Indianapolis Times, Volume 46, Number 219, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 January 1935 — Page 4

PAGE 4

60 PER CENT OF CONVICTS IN STATE INSTITUTIONS ARE REPEATERSJRVEY SHOWS Amazing Irregularities in Sentences Imposed Show Need for Penal Reform; Fit Term to Criminal, Is Aim. BY JAMES DOSS Times Staff Writer Aproximately 60 per cent of the prisoners at both the Indiana State Prison and Indiana Reformatory are repeaters. This fact alone, social welfare students agree, demonstrate conclusively the Siamese twin-like relationship of original sentence to Indiana’s need for parole reform.

Amazing irregularities are revealed by an analysis by the Indiana Governmental Economy Commission of sentences imposed on prison and reformatory inmates. For example. Gov. Paul V. Mcpoints out in a resume of his prison reform belief, there were 46 first offenders sentenced to the reformatory for auto banditry. Their sentences reveal the following disparities: Thirty-two were sentenced for 10 years, three for 12 years, two for 15 years, two for 25 years, four for 1 to 10 years, one for 5 to 21 years and two for 10 to 25 years. Four of these men probably will be paroled after serving a year or a little more, while two of them will have to remain 25 years, unless they are pardoned or their sentences are commuted. Sentences for recidivists show r the same irregularities as those for first offenders. For example, two men who had served previous sentences for felony received flat sentences of 25 years each for auto banditry, but one fortunate bandit who had served four sentences for felony and one for misdemeanor received only an 11-year sentence for auto banditry. Fit Punishment to Criminal Another favored bandit, it pointed out. had served two previous sentences for felony and one for misdemeanor got only 1 to 10 years. Only 16 men in the Indiana State Prison have been sentenced under an habitual criminal law w T hich Indiana has had for many years, but 367 others in the state prison have as bad or worse records than the unfortunate 16, and yet have not been sentenced under the habitual criminal a..t. The Governor’s penal theory is one of fitting the punishment to the criminal instead of the traditional policy of fitting the punishment to the crime. “A comparative study of sentences for first offenders and recidivists for 15 different offenses,” the Governor points out, “reveals no welldefined tendency on the part of the courts ot give heavier sentences to recidivists than to first offenders.” Tenal Servitude Fails It is apparent that penal servitude has not made good citizens of thn recidivists, the Governor points out. “Among the repeaters, it is highly probable that large numbers are, in some degree, psychiatric cases. None of those in the reformatory has been pronounced insane, but the repeated criminal behavior of these recidivists is good presumptive evidence that their mental processes deviate considerately fiom those of normal citizens. “When one es these repeaters comes before the court, he is tried

Common Sense Suggestions to Readers of The Times

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on the basis of facts relating to the commission of the crime with which he is charged. “His normal or abnormal personality traits are not considered. Yet they are of more importance from the viewpoint of society than the mere fact of the guilt of the man. They determine what to expect of him. * Treated as Mental Case “In case of serious personality defects. expectation of satisfactory readjustment is small. It would be more reasonable to sentence such a person for an indeterminate period without maximum limit, the only proviso being that he be treated as a mental case and paroled only on recommendations of a psychiatrist .or other competent persons.” Some men who had committed relatively unimportant crimes might be kept for life, the Governor points out. Others w r ho had committed more serious crimes, under an indeterminate sentence policy, might not be kept as long as they now are kept. Gov. McNutt has stated that he favors the establishment of a state sentencing, clemency and parole court. Such a recommendation Is reported to have been made to him by the prison survey committee of experts whom he called in to study Indiana institutions.

FORGETS PROMISE TO REFORM, 'MOOCHES’ FROM JUDGE: JAILED

Ed Gelerlein, 39, of 34 S. Illi-nois-st, was ready to start a 180day sentence on the Indiana State Farm today because he made the unfortunate mistake of attempting to beg money and cigarets from Municipal Judge Charles Karabell and hour and a half after the judge had suspended his sentence on a drinking charge. Ed, who has been arrested 19 times in the last four years on drunk or vagrancy charges, escaped conviction last Monday because he promised the judge to reform. Later, Ed imbibed too freely and tried to mooch from Judge Karabell on a downtown street corner. Hailed into court yesterday for drunkenness, Ed did not remember the incident. Judge Karabell did. ORGANIZE DRUM CORPS Veterans of Foreign Wars Post *o Form Group. A drum corps will be organized at Post Hall Cottage, 1446 Olive-st. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars meeting tonight. Harry Marks will be in charge of the organization.

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Left to right, Col. Earle F. Hite, Mrs. Thom, Adjt. William W\ Thom. A charter to conduct the evangelistic and social welfare w’ork of the Volunteers of America in Tennessee was given to Adjt. William W. Thom, newly appointed Volunteers’ leader in that state, by Col. Earle F. Hite. Indianapolis, at a round table conference of the organization here. Mrs. Thom accompanied her husband to the meeting.

Took Wrong Train, but He’s Not Sorry Now Printer’s Mistake in Picking Freight Brought Him Contented Domesticity Here.

GRASSHOPPER SMITH took the wrong freight train out of Springfield, 0., 60 years old, and rode right out of the rollicking business of tramp printing into contented domesticity. That’s what he said yesterday as he celebrated his 85th birthday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Era L. Kinney, 3450 N. Capitol-av. His real name is William J. Smith. He had been a member of the old “River Pirates,” a roistering gang of inky individuals who scampered up and down the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. In 1874, Mr. Smith and a companion, in Burlington, la., decided to attend the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition and to “tramp” their way, arriving sometime in 1876.

“We worked on numerous papers in Illinois and crossed into Indiana. In Indianapolis we caught on with the old Times, a greenback political paper; Tin People, another political organ, and The Sentirel,” Mr. Smith related. “Then we moved east. We rode the rods to Springfield, 0.. One night we felt fed up on Springfield and picked out a box car we thought was going to Pennsylvania. We went to sleep on the straw and next day woke up back in Indianapolis. “I’ve been here almost all the time since,” he said, “and never have regretted it.” nun NOR does he regret his youth in the river towms, he says. On the contrary, the picturesque characters he knew and the colorful atmosphere of the river still crowd his mind with vivid recollections. “I don’t remember just how old I was when I left my home town of Junction City, Kas., but I was pretty young. I got the wanderlust, drifted to Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, Council Bluffs,

i in water and gargle. But if you de tect any sign of flu, or even suspect it, get to bed at once and call your physician. Keep the system alkaline; an add condition invites colds and other weakening disorders. Keep the bowels open so poisons will not accumulate and lower your resistance. To relieve constipation take a little Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia which is not only a most effective antatid, but an excellent laxative as well.

VOLUNTEERS NAME TENNESSEE LEADER

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Burlington—all up and down the river. I don’t know how many different towns I have worked in, but there’s not many you could get to by boat where I haven't subbed at one time or another.” He went on to explain that the tramp printer never had what might be termed a steady job. He always substituted for a regular printer. “It was kind of funny how they got to calling me Grasshopper. You know a bunch of fellows always have a lot of stories to tell? I always used to tell about the grasshopper plagues in Kansas.” a a a According to Mr. smith, tramp printers were almost without exception very good printers. They had to be, for, carefree, happy-go-lucky lot that they were, thqy never could have obtained work if their craftsmanship had not been respected. “No, I don’t guess I ever knew a tramp printer who was slovenly,” declared Grasshopper. He hastily added, “About his work, I mean.” After locating in Indianapolis, Mr. Smith worked on practically all the early papers published here. He w r as a great friei’d of James Whitcomb Riley, he said, and many of the poet’s first works in the old Journal were first set up in type by him. With the advent of the linotype, however, Grasshopper Smith, along with many another old-time printer, found his usefulness in newspaper shops impaired. From then on until his retirement in 1924 he was employed as a job printer. GRISWOLD NAMED TO AID IN BONUS FIGHT Hoosier Representative to Serve on Steering Committee. By Times Special WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.—Rep. Glenn Griswold, Peru, will be the Indiana member of the Steering Committee appointed by F.ep. Wright Patman (D., Texas) to attempt to put the Patman inflationary bonus bill over in the House. At present, it is in committee with no chance of being reported out. TAX IS PROPOSED ON THEATER ADMISSIONS Proceeds Would be Used for OldAge Pension Payments. A 10 per cent tax on theater admissions is contemplated under the terms of a House bill offered by Rep. Robert L. Stanton (D., East Chicago). Proceeds would be divided equally between the state and counties and used to pay old-age pensions.

Gone, but Not Forgotten

Automobiles reported to police as stolen belong to: Agnes Mclntyre, 3750 Graceland-av. Ford V-8 coupe, 110-271 (35), from home. Elwin Spieth, 3015 Washington-blvd. Plymouth sedan, 93-842 from 120 W, 29thst. Ed Bosell. 4716 W. Washingtcn-st. Chevrolet coach, 39-842, from Orio-st and Senate-av. Zenith Eller, 1244 E. Washiigton-st. Apartment 4. Ford coach, 17-013, from rear of home. Robert Sexson. 520 E. 30th-st. Ford V-8 roadster, from State-av, and Prospect-st. John Sangris. 346 N. Noble-st, Hudson coach, from home.

BACK HOME AGAIN

Stolen automobils recovered by police belong to: Clinton Cauldwell. 1011 N. Ulinois-st Union Taxi cab 260, found at 23rd and Alabama-sts. W. P. Sindlinger. 3142 N. Capitol-av. Ford coach, found at Sixteenth-it and Capitol-av. , _ H. B. Gibbs. Hall. Ind.. Chevrolet coach, found at 1002 E. Marvland-st. Edward Aldrich. 4006 E. 34th-st, Chevrolet coupe, found on county line near Falrmount, Ind. , __ . L. Geisler, 2267 N. Dearbom-st. Ford sedan, found on Lynhurst-dr near Frank-Un-st. _ , Marvin L. Huflotd. Frankfort. Ind.. Dodge sedan, found in rear of 3946 X. Capitol-av,

HIGHWAY BOARD SEEKS INGREASE IN ROADJUNDS Larger Share of Gasoline Tax and Fees Urged at Joint Hearing. Methods whereby the State Highway Commission would receive increased revenue of $4,325,000 by changes in distribution of gasoline tax and auto license fees were proposed last night by commission members at a joint meeting of the roads committees of the House and Senate. James D. Adams, commission chairman, and John W. Wheeler, commissioner, explained the fivepoint proposal as follows: Each county would get an equal share of one-fourth of the auto license fees. Proceeds of 1 cent of the gasoline tax would be dividend among the counties, distributed on a basis of one-hall in proportion to county road mileage and one-half in proportion to population. Thinks Cities Burdened The commission would get threefourths of the 4-cent tax instead of the present one-half. In return, the commission would take over all town and city streets now a part of the state system. “It is not just for towns and cities to be responsible ror the upkeep of streets mainly used by tourist traffic,” said Mr. Adams. “Too much load falls on the abutting property owners.” While admitting that the proposd change in distribution was not without flaws, Mr. Wheeler said that it was the most equitable plan yet devised. Weiss Approves Change “It will never be possible to please every one,” he declared. “But this method is far better than the present one, in our opinion.” Senator Jacob Weiss, President pro tern, said that he believed that the Marion County delegation would

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NEW AMBASSADOR

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Count Robert Van der StratenPonthoz (above) has assumed his duties as the new Ambassador to the United States from Belgium. He is pictured above in Washington smiling happily.

agree with the proposal of the commission. The present distribution in Marion County, including Indianapolis, is $634,902. Under the new plan $330,627 would be apportioned to Marion County outside of Indianapolis and the commission would take over the maintenance of the state highways in the city limits.

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BUSINESS COURSES OFFERED AT BUTLER Evening Division Features Economic Subjects* The Butler University evening division will offer a complete block of courses in business administration and economics during the second semester for Indianapolis business and professional men. Professor George F. Leonard, director, announced today. The courses of which there are nine, will be practical in nature and will grant academic credit to properly qualified registrants. Courses of study will include labor, principles of economies, monetary theory, personnel management, property insurance, accounting, C. P. A. problems and auditing. In addition Mrs. Vonneda Bailey, member of the university staff, will offer laboratory and lecture courses In elementary and intermediate stenography and typewriting. Registration for the evening courses will be held Feb. 7 and 8 and instruction will begin Feb. 11. Most of the classes meet at 7 or 7:30 one night each week. The semester will continue for eighteen weeks.

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JAN, 22, 1935

THE ITCH Prevalent in Indianapolis Go to Hook's or any good drug store and get a bottle of Gates Sanation Lotion. Guaranteed to stop the embarrassment and discomfort of itch, 60c large bottle.—Advertisement.

OTDniMmUt: '' ’ in UNI Hr i

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