| of my earliest memories have to do with my | | | | Number two: Don't be late for court. |
| fascination with fish. Every ride in the car was spent | | | | Number three: Call the judge Sir as many times as you |
| looking for water and then trying to find evidence of | | | | can. |
| fish. I lived for the day that I could go fishing, but my | | | | When I asked if he would be going with me, he said, |
| dad didn’t share my enthusiasm. | | | | "No, Jim, I wasn't the one who broke the law. Anyone |
| As I got older, he reluctantly allowed me to fish in the | | | | big enough to break the law is big enough to face up |
| lake at one of the local parks, provided I had all of my | | | | to the judge." So, I went on my own. |
| chores, homework, and practice finished. As you can | | | | Arriving very early, I had the opportunity to hear how |
| guess, the fishing wasn't too good at the park, so I | | | | the judge handled things. I was amazed at how |
| dreamed of the day that I might be able to fish in a | | | | understanding he was, handing out deferred sentences, |
| local sand pit. I knew how big the fish would be given | | | | giving probation, etc. So, I was feeling pretty good |
| the fact that the lake had been fenced off and | | | | about my chances. |
| nobody had fished there for years. | | | | Now it was my turn. I stood before him with my most |
| Needless to say I was overjoyed the day my neighbor | | | | reverent posture and innocent face. It was |
| knocked on our door and announced that people were | | | | unbelievable. The officer testified that I was the only |
| now fishing in my dream fishing hole. "Dad, it's a | | | | person he'd seen going through that fence. |
| chance of a lifetime," I begged. "Those fish don't even | | | | I tried to explain about all the other fishermen, but the |
| know what a fisherman is. And Mr. Nicholson says he'll | | | | judge didn't believe me. |
| let me go with him. If you let me go, I'll do double | | | | "$40 fine!" he bellowed. "Pay the clerk." |
| chores next week." | | | | I was crushed! It was 1948. I was fourteen years old. |
| My excitement knew no bounds as Mr. Nicholson and I | | | | That was all the money I had been able to save from |
| pulled up to the lake and saw that someone had taken | | | | my paper route earnings. As soon as I got home I told |
| a section of the fence down. There were many | | | | my dad, "That judge was not fair!" |
| fishermen there, already sharing my own enthusiasm. In | | | | "What do you mean, not fair?" |
| no time we all discovered that the fishing was every | | | | "The policeman lied. I told the truth. He only listened to |
| bit as good as our dreams. My bag was filling with | | | | the cop. That's not fair!" |
| beautiful catfish. | | | | "Well, son, now you know how court works. If you |
| Then disaster struck. I heard a short blast from a | | | | don't like the way it works, don't go there." |
| police siren and then, "OK, guys. Reel 'em in and come | | | | With that he changed the subject and no more was |
| up to the car." | | | | said. I was learning one of the most valuable lessons |
| "What did you guys cut the fence with?" asked the | | | | of my long life. Nothing more needed to be said. |
| officer. | | | | My dad has been dead for many years. As each year |
| "No sir, we didn't do it," I said. "There are lots of other | | | | goes by my appreciation for his wisdom grows. I don't |
| guys here. We found the fence that way. We thought | | | | know where it came from. He only had a fourth grade |
| it was OK since everybody else was fishing." | | | | education. But along with this he developed a deep |
| "Nice try, kid. I don't see anyone else. Where are | | | | understanding about what it takes for kids to be |
| they?" | | | | prepared to face a future filled with temptations, |
| To my disbelief, all the other fishermen had | | | | decisions, and consequences. He understood that I |
| disappeared. We were all alone. Now as I think back | | | | would be a better man someday if I faced that judge |
| on it, they had hidden in the bushes when the patrol | | | | on my own. |
| car came up. | | | | Years after the incident, when I discussed this situation |
| We were arrested. I was charged with trespassing | | | | with my dad, he admitted that sending me to court on |
| and delivered home in the patrol car. To make it worse | | | | my own was one of the most difficult things he had |
| my court date was set right in the middle of the week | | | | ever done. |
| of our first family vacation. A poor family like ours didn't | | | | "Jim, letting you go to court that day alone was horrible |
| usually take vacations, so this was a big deal. | | | | for me. I had to keep telling myself that I wouldn't be |
| My dad told me to call the court to see if the date | | | | much of a father if I babied you by going along. Even |
| could be changed, but the answer was no. I then | | | | though I knew you could handle it, I still lost a lot of |
| asked if someone could represent me and was told | | | | sleep fighting with myself over wanting to make it |
| that my partner, Mr. Nicholson, could do that. This | | | | easier for you." |
| turned out not to be true. We went on our vacation | | | | I guess it was a lot harder on him than it was on me. |
| anyway. | | | | When he gave me advice instead of solving it for me, I |
| Upon returning we were met by Mr. Nicholson, who | | | | just figured that he knew that I could handle it. I was |
| told my dad that an arrest warrant had been issued | | | | never mad at him. All my anger had been focused on |
| for me since I didn't appear in court. "You'd better turn | | | | the judge and the policeman. |
| yourself in before the cops get here," he pleaded. | | | | To this day I appreciate this and many other similar |
| My father took me to the police station, explained the | | | | situations where my dad did the right thing even though |
| situation, and luck was with me. They issued a new | | | | it was not easy for him. Maybe it is because I know |
| court date. | | | | that many kids facing a situation similar to mine today |
| In preparation for the trial Dad gave me three good | | | | would appear in court in a different way. Would they |
| pieces of advice: | | | | be there dealing with it or would there be a battery of |
| Number one: Ride the number three streetcar. It stops | | | | lawyers painting the child as a victim instead of a |
| right in front of the courthouse. | | | | youngster in need of a valuable lesson about life? |