The New York Times, 10 July 1927

Judge Ready to Show Father How to 'Lick a Bad Boy Good'

Special to The New York Times.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., July 9. -- How much of a licking does it take to make a bad boy good?

Judge William H. Smathers of the Juvenile Court is determined to find out. Today he advised a father to give his son a "thick and heavy licking," and he added: "If that is not good enough let me know and I will show you how to lay it onto him."

The father, Martin Loudthrellow, had charged his son with "creating a lot of trouble around the house," and the boy had admitted disobeying his father by staying out late at night.