Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-10
+" MACK ERELS."
Our Juvenile Thieves and Rob
bers-who They Are and
How They Live.
A House Of Correction Needed
Will the Authorities Move
in tho Matter2


The Memphis Mackerel, as our ju-
venile thieves are termed, enters into u
state Of Mackerel when about ten years
old. At sixteen he graduates as first
class robber, if not sooner checked by
the penitentiary. Our courts being
simply incentives to crime, the latter
experience seldom falls TO his lot. The
Maekerel is of no special nativity, though
generally Irish or American, with an
occasional sprinkle Of Cufy. Where he
lives has never been ascertained by the
police. When nabbed, he is either en-
route to till spotted for tapping, a crib
to be cracked, some store where general
work is to be done, or returning from an
exploit. He belongs to the not small
class who q" lie around loose, and like
Micawber, is always waiting for some
thing to Turn up" Whether he was
really born, or, like Topsey, "jes
growed," has never been satisfactorily
determined by an enlightened public
He is here-too many of him-and his
presence causes shopkeepers to closely
watch their doors and careful house.
wives to keep peeled eye on the
kitchen and pantry. For your Mackerel
doesn't contnet himself with lifting tills
and gobbling gewgaws. He cannot feed
on air; bread and cold meats must be we'll
hidden to escape his sharp eye when the
inner man cries "hash. The Mackerel is
not distinguished for the elegance of his
wardrobe, or immaculate linen. He gene
rally circulates in well worn garments,
ventilated by apertures from which
pocket handkerchief" numerously pro-
trude. His hat, when not shapeless
rag, is equally stylish; and we regret to
state that he seldom washes his face.
He and cold water quarreled years ago.
He has heard OF people being drowned
in aqueous fluid, and religiously avoids
it. But whisky has no terrors for young
Fra Diavolo; he takes it in as easily as
a well filled till. Whenever opportunity
offers he concesls large quantities of it
about his person. During eight months
of the year young Mackerel goes bare
foot. 1t is sometimes necessary for his
legs to give good account Of themselves,
and brogans seldom lend wings to fu-
gacity The remaining months find his
feet encased in castaway boots or shoes,
or bundled in rags after the fashion
of the red man of the forest, whom few
of our most gullble ronancers have dis
covered to be the noble savage" but
who is really "pizen cuss." These
young Fra Diavolos and Dick Turpins
give the police more trouble than older
rogues. Their depredations are gener-
ally of the more petty nature, although
sometimes they perform operations
cred;tabie to rasoals who have graduated
in every department of crime. This
city is infested with them, and the close
surveillance of half the entire police
force could not keep the young scamps
within bounds. Few Of them are sent tc
the penitentiary. The sentence is either
conf nement in the station house or ser
vice on the chain gang Neither punish
ment is productive Of salutary results
and upon the expiration of short sen
tence they are again turned loose on the
public. A house of correction, or some
other place of like character, should be
provided for them, where long sentences
can be worked out under strict superin'
tendence Three, four or six months
thus spent at hard labor, might con
vince many of these pests that 0
life of honesty is easier than one oil
crime. Not few could be reclaimed
by proper effort. AS matters now stand
scores of boys are being daily educated
in school from which they will sooner
or later emerge as criminals of the
blacklist dye. 1t is to be hoped that the
city authorities will bestow serious con
sideration upon Mayor LoAand's recon-
mendation to provide place of conine.
ment, with hard labor, for this class.
Something must be done with this
gigantic evil The safety of society
demands it. The plague itself is scarcely
more terrible than the pernicious inhu-
ence of these young criminals upon
children of their own age, whose ac-
quaintance they effect, and whom they
early induct into nearly every species Of
villainy. Let some action be taken.
MONEY To LOAN ON CeLLATERALs.-Ap-
ply to w. j. L., Insurance Agency, No.
% Madison street. 7
BURGLARIEs AND HoRsETHIEvIYG.-
The following operations have been
reported to police headquarters for the
twenty-four hours ended at noon TO day
=.,,-,l ort,oior of o1ofbipo uyara eiolon