La Grange Journal (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 11, 1923 Page: 6 of 8
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THE LAGRANGE JOURNAL
MERELY PAYING PRISON ROAD TRINITY HILL NEWS ITEMS
sions” at the Trinity Hill Lutheran
DKFBCTO IN CHARACTER AND
TRAINING MOST FREQUENT
CAUSES OF CRIME
Careful Study of Derelict* Enables
Sidney Gregg to Place The
Blame Properly
It has been Lie opportunity of the
•writer of this article to come into
close contact with certain typ:s of
c imirals, and to put them under
analysis to fln<J out “what made them
thus.” Any one would furnish ma-
terial for several thrilling navels.
The purpose is to pres?nt a study
of cases without deductions in sup.
port of heredity, others that it is the
product cf bad environment. I can
show glaring exceptions of both
rules, which simply cannot be ex-
plained. Dope, drink, degeneracy,
idleness and moral weakness are the
underlying cruses apparently, and
yet some criminals are singularly
free from the so-called common
vicja. A desire to get rich quick,
wilbigness to take chances, and a
feeling that it is easy to escape pun-
ishment with the aid of crooked law-
jers, are outstanding features of the
crime situation today. Judges and
prison author/.ies in a score of lead-
ing American cities agree that most
of the lawbreakers of today are
younger than those of 10 and 15
years ago. They are also more
numerous. In some sections many are
physically under sized, and a large
percentage are mentally inferior.
A Nc.w York judge says: “Modern
criminals are practically young men
between the ages of 16 and 23. When
1 was growing up here in the Metro-
politan district, burglars and high-
waymen were all matured men, and
big burly fellows with significent
nicknames. The lithe, sharp-featur-
ed, fairly well dressed young crim-
inals of today, with their handy guns men and women, who have served
and unlimited nerve, were practically | sentence after sentence. These in-
RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT y..................................*****;
Next Sunday at 7:30 p. m. th I So let him sleep that dreamless sleep
Rov. W. H. Bewie, Field Secretary of Our sorrows clustering round hi»
the mission board of the Texas dis- head
tr'ct of the Missouri Lutheran synod Be comfortable, ye loved who weep
will deliver a lecture on “Home M:s- He lives with God, he is not dead
Rev. W. H. Bewie
church. Rev. Bewie, who has super-
vision of all the missionary endeavors
carried on by this denomination is
well qualified to speak on this subject
as his office requires him to travel to
all parts of the state. He has been
identified with Texas Lutheranism
for the past thirty years and is known
throughout the length and breadth of
the state for his cheerful disposition
and eloquence. At present he is vis-
iting the mission churches in Fayette,
Lee, Colorado and Lavaca counties.
Trnity Hill is no longer a struggling
mission congregation, nevertheless it
counts itself fortunate in having
secured this noted speaker for next
Sunday night.
unknown. The old-timers got drunk
on whiBky. Today most of the young-
er criminals are dope fiends, who will
do anything to obtain a supply of
drugB. They are recruited from the
loafers who throng our streets. They
have made up their minds that they
will not work. They loaf in pool
rooms, hang around bookmakers, bet
on races, shoot craps, sponge on their
mothers and sisters, and prey on un-
fortunate women. Life with them is
a gamble.”
The Criminals of Today
The professional criminal of today
lives in apartments or hotels and is
often a man of family. He dresses
well and mixes well; in general con-
duct attracts no attention. Every
development of seiene has been ap-
propriated by him for criminal opera-
tions. The motor thief has taken
the place of the horse thief, and the
highwayman of today makes his get-
away in a car. The safe-blower is
b-ing crowded out by the forger who
obtains bigger results with pen and
ink and a blank check, than he could
with a drill and nitroglycerin. Pick-
pockets and sneak thieves are taking
business away from burglars and
housebreakers, and bootleggers are
becoming rich. Killing by proxy has
become a fine art. Gunmen are
availabe who will kill your man for
a price, and escape unpunished.
Lawbreaking is an organized bus-
iness. Expert criminals have lawyers
retained in all the large cities to
look after their interests—to provide
ba.l and “beat the case.” Politicans
and crintiualoids among business and
professional men are ever ready to
take care of the younger criminals
who are willing to do dirty work for
the higher-ups in exchange for pro-
tection.
elude not merely those addicted to the
undermining and destructive vices,
but those who commit serious crime,
and are punished with longer sen-
tences.
Mother Takes the Blame
For the foregoing reasons judges
lay great stress on probation and in-
determinate as a means of effecting
reformations lh criminals. They ad-
vocate custodial care for the mentally
deficient, or the defectives. Likewise,
they say hardened criminals should
be locked up for the protection of
society.
It is true that criminals are unable
to profit by experience or example,
then capital punishment as a crime
preventive is a failure. An import-
ant preventive measure, say the ex-
perts, is to provide employment for
prisoners so they will have someth'ng
to do as soon as they have been le-
leascd.
Julius Abora, alias “The Wizard,”
was caught and put on trial for mur-
der in the first degree, for participat-
ing in a pay-roll holdup, in which
two men .were killed in cold blood.
Aborn testified against others in the
gang, and three executed. Insmuch
as he had been of service to the
state, there w?s a disposition on the
part of official to let Aborn off with
imprisonment 'or l'fe, if he would
enter a plea of guilty to the charge
of murder in ihe second degree.-
But the public demanded blood, and
it was thought best to d lay action
until the cry had subs id d somewhat,
so it would be safe for the ju Iges to
be lenient. Not a particle of evidence
was produced to show that Aborn
had any part in the killing. He was
merely one of the gang, and not very
active at that. While the matter was
pending the writer met Aborn’s mo-
ld several cities crime has been! ther, his half sister, his brother and
o,:eriy recognized as a business, and
organizations have been formed to
fi ht all lawbreaking with business
methods. To that end all known
criminals and public officials are card
indexed, and a daily record kept of
their activities, together with infor-
mation about ntw crimes. This sys-
tem does not actually prevent law-
breaking, but it does fix responsibility
for any inactivity or irregularity on
the part «f police or courts. Officials
in the large cities named can no
longer let criminals off with little or
ro punishment, and escape the conse-
quences. They are kept in line by
the fear ef press publicity based on
v hat the card records show.
It ia the opinion of men having
inoat to do with criminals that
punishment alone does not cause a
his stepfather. It was a strange
mixture of human qualities. The
mother was from Southern Europe.
She was a woman of imperious will,
keen intellect, consuming ambition
and utter fearlessness. She had
quarrelled with her son and her hus-
band, and had decided that her
daughter should marry a certain
young man, not wanted by them. The
girl and Julius were great chums,
and the girl was determined to save
Julius. The uncertainty got on the
nerves of all. One morning in the
courthouse, the mother suddenly
raised her hands in oriental fashion
and cried out:
“Let them send me to the chair!
Let them send me to the chair! I am
the guilty one. I made him what he
is. Let them punish me, and not my
change in character. Every year the boy.”
prisons receive many thousands of Over in the county jail wa3 Ju'. us
' In Memory of Brother Chas. Rippel
Who Died January S, 1923
Once again death hath summoned
a Brother Odd Fellow, and the golden
gateway to the Eternal City has
opened ttf welcome him to his home.
He has completed his work in the
| ministering to the wants of the
afflicted, in shedding light into dark-
ened souls and in bringing joy into
the places of misery, and as his re-
ward the plaudit, “Well done” from
the Supreme Master; And
WHEREAS, the all-wise and mer-
ciful Master of the Universe has
called our beloved and respected bro-
ther home, and he having been a
true and faithful member of our be-
loved order, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that LaGrange Lodge
No. 30, of LaGrange, Texas, in testi-
mony of het loss, be draped in mourn-
ing for thirty days and that we ten-
der to the family of our deceased
brother our sincere condolence in
their deep affliction and that a copy
of these resolutions be sent to the
family and a copy for publication tc
<he LaGrange Journal.
GEO. HAUSLER,
FLINT YOUNG,
W. R. STIERLING,
Committee.
with frank open face, putting in his
time over a pile of books. He looked
and talked like anything but a killer.
The little half sister, with her dark
eyes and pretty face, and utterly de-
voted to Julius, was equally studious.
She always carried a book which she
read during the hours of waiting. The
other brother did not give much time
to books, but was a hard worker. All
he thought of was to save his
brother.
Later I had a talk with the mother.
She was much subdued. At length
she agreed to tell the story.
“In the old country,” she began, “I
was a rich young woman. I came to
America with my husband expecting
great things, but was terribly disap-
pointed. He could not get into a
money-making business, and we lived
on my money until it was all gone.
Then we had. the boys, who were
very little. Twas ambitious. I want-
ed to make money, but I thought I
could not do it here. So I went
to other cities, leaving the boys be-
hind. They got into trouble on the
streets and the juvenile court took
them. When I came back I would
fight with the court to get them
back. Then I would go away again.
Finally, they got “big enough” to
strike out for themselves.”
Julius had been mixed up with a
gang. The other son had gone
straight, and earned a living. Both
had been neglected while young. As
they grew older they took different
pahts. What is the explanation? Was
it a throwback in heredity that made
them different? Theoretically as a
result of environment, toth should
have become criminals.
Juliu3 said his life had been filled
with disapointments. On the night
the robbery was planned he had been
home. His mother had nagged for
the way he had been living. Dis-
couraged, he went to a pool room,
met some of the gang, and in his des-
pondent mood explained, “What's the
use?” and fell in with the plans. The
fact that he sought consolation in a
pool room is significant. He did not
become a criminal by sudden im-
pulse, nor because he was naturally
vicious. He got in with the wrong
crowd.
Stolen Money That Didn’t Stick
Harvey Barnes is doing time some-
where on the Pacific Coast. He says
he is the victim of a “frame-up” by
San Francisco politicians, but the re
cords tell a different story. When he
was 18, Barnes placed wagers on the
ponies at St. Louis races and won,
and he became a professional gamb-
ler. In 20 years he traveled all over
the world, and won and lost $10,003-
000—mostly on horses. At one time
he conducted a big swindling scheme
in Chicago, consisting of a mailorder
plan for placing bets on races. It
was much simpler than a handbook.
Patrons merely sent him their money
in response to clever advertisements
which promised vast returns.
His state of mind was bad enough,
but what about those willing to pro-
SEE FOR YOURSELF
THE ADMIRABLE FEATURES OF
1 THE STAR CAR I
A Heavy Demand for Star Cars has
prompted us to place orders for a
RUSH SHIPMENT of four car loads
They will be delivered the first part
of January. ORDER YOURS NOW
INSURE PROMPT DELIVERY.
| Fayette County Automobile Co. ij
LAGRANGE, TEXAS
♦♦********************************
CERNEGLIA & INGRAM |
PAINTERS AND PAPER HANGERS
A LL work in the painting and paper hanging line done
satisfactorily. No job too small or too large to re-
ceive our most careful consideration. We respectfully so-
licit a share of the public’s patronage.
ALL ORDERS WILL BE APPRECIATED
TELEPHONE NO. 153 LAGRANGE, TEXAS
»444444444444»4444444444444444444444*44444444444»4444
which time he paid $50,000 for pro-
tection. When the time came to
raid his place, he was given notice at
9 a. m. by the police that they would
call at 3 p. m. to arrest him. Tint
gave him time to get his as3oc at.<
out of the waf and to have a bond -
man ready. His arrest did not dm
commide him in the least. It was a
mere formality. He gave bail at
once, jumped his bond, and later
reimbursed his bondsman, all part of
a prearranged plan. ,
Finally Barnes quit the game and
became a reformer. He visited the
the big cities, of the East, and parti-
ciated in crusades against race-track
gambling. The government frequent-
ly used him as an investigator. His
knowledge of the underworld enabled
him to get information beyond the
reach of ordinary operatives. Event-
ually he turned up as manager of an
oil stock concern in New York, where
he made good money until put out of
business for alleged misrepresenta-
tion in advertising.
The writer of this article was in
timately associated with Barnes for
five or six years, and had unusual op-
portunities to study the operations of
his mind. Barnes could tell most
amazing things about coming events
in the “upper reaches” of the crim-
inal under world, which includes some
men active in big business and
politics.
One prediction related to John R.
Walsh who was doing time in the
Federal prison at Leavenworth, and
C. W. Morse who had' been sent to
Atlanta for 15 years. Barnes told
the writer months before it happen-
ed that both Walsh and Morse were
to be pardoned so they could die out-
side the walls of a penitentiary.
He even explained how the deal
had been fixed, and how much it cost.
Later Walsh and Morse were release-
ed as Barnes had said they would be.
Walsh died soon afterward, but
Morse recovered and made another
fortune.
Barnes did not consider himself a
criminal, merely smarter than the
other fellows. The point of view
which regards downright criminality
as justifiable shrewdness is responsi-
ble for a great deal of high-brow
crime—the kind committed by the
“rich and respectable” folks. It is
regarded as perfectly ail right by
many to disregard prohibition when
they want something to drink. They
would not think of engaging in liquor
running themselves, but they arc
ready to pay another man to break
the law. There are others who would
not steal, rob a bank,or kill, but they
are willing to encourage such crimes.
And yet the man who incites others
to crime feels that he is superior to
the roughneck who does the dirty
work. »
Barnes had a keen mind of the
fit by his stealings? He cleaned upj quality that make3 a great mar.hger,
about $800,000 in one year, during | but there was a singular kink in it. dent.
He had to make money by hazards
or a turn of chance or he was not
satisfied. The ordinary processes of
industry were irksome to him.
During the days when he was a
“high roller” on the turf, he formed
luxurious habits. It was that com-
bination of defects—the love of a
hazard, luxurious living, and fondness
for excitement that prevented him
making a place for himself in the
business world, after he gave up
racing. He did not have any vicious
habits. He was not immoral, and he
did not drink. He was not profane
nor vulgar. He had a splendid wife
and an adorable Mother. In a burst
of confidence he told me one day his
mother had taught him to say his
prayers, and that he still prayed
every night before he went to sleep.
He had been a man of prayer all
through his career.
“A little different twist in his men-
tal make-up and he might have been
a great success in another direction.
His mind had acquired a fatal quality
as the result of gambling—love of
easy money and luxury—which has
practically ruined his usefulness.
Once a young man develops an ap-
petite to get something for nothing,
and to get it quick, he simply cannot
fit into the grinding routine of honest
industry. It matters little whether
the hazard is taken in shooting
craps, playing poker or flirting with
the stock market the effect is just
the same.
Dan Morton had a mentality of a
different type. He got his start in a
newspaper office, and eventually de-
veloped ability as a clever advertiser.
He knew how to frame small ads that
brought orders from all over the
country for his love powders, advice
to lovers, and/ similar quejtionable
offerings. Finally he ventured too
far, and Uncle Sam got him. He
was tried in New York and convicted,
the penalty being a year in the peni-
tentiary and a fine of $1,000. He
gave bail which he jumped and want
to Europe, where he stayed for a
year. When he came back, apparent-
ly everybody had forgotten him. He
obtained work as a printer, and got
along fairly well as long as he stay-
ed sober. He was a periodic drunk-
ard, and went on a spree several
times a year.
After wandering for years, Mor-
ton came back to New York. He
could not resist the fascinaton of tha
place where he had been found guilty
and sentenced to prison. Hovering
over him was the fear that he might
be caught, but as time passed that fear
vanished. While on a prolanged spree
Morton was put in a cold room in a
New York hotel, and almost perished
from exposure. He was rescued by
a missionary, through whose influen-
ces he became a Christian. Morton
quit drinking, and became active in
the missions of New York.—Albe t
Sidney Gregg in Dearborn Indepen-
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La Grange Journal (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 11, 1923, newspaper, January 11, 1923; La Grange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth998484/m1/6/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives.