Thru the efforts of the public welfare department, a father, residing in Winston-Salem, was carried before the municipal court this morning on the charge of contributing to the delinquency of a small son. The son was adjudged a delinquent a few days ago by the judge of the juvenile court and was sent to the reformatory. Another son of the defendant in the case this morning has been in the reformatory for some time.
Probation Officer Watts related heart-rendering circumstances in connection with the case. The boy in question, he said, has been roaming the streets for months, sleeping in alleys and in the municipal building when found by officers late at night. Mr. Watts stated that the mother actually said she did not want the boy any more, as it is impossible for her to control him. The father stated this morning that his son has been away from home for two weeks at a time and that he did not know where he was staying. He also said that he had eight boys, two in the reformatory and six at home.
The judge allowed the defendant to go upon payment of costs. However, he administered a lecture to the father, telling him that another occurrence of this kind will mean a road sentence if the case comes up for trial.
The indictment was brought under section 19, chapter 97, public laws of 1919, which reads as follows:
“A parent, guardian or other person having the custody of a child who omits to exercise reasonable diligence in the care, protection or control of such child, causing it to be adjudged delinquent, neglected, or in need of the care, protection or discipline of the state, as provided in this act or who permits such child to associate with vicious, immoral or criminal persons, or to bed or solicit alms, or to be an habitual truant from school, or to enter any place where gambling is carried on, or to enter any house of prostitution or assignation, or to enter any place which may be injurious to the morals, health, or general welfare of such child, and any such person who knowingly or willfully is responsible for, encourages, aids, causes or connives at or who knowingly or willfully does any act to produce, promote or contribute to the condition which caused such child to be adjudged delinquent, neglected, or in need of the care, protection or discipline of the state, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.”
From the Twin-City Sentinel, as reprinted on the front page of The Mount Airy News, Thursday, Sept. 29, 1921
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