News Items from The Kansas City Journal ~ Old News That's New to You from Vintage Kansas City.com

December 14, 2025

JUDGE PORTERFIELD

RECOMMENDS COW-

HIDE FOR OBSTREP-

EROUS BOYS.

His Father Had Cowhide and

Was Not Afraid to Use It.

JUDGE PORTERFIELD OF THE JUVENILE COURT.

Judicial notice was taken yesterday for the first time of the cowhide, as an instrument of regeneration for obstreperous boys, when Judge E. E. Porterfiled of the juvenile court paid it the following tribute:

"If I ever amounted to anything, it's because my father kept a cowhide, and he was not afraid to use it."

This remark was occasioned by a mother's statement that she did not like to whip her children. John Morrisy of 815 East Eighth street, had been summoned into court on the complaint of the mother. She said that she could not control him.

"The only fault I have to find with him is that he does not get up in the morning," she said. "And when he drinks beer he swears at me and his grandmother so loud that he attracts the neighbors."

"Why don't you get the cowhide?" asked the judge.

"Oh, I never did believe in whipping my children."

"You make a mistake, madam. If there was ever a boy in this court who needed a cowhiding, it is your son. My suggestion to you is to get a long whip. If John doesn't get up in the morning, don't wait until he gets his clothes on. Pull him out of bed and thrash him on his bare skin. Like lots of other mothers, you have spoiled your boy by being too lenient."

John Morrisy was arrested the first time in December, 1908, and sentenced to the reform school. He was charged with cursing his mother. John agreed to sign the following pledge, on condition that the sentence would be suspended:

"I am going to get a job and I am going to keep it, give mother my money; am going to church, come in early at night; I am not going to drink whisky or beer; I will not swear any."

John broke that pledge last Thursday. He bought some beer in a livery barn. When he came home he abused his mother and cursed her. The boy was charged also with smoking cigarettes. This he admitted.

"Where did you get the papers?" asked the court.

"It's this way," explained the boy. "The merchants ain't allowed to sell or give them away. I went out to a drug store. I bought two packages of Dukes. When I told the man that the tobacco was no good without papers, he said it was against the law to give them to minors. Then he walked back of the prescription case.

"He looked at me, then at a box behind the counter, where he kept the papers. Of course, I got wise right away. I reached my hand in the box and got three packages."

"You won't smoke any more cigarettes," said Judge Porterfield, "if I don't send you to Booneville?"

"If I can't get the papers, I won't."

The question had to be repeated two or three times before the boy understood. He promised not to use tobacco in any form. If he does, Judge Porterfield ordered that he be taken immediately to reform school. John was taken to the boys' hotel. A job will be found for him, and if he lives up to his pledge, will not be ordered to the reform school.

Labels: abuse, alcohol, boys hotel, children, Eighth street, Judge Porterfield, juvenile court, tobacco

September 28, 2025

JOB FOR THE KAUTZ BOY.

Meanwhile Probation Officer In-

vestigates His Story.

Dr. E. L. Mathias, probation officer, has written to St. Louis, Mo., and Coffeyville, Kas., to investigate the tale related by Theodore Kautz, 14 years old, who fell into the hands of the police Sunday.

Kautz sticks to his story that he ran away from the Christian Orphan's home, 2949 Euclid avenue, St. Louis, and came here in search of his insane mother, who, he says, was left here six years ago when he and his brother, Arthur, two years older, were taken on to the orphanage. He also insists that his mother's insanity was caused by the fact that a nurse girl, left at home alone, placed his 3-months-old sister, Violet, in the stove oven.

Kautz is an unusually bright boy, and well behaved. Yesterday afternoon a call was received at the Detention home that a boy was wanted at the Frisco freight offices to act as office boy at $15 a month. George M. Holt, who looks after that end of the work, took young Kautz to the factory inspector, got him a permit, and escorted him to the freight office.

He will board at the Boys' hotel, 710 Woodland avenue.

Labels: boys hotel, children, Dr Mathias, mental health, orphans, St Louis, Woodland avenue

February 10, 2026

LATCH STRING IS OUT

TODAY AT BOYS' HOME.

FORTY BEDS INSTALLED AND

LARDER IS FULL.

Unique Schedule of Rates -- Each

Guest Will Give Half His

Earnings for His

Board Bill.

Newly furnished and equipped from kitchen to garret the Boys' hotel, 1223 Michigan avenue, will throw open its doors this morning to the boys who are without homes or friends to look after them. The hotel was due to open yesterday, but the house could not be gotten in readiness and the opening was postponed until today.

Presiding over the hotel is Mrs. Anna Ferris, the new matron, who believes that the hotel and its guests are going to prosper together.

She has succeeded in arranging the scant but comfortable furniture in a most pleasing manner and the little waifs' home looked bright and cheerful to the visitors yesterday. The pantry had been well stocked with groceries and the forty single iron beds are covered with the cleanest of linen.

Accommodations for forty boys have been made and Mrs. Ferris said yesterday that she expected the hotel to be crowded within a few days. Each boy who will live in the hotel will pay half the amount he earns each week for his board. Any deficit in the running expenses of the hotel will be paid from funds secured by private donations.

The hotel is to be conducted under the direction of the Council of Women's Clubs. Besides the matron, who will have charge of the domestic affairs of the hotel, S. R. McIntyre will live at the hotel and have supervision over the conduct of the boys. At first it is expected that the boarders will comprise a majority of the youths formerly members of the hotels society.

"The first meal to be served will be lunch today. By an early hour this morning the matron looks for quite a number of applicants for rooms in the hotel and she will then know how many to provide lunch for. Many visitors called yesterday afternoon to inspect the new quarters.

Labels: boys hotel, Michigan avenue, organizations, women

August 5, 2025

REWARD FOR AN

AMIABLE BOY.

Leo Milgrim Will Receive an Educa-

tion in a Kentucky School.

Here's where the good boy in real life gets his reward. The boy is Leo Milgrim, who has been a boarder at the Boys' hotel since the day it opened. He is 15 years old, one of a family of six children, whose parents were unable to care for him properly. He has been working every day since he became a boarder at the hotel, and is self-supporting. His conduct has been above reproach. Here's where he "gets his'n' ":

"My Dear Leo,

"Miss Allen has written me that you are looking forward to going to the school of which we spoke, when I talked with you, and so I write to tell you that it will be open September 1. I will send you a catalogue and will write to Professor Lewis, the principal of the school, to expect you.

"You can take the train from Kansas City to Cincinnati, via St. Louis, and at Cincinnati you can take the Louisville & Nashville train to London, Ky., the town wherein the school is located. I shall hope and expect you to make the very best of your opportunity as I myself will pay your scholarship, and will ask God to make of you a strong, true man, who will be a help to other boys after you have left school.

"Hoping to see you soon after your coming to London, and to find you a happy, busy student. I am sincerely your friend, MISS BELLE H. BENNETT."

Miss Bennett is president of the Woman's Home Missionary Society, Richmond, Ky. The letter was addressed to Leo and received by him yesterday. He will leave in time to reach London, Ky., before school opens.

Labels: boys hotel, charity, children, railroad