The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-06
ALLEGED YOUTHFUL CRIMISALlTY.

Inssorious Career Of Youth Of Nineteen
He Learns the Drag Business and VIE
timixes Drussisss Employing Him-A Chap
tor Of Criminal Charges.
Crimfnality In our great city and oil tho deeper
ana darker Developments OF It's curious phases pre-
SCENTS few chapters revealing more hardened and
obdurate persistency in . career Of wrong doing,
and particularly by youth only nineteen years old,
than was shown In q case coming yesterday amer.
noon before Judge Kelly at the Tombs Police Court
The following are the alleged facts which we give In
an epitomized form, and which tell their own story
and point their own unmistakable moral
william Rafferty, alias william Stanley, alias Har-
~ Howard-and these are said to be but the begin
ming Of his heightened catalogue OF alases-is the
adjoining subject OF our present sketch. His
genteel appearance, ingenuousness OF counte-
nance, sprightly intelligence and general prepOs-
sessng style Of bearing and manners stood forth
most deceptivey in his favor. The immediate cause
complaint Of Mr.. Lewis @. Thomas, druggist, at No.
t02 Grand street, charging him with stealing from
Mr. Thomas sets forth in his af1davit that he EN-
pOyed the accused as clerk in his drug store just
week previous to the theft Of the money. The &C
cused occupied room with him over the store.
the store went to bed as usual. In the morning
missing and with him $3.50 taken from the money
drawer OF his store. The key to this money drawer
was in Mr.. Thomas pantaloons pocket and the key
to the store was hanging on pillar In the hallway.
Since that time Mr. Thomas, wherever he might be-
in the streets at places OF amusement, at church, In
cars or OmnibuseA has Kept pretty watchfM look
out In the hope OF setting eyes his missing clerk
whom the circumstances as Just stated indicated
very concnsively as the one ro . nm' Coming
morning his eyes encountered the for OBJ
ect OF his search He knew him at once An nctpient
mnstache now adorned his upper LIP; but TINS ana
different style OF dress could not prevent qucik de-
lection Of his features ana the very expression OF his
eyes, SO indelliby photographed on the memory OF
Thomas n
ing walk that would have identified him II nothing
else Making no snow OF recognition Mr.. Thomas
passed on q few steps, and then turned about and
began following him. He kept safely In his wake
following him round through Duane street and
street. when he encountered oficer Lenox. Of the
Sixth precinct the first policeman he had met since
he entered on his piping Lay, anu ut once had hun
''What does this mean ~ asked the young man.
with mingled look Of affected astonishment and
"rn explain 1t to you," spoke up Mr.. Thomas,
looking him straight In the eye. "Don't you know
'.No, sir. Who do you take me fora"
civilian Stanley 1.-THE name under which he hired
himself TO Mi. Thomasl. for short time my clerk
'Don't know anything about you or your drug
store. NV name Is William Rafferty,"
II know you and win soon prove who you are
make clean breast Of it at once"
''We then, confess 1t. You have got me In tight
ofacer ana Mr. Thomas. He not only took the thing
quite cOolly, but became very chatly.
ut 10 very singular l havn't met you bef0re'' re-
marked MIR. Thomas.
mot at all, answered the prisoner, 81 went on
little pleasure travelling tour after that affair at
some place, and have kept pretty shady since l
came back. The fact Is there others here have
as good cause for not wanting to see as yourself"
II shouldn't thought you would have ventured
back here at all"
western towns are stupid-New York is the only
1t Is unnecessary to pursue the Dialogue On being
brought into court he seemed at first utterly inder
ent to the position In which he was placed: He con-
fessed his guilt TO the Judge but on his formal
animation, after the reading Of Mr.. Thomas affida-
Wit, enbodying the charges against him, he became
more strategic andcautious, and said heihad nothing
to say. He gave his name also as William Rafferty,.
and birthplace Pennsylvania very possibly for the
hasiy in making the conessions he e' had and taat
this name would appear better on the written
records bearing hs signature. He was at once COM
mtted in default Of 900 ball. to answer the charge
preferred against him.
After the prisoner had been conveyed to his cell
Mr.. Thomas enteSed upon narrative OF his antece-
dent history as far ne had been able gather the
details. AS already stated the prisoner hired to MIN
under the name OF VIM. Stanley. Mr. Thomas adver-
used for drug clerk and the prisoner appeared In
response to this advertisement He said he born
In Carbonate. Pa and had been only three days IN
the city in the week that no continued his duties
clerk ne showed himself very attentive, as well as
capable. and not only won the confidence OF Mr..
they boarded, the former Of whom was present at
court, by the way, yesterday, and recognized the
prisoaer: Setting about his inquiries he ascer-
tanned that his decalnping clerk was born in
this city. few months before he employed
him he was engaged as clerk at the drug store Of
Mr.. q. f. Minor, No. 1913 Greenwich street. He
stayed here but a short time when he was caught
stealing, and discharged, his youth saving him from
prosecution. He was next employed at the drug
being caught peculating his stay was likewise OF
short duration. Next he turned up as clerk In the
drug store Of M. +. Robinson, No. 232 Greenwich
street. He staid mere but . short time when he
fegned sickness and left One OF the clerks met him
the street looking r0Eustly hearty, and that night
the store was ROBBED by burglars. At this time
well before and since, according to MIR. Thomas
statements he was connected with gang of thieves
and burglars, among whom he was known by the
IIurr uraard