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A CRIME THAT BROUGHT IT’SOWN PUNISHMENTJohn S. Mansfield, better known as Jack Mansfield, aged 17, has been staying with R. D. Burger of Prairietownship. Last Friday, claiming he wasn’t feeling well, he stayed around the house while the men went to the field. He then loaded 25 gallons of gasoline in containers, placed them in Berger’s Buick car and drove away.When near Montrose he had a wreck. The car overturned, Jack’s right hand was caught in the smash and was badly crushed and one finger was cut off.The boy found his way to a doctor in Mankato and also visited with County Attorney Welmter. He first told Mr. Weltmer that he had taken Mr. Burger’s car just for a little ride, but was afraid Burger would think he had stolen it. The 25 gallons of gas didn’t fit in very well with his statemlt;ent, so the boy soon came through with the straight story and said he meant to steal theHe said his father and mother deserted him when he was four years old. His father has been married several times since and has been living around Taft, Calif. His mother has also been married several times. Jack has been living around where-ever people would keep him.There you have the story. If you were a judge with full power to mete out just punishment to such delinquents, what would you do about it?Is Wm. Durant right when he says you can no more judge other people justly than you can get out of your own skin? About all the law can hope to do in such cases is to keep such delinquents as much as possible, from troubling society. The boy says the Burgers had been good to him, but he evidently lacked the elements of character that would -ause him to be appreciative and grateful. He probably could not even appreciate leniency on the part of the court. So i£ is that he and lis class have to be punished for sins lot entirely their own. It is a pro-olem that never has been solved.Fewell Republican.
Newspaper Details
Republic City News
Republic, Kansas, US
Thu, Jul 21, 1927
Page 1
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 21 Mar 2019
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