Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-13


therefore, lot praise be given unto whom praise
is due.
A YOUNG ROGUE.
MELAScHoLY.-Last Saturday an ih'ei''ee"'
negro boz about II years Of age was 'ou"u wal"
derine through the upper wards OF OUT W
Ever since the late calamltous nre' ne nau oee $"
in search of his parents' VINO oecuP.eu 'h,
roo,n :, ope Of those houses first burnt, and VINO
M Jnubt nerishcd in the flames. The lads aP'
pearance was so interesting, that two gentlemen
accompanied him to the spot which he sa'u ne
knew by the cistern in the yard. Inc account
he cave. was, that his father and mother were
both asleep; when, on the alarm given, he was
awakened by fireman, who broke open the door;
he eu,leavored to awake his parents, who' having
been labormusly at work whltewashlng during
the day, were in profound sleep; he bad scarce
~ fine to escape the flames. The gentlemen
found the spot described, and there IS no DOUBT
that these unfortunate people perisheu'
The boy above alluded to, who gave as MS
name John Freeman, is one oi the most gorgeous
imposters for his ago that can be fnund III this OF
ony other city. His real name Is joseph brown
Abuut eighteen months age. and he Is now Out
little over ten wears of age, he was tutorea ny q
notorious black thief at the Five Points, and
made such proficiency in his educatIou' that It
was deemrd unsafe to allow him any longer to
90 at large. and orders were given for his arrest.
| He eluIed apprehension some tine, but was D.
nally, in the course of the last summer. taken by
the watch and committed to BriJewell. Being
too Young to Justify his imprisonment he was
transferred 10 the Aims House. His mother had
also been an inmate Of that institution, and died
in the course Of the last summer vi the cholera.
| Joe conducted himself tu!eraby well during his
| residence in the Aims House. and his active
sprightly appearance recommended him to gen
tIsman at Staten Island, to whom he was bound
on the 9th Of April last as an apprentice by the
Commissioners. The gentleman took him home
With him, but in the course OF three or Tour days
he took advantage of his absence, broke open the
bureau drawers, and robbed the house. Previous.
~ 10 leaving the house, however, no person being
home but the children, who were intrusteI to his
care, he collected al! the eggs he could find IN
the tarn, which he broke and mixed up with
milk aad lampback, and with this composition
wantonly bcsmeared the children and left them
| lie male hi, way for this city, where. in cou-
pie of DAYS, he was again taken up by the watch,
detected IN differing and, again committed to
the Aims House.
| His fortune was now seemingly about to change:
Ia professional gentleman from the western part
uf the State, wanting rolored boy, went TO the
Alms-house about ten days after he was commit
ted, where he was iorcibIy struck With the inteit
ligent face of joe and instantly made an arrange
ment to have him bound, and carry him ho,nr.-
Whl,e at his lodging in this city, 10 which place
Joe was also taken. The arch little villain found
an opportunity TO abscond. with about t"entv live
dollars of the gentIeman's money. Nothing was
seen of J re unul SATURDAY. last, when he present
ed himself TO the COMMITTEES of relief with the
doleiul tale related in the Gazette. The appa-
rentlv sincere and artess manner with which he
told the story of his father and mother being burnt
gained fur him credenCe and sympathy. A sub
s,rptinn WAS taken up Tor his relief-the benevo-
lent Chairman OF the committee protested de
termination to take him home and provide tor
hm-and hundreds Of citizens from the kndest
of motives volunteered during Saturday and Sun
day 10 search the ruins for the bones OF his III.
fortunate parents. In the course OF the da,, Al.
derma, p ers, who is one Of the Com mssoners
Of the Aim. House. hearing Joe's story. and cross
questioning hm auuut it. took up an impression
tia, il was altogether fabulous; and SO it turned
out in the sequel, though not without consider
able pains to arrive at the truth of the matter
When Joe found himself detected and identified,
he made virtue of necessity and confessed the
impo,itiou he had practlsed. He states that al.
ter running away from the western gentleman he
took shelter with cUlored woman 10 29ih street
b, the name of Betty Ccxsackie, where be re-
NAMED until after the fire, when hearing from
the bows that those who were sufferers by it. had
money given to them, lie resolved to make an
appIicaton, and he concluded as he says, that
iii sufferers got money, those who were burnt
would get more" and accordingly went to the
committee with the melancholy tale above detail
ed. file is once more in the Aims House.
". T. Com.
Ope9uon Canal.-We have the pleasure to
announce to the people OF Berkeley, that Messrs.