Child Labor Law

LUCAS, SORRELL

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 6/26/2017 at 12:25:58

Ignored Child Labor Law
Colfax Coal Miner is Given Thirty Days in Jail
The first of a series of cases being instituted by the Iowa Humane society to compel the observance of the child labor law was tried yesterday in the justice court at Colfax, and resulted in the conviction of Jeff Lucas, a negro coal miner. He received a sentence of thirty days in the county jail. The charge on which Lucas was tried was that of having compelled Theodore Sorrell, a 13-year-old foster son, to remain away from school for the past four years and labor in the mines. His wages were taken by the foster father as fast as they were earned.
Humane Officer James Eckles was the complaining witness and had charge of the prosecution of the case. Mr. Eckles stated last night that the conviction yesterday was the first one secured in the state under the child labor law, and that the society would immediately start a campaign for law enforcement. There are at the present time a number of cases in which action will be instituted at once.
Source: Newton Journal; February 10, 1909, page 1