more juvenile delinquents were brought before him than during the entire first term. The number was appalling. First there were set apart certain days for the hearing. (All this, mind, when there was no legal necessity for it) and court room loiterers were requested to stay away. Soon afterward all hearings were in chambers a condition which continues to this day with none save those immediately interested in the child present.

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Although the probation systems may vary in different systems; child life presents the same problems. The causes of delinquency are the same, whether the town be Squedunk or New York. The case of a girl in Indianapolis was typical and instructive.

Say her name is Susan. It isn't, but this is a story of a very wayward child who was not sent to an instution but back to her home, to dwell with her parents and be friends with her probation officer. In cases like her's, the state faces complexities and responsibilities that seem well nigh hopeless.

To begin with the girl was the product of weakness and not of strength. Her age was a subject for discussion. Last spring she went to work in a factory and her mother made affidavit before a notary that the child was fourteen. The Indiana statutes are here very weak. All that is necessary for a child to obtain an age certificate is for the parent to swear to the age. If I remember rightly about three out of five were found to be false here in Chicago, when the procedure was the same. It is so easy to commit perjury when the necessity is dire and such is the condition generally, when the elder child is obliged to go to work, as did this girl. As a matter of fact the records show that she was fourteen last September. When it is a matter of age, the record is the only thing that counts, be it baptismal or county or both.

Note that I have said, "Be friends with her probation officer." As sure as she is a wayward little girl, that is her only salvation. Her parents are helpless and hopeless. She is their victim and they are society's victims in some vague, illusive manner that I cannot define but only feel.

They are weak, first, and the weakness is spiritual. Poverty holds them in its clutches holds them and will not let them go. There was no one in the court room but the witnesses and the child and the

chief probation officer, Miss Graydon the Judge, of course.

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For the prosecution appeared the manager of a department store. The charge there was grave.

"She stole six dollars and fifty-seven cents," said the manager briefly. Then he produced some checks to show how she did it.

"It was very simple, your honor," said the witness. "She took the money from the customer, got the things wrapped and did not turn in the money." Here a comment. A system which is so plainly a temptation to poverty is bad very bad.

"She confessed it to the store detective," finished the store manager.

Now a moment of psychological analysis. I have never seen a case of juvenile delinquency more fairly or more tenderly tried.

"Susan," said Judge Stubbs," "you hear what the gentleman says. Do you want to talk about it?"

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There was only a plain flat-topped office desk between judge and child. He looked at her eagerly, questioningly not to find out the details of the case but bolster his faith in her truth. Nor did she fail. H er blue eyes opened wide and she spoke bravely. "I did it," she said briefly.

At this point it is well to emphasize a difference between this judge's method and that of some other juvenile court judges that I have seen. There was no more questioning in regard to the details of the theft. Crime is a mental condition. The only way to cure it is to get away from it, as quickly and as surely as possible. A fine young fellow who had raised United States Money orders, once told me that he did it because he read in a newspaper how easy it was. He is in the federal prison at Leavenworth now. I have seen juvenile court hearings become breeding places. for crime. Details cheerfully furnished, if necessary. No personalities.

The next question of the Indianapolis judge hit the mark squarely.

"What did you do with the money," he said gently. "Treated the girls and went to the theatre and bought new shoes," replied the child.

"How many brothers and sisters have you?"

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"There are some other conditions which the court should know." she said gravely.

"Shall I clear the courtroom?" asked the judge. The chief probation officer nodded her head. Again the judge was tactful.

"There are some details of this case which I wish to discuss with Susan and one of her parents," he said. "The rest of you will please retire to the other room. The mother may stay."

"Not the mother," said Miss Graydon. "She is not well." In truth the woman's face was pale and worn. Poverty had held her too long in its chains for anv happiness lines to be left in her sharp featured face. So the father stayed in the room and the mother

went out with the others. The disclosures concerning were grave and pitiful. They were entirely the result of a too crowded tenement and lack of parental care. The man's face grew white when he heard.

"My wife is to blame," he said sullenly. "I wish I was dead. I'd rather seen she was dead and buried." The child caught her breath hard and just glanced at him. It was a cruel thing for one's father to say when one is only fourteen and blue-eyed and pretty and meaning to be a sweet and good woman. It would seem as if fatherhood should mean more. In the majority of cases it doesn't. It means reproaches and repetitions and spites so that the child can not forget, if it would. Something that parenthood forgets often and often, Judge Stubbs reminded the man of.

"You are to blame," he said. "You are responsible for your children. They were brought into the world without asking their consent. Your responsibility is both to the state and to them. Wishing you were dead is not going to help matters. You have got to move away from your present quarters or I will take the girl from your care permanently."

He looked at the child. "What do you want to do?" he asked.

"I want to go home and help my mother," said the girl.

"You shall," said the judge, "as soon as they have moved."

Then he recommended a volunteer probation officer for the case and talked a few moments with the child, who went out of the court room with her eyes filled with tears.

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A few facts could not but impress one strongly. There were no unnecessary details. There was no twice telling of the offense. The child was not shamed by the hearing. She was glad, rather than otherwise, that the truth was established in her life.

Upon the moral delinquency there was small comment. There was much dilation upon the advantages of goodness.

More of the work may be judged from a few suggestions which are printed for the benefit of the volunteer officers. Their meaning is so plain and so applicable to probation officers everywhere that I print them bodily, without apology. They are a sermon in themselves.

Those who argue for special training for probation officers find a peculiar fact in Indianapolis. Business men have been most successful in helping the children. More, they have been most willing. This has been a double advantage. Not only has the association been good but your business man knows the value of employment and where to get it. That men outnumber the women as officers is also significent in these days of commercialism. It shows a new trend in the life of the public which is encouraging, to say the least.

Some of the qualifications which the Indiana law requires in the matter of Judges of the juvenile court, are interesting.

He must be forty years of age. He must be a parent.

In the main, perhaps the restrictions make for the right man. Still it is a little severe on certain judicial aspirants.

Judge Stubbs says there is one serious defect in the Indiana law. It concerns the contributory delinquincy. He hopes to see it changed by the next legislature. It is contended by those who know that the judge who treats the child should also treat the parent or guardian who contributes to the delinquency. Now, in case there is action brought against him, there is recourse to the criminal court. On the whole it would seem that the judge's contention is fair and would result in the avoidance of much confusion.

Three paid officers superintend the work of the four hundred and fifty volunteers. Two are women. The other is a police officer who has made a good record in his line.

After a session of the court, he and Miss Graydon and I had a little talk. After a time it became very earnest. Among other things he asked me concerning Judge Lindsey, of Denver. Officer Stevenson is his name. His little comment needs no explanation even to Judge Lindsey, himself, who, I am sure, will appreciate the viewpoint of the Indianapolis Officer. For myself I have never visited Judge Lindsey's court, so I have no opinion.

"They say," said Officer Stevenson, "that he sends boys to the reform school upon honor; that he gives them the money for their tickets and trusts them completely."

I have heard that this is so and so I told him. Said the Indianapolis officer then.

"We would not send a boy who could be trusted that far to the reform school. We would find him a friend."

INDIANAPOLIS JUVENILE COURT.

SUGGESTIONS

First, gain the confidence of the child. Explain the probation idea-that you are to be his friend. Begin by believing in him, but never let him succeed in deceiving you.

Keep in touch with him weekly; make definite appointments; see that he meets these promptly; meet them promptly yourself.

Treat him primarily as an individual; see him alone; if you have several probationers under your care, have them report separately.

Make a study of the child's peculiar temperament, his habits, likes and dislikes; identify yourself with those interests. See that your ward is kept in school as long as the law requires (14 years); longer if possible.

If he is in school, use the report blanks; visit the school in person; co-operate with the teacher.

If not in school, see that he is steadily employed; inform yourself as to the condition of labor; better these if necessary, but discourage frequent changes.

Insist that the employment shall lead to skilled workmanship; encourage attendance at night school for supplementary training when possible.

Know how he spends his money; see that he starts a bank account. If living at home, when practicable, insist that he pay a regular sum for board; in return, insist that he be given a regular sum for spending money.

Find out how he amuses himself; urge him to join the Y. M. C. A., the Boys' Brigade, or the Boys' Club. Discover what he reads; secure him a library card; help him to select the proper books; talk them over with him. Question him as to his friends; invite them to see you. Encourage him to establish some church relationship, and to atttend Sunday-school.

In all of this keep the boy's relation to the Court as confidential as possible; show that you do this to build up his self-respect.

If, however, you find he is not to be trusted, verify his statement through parents, neighbors, employer or patrol

man.

Lastly, don't become discouraged.

Visit the home at least once a month; more often if the conditions necessitate it.

Explain to the parents your relation to the child; gain their confidence and co-operation; give them yours.

Make a careful study of the home conditions; inform yourself as to the number of the family, their habits, earning capacity, etc.

If necessary for the child's good, insist on possible changes, such as moving into a better neighborhood, etc. Above all, keep your relationship to the home a friendly one; refer points of discipline or disagreement to the Court for adjustment.

Report regularly to the Court the first of every month on the slips provided for the purpose.

Consult frequently with the Court in person.

Report all irregularities of conduct at once, but as far as possible adjust those difficulties nonofficially, using the Court only as a last resort.

If, after a fair trial, for any reason, you find it impossible to become interested in the particular child assigned you, ask to have him transferred; no creative probation work can be done without a mutual liking.

Wards of the court must be discharged personally by the Judge after due recommendation from the volunteer and investigation from the Court.

Don't be in a hurry to sever the relation between the probationer and the Court; few wards should be discharged within a year.

Employment for boys and girls over fourteen may be secured through the Children's Aid Association, 501 Lemcke Building.

Phones: New, 1966; Main, 2386.

Cincinnati Juvenile Court.

Cincinatti faces problems that are more difficult than those that make life interesting for those who serve the Indianapolis Juvenile Court. It is larger, more varied in population, and has more available places of temptation to the young. Yet Cincinnati is doing good and true work. Nowhere have I found more efficient organization along some lines.

Prevention is cure so say the Cincinnatians and they say it with conviction; they think they can see the reason for their feeling in the results that they have obtained.

Cincinnati, then, has less organizations than most

school attendance is directly under the care of the juvenile court has had a very gracious effect upon parents and guardians. Upon the first knowledge that a child of school age is not in school, the following letter is sent to the person responsible. Almost in variably the result is satisfactory. The method has been particularly useful to the court in the matter of determining the causes that underlie juvenile delinquency.

Mr.

Schools are provided for the edication of the children and they are in session five days of each week during the school term. The laws of the State of Ohio require that

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courts. That is, it has fewer probation officers and more public appreciation. There are men and women in Cincinnati who are hopeful in their belief that some day the majority of cases that are now brought into Juvenile Courts for treatment will be cured in some simpler and still more certain way. This is nothing derogatory of the court - it is only a faith in the possibilities of progression.

Cincinnati has a population of 200,000. There are 60 000 school children. The probation officers number fifteen. The work that is done here, is the same that is accomplished in other places but it is differently done that is all.

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There is the matter of compulsory education, for example. The fact that the matter of compulsory

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compounding a set of statistics which will become a matter of record in the Juvenile Court of Cincinnati and which will show the exact relation between the delincuency and the truancy. It will be seen from this that the juvenile court is here purely "parental." The people look upon it as in a measure a part of the school system. The advantage of this is two-fold. It does away with the odious criminal court idea and it brings teachers into close relationship with the work of the court. I found certain men in Cincinnati who believe that all jurisdiction which has to deal with childhood, should be confined to one court. This is an accordance with Judge Stubbs idea in the matter of contributory delinquency. In fact, the tendency everywhere, seems to be, to confine all the difficulties that assail the free and proper development of childhood, in a class by themselves to be treated in courts whose specialty is their consideration. Just what constitutional and other obstacles these good folks will run against is hard to prophecy. There is no denying the fact that Ohio is ahead in some respects of a few other states which claim much more comprehensive juvenile court administration.

Certain sections of the statutes are very clear in certain details. For example there is the section which relates to the use of tobacco. "Any child within the provisions of this act," the statute reads, "whose parents or guardian permits it to use or become addicted to the use of tobacco, shall be deemed without proper parental care or guardianship."

A section like this would have done away with all the fuss and feather that it took to declare the Illinois Anti-cigarettes law unconstitutional. Of course the expense is something that no one cares about. We are all too accustomed to the useless expenditures of government to consider them for a moment.

Then there is a section which declares that boys of seventeen, or under, are juvenile court wards. There is another which declares that the power of the court over the delinquent or dependent child shall continue until the child is twenty-one, if a boy.

Hearings in the Cincinnati Juvenile Court are private. Their informality is even more marked than it is in Indianapolis. In the center of the room is a long table with chairs around it. At the end of the table sits the judge so that he faces the child directly and by leaning forward can easily touch him. Judge Caldwell is especially forceful in his defense of this informality. In a long talk which I had with him, he said:

"It is the only way I have of getting a hold upon them. A child knows nothing and cares less about the law. It is the judge that influences him for good or bad. Unless I can get his confidence, I can't find out the truth about him. I do not believe that children tell the truth through fear. They are a great deal more apt to tell it through love."

There is much to be said on this matter of the law and the child. For myself I have always thought that love of right is a much more desirable deterrent than respect for the law. Doubtless, though, the two are not far apart really.

There is a chief probation officer in Cincinnati who accomplishes much good. For several days, it was my pleasure to watch closely his methods. L. H. Weir is his name both Stanford University and the university of Indiana claim him as their product. Of his work it is sufficient to say that he is alive to the child

problem with all his soul. His democracy is endless and his understanding clear and subtile. Of the fifteen probation officers that look after Cincinnati's little ones, there are but four regularly paid by the court. The work that falls upon the chief is heavy but he does it generously and well. One day I came into the office when he was trying to bring a wayward boy back into the path of good behavior. The two of them sat on the side of the table. The man's hand lay on the lad's shoulder. A tall, ungainly lad he was. The years had done more work than the officer could at once undo.

While they talked, the dusk came on. It was manhood, honesty, patriotism that the man tried to tell the boy. When the matron had taken the boy back to the detention home, which is just back of the court room, he sat for many minutes and stared straight ahead.

The moment was psychological. I asked him about the boy. They looked more like friends than anything else.

"I've tried hard," said the probation officer. “For two years, I've tried. I hate to send him to the reform school."

"Better for him, perhaps," said I.

The probation officer shook his head. "Never," he said. "I wanted to make a man of him without that but I found too many circumstances against me." "His home?" said I.

"His home," acquiesced the officer. "There is nothing worse than an outgrown home, is there?"

There are little cards floating around the Cincinnati Juvenile Court that do good work. Dozens and dozens of juvenile court children can repeat the three verses that are printed thereon. On the back is a two or three lines of type which mean much "compliments of John A. Caldwell, Judge of the juvenile court." There is no better proof of the spirit that animates Cincinnati's juvenile court than the existence of these little cards. After all, it is only the animating spirit of any institution that counts.-Jean Cowgill.

JUDGE RICHARD S. TUTHILL.

(By Judge Arba N. Waterman.)

Born at Vergennes, Jackson county, Ill., Nov. 10 1841. Son of Daniel B. and Sally (Strong) Tuthill. His ancestors on both sides fought in the Revolutionary War. Judge Tuthill was admitted to the bar in 1866 at Nashville, Tenn., came to Chicago in 1873; was elected City Attorney of Chicago in 1875, and Judge of the Circuit Court in 1887 to succeed Judge John G. Rogers. He is a prominent Mason and a member of the Union League, Illinois, Church and Hamilton clubs.

Judge Tuthill was married Aug. 24, 1868, to Jennie Frances Smith, who died in 1872, leaving one child, and in January, 1877 he was married to Miss Harriet McKey of Janesville, Wis. Six children are the result of this marriage.

As a

Judge Richard S. Tuthill is one of nature's noblemen; often tried and never found wanting. soldier he was cool, dauntless, determined and persistent; at the bar he was studious, untiring, resourceful and faithful; as a judge he is learned, painstaking, impartial and judicial. Possessed of the courage which should attend earnest conviction, he has ever been in the community a potent force.

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