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WOODSHED JUSTICE' FINDS ITS MARKMUNCIE, Ind. (UPI)-The old admonition that sparing the rod spoilt the child applies in Judge Walter G. Tanner’s city court here, even when the child” is 20 years old.Tanner, who practices what he callt woodshed justice,” put hit theory to work again Wednesday by ordering a spanking for « 30-year-old, Franklin D. Campbell. The youth had sprayed a stray puppy with gasoline and set it afire, because he said, the puppy bothered his chickens.Campbell, of Muncie, received 20 lashes with a Sam Browne” belt in front of two policemen in the judge’s chambers. His pants were down. This was the second such type punishment ordered by Tanner.Several weeks ago the judge ordered the father of a youthcharged with beating his mother to whip the boy to the tune of 10 lashes.I believe in humiliating them,” Tanner said Thursday. It’s a good deterrent. A prison term is no good because they learn from experts. I believe in keeping them out of jail if I can. I don’t want any youngster to have a record tiiat will reflect on him in later yeara.” Humiliates ThemThey know their pants are going to be down, and that humiliates them,” Tanner observed.Tanner said be did not believe in cruel or excessive punishment” and insisted a whipping did not fit into this category. A spanking is never cruel if it is properly done,” he said.Tanner said he did not know if his woodshed justice” waspsychologically harmful because “I’m not a doctor.” He said, however, he would not order • spanking for any offender under IS years. H said most of his cases have dealt with older boys.Spanking isn’t Tanner’s only unique punishment for misbehaving youths. He also has sentenced youthful offenders to scrubbing latrines,” dumping trssh,” and cleaning up” in general.Encourages Military ServiceTanner encourages some of the offending youths to join the armed forces and sees to it that their court records do not follow them.if they go into the armed forces, they will get discipline, and that’s the very thing for them,” he said.Although Tanner sentenced Campbell to a fine and 10 daysin jail, the judge said he had worked out an arrangement with the sheriff Whereby Campbell was separated from the other prisoners. He said Campbell also was free to leave the jail daily to check on the condition of the dog, which has been near death for a week.“Putting youthful offenders In jail is not reform ,” Tanner said. They must sit around there being fed.”My father never .spared the rod with me and I waa not hurt by it,” the judge said.
Newspaper Details
South Haven Daily Tribune
South Haven, Michigan, US
Sat, Jun 15, 1963
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Dennis J.
NA, 02 Jul 2024
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