BEN B. LINDSEY 303 however, soon afterward appointed to fill out an unexpired term as county judge in Denver and began his work on the bench merely as an obscure young lawyer who had received a promotion and who was wholly unknown to fame. This was on January 8, 1901. At this period of his career he had in his thoughts neither plans nor theories for any work of an unusual character but only the idea of doing his whole official duty with whatever energy and ability he possessed. Here cases in great variety came before his court, and the regular daily round of busi- ness was transacted just as it had been done for many years previously. Many children were brought before this court on charges of theft, burglary, and other crimes. They were tried in precisely the same manner and under the same pro- cedure as were grown-up men and women, and if found guilty they were promptly sentenced to serve terms in the State In- dustrial School at Golden. This was part of the regular sys- tem provided for by law. A boy might be brought into the district court or the justice court as well as into the county court over which the new judge presided. The result was the same in the event his guilt was established. One evening, when the shadows were lengthening and the county court was grinding out its usual daily grist of cases with increased speed so as to dispose of the business on its regular calendar for that day, a case of petty larceny was called. The ** thief ** was only an Italian boy of tender years who had violated the majesty of the law and offended the dig- nity of the State of Colorado. His offense was that of pick- ing up coal along the railroad tracks in order to have a little fire at home. A policeman and witnesses soon made a clear case against the urchin. His guilt was evident and the youth- ful judge pronounced the sentence which the law prescribed for such an offense and hastily called the next case, for every- body was anxious to get through with the day's work and go home. Just at that moment, however, a prolonged shriek rent the air of the court room and attracted the attention of everyone. It was the shrill, agonized cry of a forlorn, un-
