From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 23, 1911:

“An expert examination of Herbert Wiley, a fifteen-year-old thief now in the county jail, has revealed the fact that the youth is suffering from a defect on his brain which causes him to steal. The boy is believed to be practically irresponsible for his deeds. Dr. Naismith of the University made the examination this morning at the request of Judge Means of the Juvenile court. Just what the injury is has not been determined, but it is believed now that young Wiley is the victim of physical defect rather than a moral weakness…. The judge was convinced that the boy was not wholly responsible for his misconduct, and that there was something driving the boy on that he could not control. He does not only have a mania for stealing, but it seems that he has an equal weakness in regard to telling falsehoods…. He is said to come from a very respectable family, which gives added weight to the assertion that he is irresponsible for his deeds due to some physical ailment…. With the recent discovery that an operation has cured a similar case and converted a ‘bad boy,’ Judge Means decided to have Herbert examined. It is not certain as yet whether an operation will be attempted on the boy or not.”