The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy (New Series, No. 47 and 48, January 1909)Pennsylvania Prison Society
History
The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy (New Series, No. 47 and 48, January 1909)
Pennsylvania Prison Society
Charities -- Periodicals; Prisons -- Periodicals
I again had the pleasure of meeting Judge Lindsay in the fall of 1908,
on the occasion of a visit to his court. With my personal card, I sent
in my membership card in the Acting Committee of The Pennsylvania Prison
Society, and was promptly shown into the courtroom and given a seat near
the judge. He wore no ermine, not even the judicial silk gown; nor was
he seated behind the usual high desk of a judge. As I entered he was
standing beside an ordinary table, and later sometimes rested against
it. The boys and girls brought before him handed him the reports of
their recent conduct. His manner toward all was the kindest, and his
language was so plain and simple that none could fail to understand. He
would receive a report card from the hand of a small boy, read it, and
then comment on it. If the report was good, he would commend the boy and
encourage him to persevere in his course; if not good, he would express
his sorrow. “Now, Johnnie, what’s the trouble? It makes me feel real bad
to have such a report from you. Now don’t you think you can do better if
I give you another chance? I think you can. Just make an effort and I
am sure your next report will be better. If not, we will have to try
some other plan.”
Presently the hearings began. Several groups of boys, who had in various
ways given the street railway company considerable trouble, were brought
before the judge. Standing between two of the young culprits, and
perhaps laying a hand on the shoulder of each, he would first listen to
the charges preferred by the officers, and then gather from the boys
themselves all the information he could regarding their school
attendance, occupation, family life and surroundings. With this to guide
him he would begin to talk to the boys in the most affectionate and
fatherly manner, and endeavor to make them realize what might have been
the consequences of their misdeeds to others, and how they would bring
to themselves still greater trouble if they persisted in their present
course of conduct. To those who showed a disposition to respond to this
kind and tactful treatment every encouragement was extended, but
perverse ones were given clearly to understand that they could expect no
leniency from the court so long as they refused to mend their ways.
In the fall of 1908 Judge Lindsay was defeated for renomination by the
powerful influence of certain corporations to which he had given
offense. With these he joined issue as an independent candidate, and
though it required thirty thousand “split” or “scratched” ballots he was
triumphantly elected. The women of Denver had made it their cause, and
before these even the corporations were impotent!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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