Ark. Gazette Feb. 23, 1922: Monticello, Feb. 22 - Judge Turner Butler today proved he was a friend to the boys. From the bench he said he was willing to give any boy a chance, no matter what he did. He was called upon to sentence two young white boys, Flanders Dyer, aged 18, and Alfred Shook, aged 17, both of whom had pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill and robbery. In Shook's case Judge Butler reduced the robbery charge to grand larceny. The state made an effort to present a school record that indicated that Dyer is more than 18. The judge refused to permit the evidence on the gound that proof that Dyer was 18 was established by his mother on Monday, when the state should have combatted the evidence and further because Dyer's attorney was not in court today. "It has been the general opinion that if left to the court these boys would be dealt with lightly," said Judge Butler, "and the opinion is correct. I am going to give every boy a chance, no matter what he did. I know Dyer's history. He never had a father's care. His home life was not pleasant. He never had a chance. There is an opportunity to make a man of him." Dyer was sentenced to the Boys' Industrial School at Pine Bluff for three years on the charge of assault with intent to kill. Shook received an indeterminate sentence of not less than one year or more than three years on the robbery charge and three years on the charge of assault with intent to kill. Both boys were urged to obey the rules of the school. "I will not call it a prison," said Judge Butler, "it is a school. Remember, neither of you is a convict. You are just bad boys that have committed a crime. I feel sorry for both of you. Don't be uneasy as to your treatment. If you are good pupils in the school you will have no cause to complain, for your lot will be a pleasant one and you will look back to this day and then realize this was a good thing for you, for that school will make men out of you. You will learn some useful occupation. You will go to Sunday school and church. You will be given a chance to make good, and I want you to make good. I am treating you boys like I would want my boy treated had I one." On the night of October 7 Dyer and Shook assaulted and robbed Kimbro Gibson, a white youth of Lincoln County, taking $51.70 Gibson had realized from the sale of a bale of cotton. Dyer entered a plea of guilty Monday morning. He told Judge Butler he was largely to blame. Mothers of both boys were in court when they were sentenced.