The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-09-14
idaho WORLD.
.wHo STOLE THE PURsEi"
! szrrcH rnox cas- sorn BooE or PRISON czApIAIs

vile is not guilty of the crime laid to
4 his charge. The experience of years,
in one of the largest prisons in Eng
land, proves that considerable per-
centage suffer unjustly. Give dog a
bad name and the whole city is in arms
against him, and he is hunted to des-
peration or death. Circumstantial evi.
dence alone lis dangerous theory to
convict upon in criminal cases, as the
following sketch will clearly illustrate
Il In 1869, pale faced, emaciated, but
intelligent-looking boy of fourteenyears
Of age was charged with having stolen
q sum Of money from the shop OF his
employer. The poor little fellow was
in the deepest distress, aud felt keenly
the degradation Of standing in the fell
on's dock
What's your name?" asked the
magistrate. =
With faltering tone he sobbed out
his name, which, however, was not
caught by the bench. The officious po-
lice officer roared out in tone which
made the poor little fellow shake in his
shoes, Don't be snivelling, you young
rascal, but hold up your head and all
swer his honor. Tell him what's your
name"
Harry Esmonde," said the boy hum
bly,.
"yvherc do you live?"
In Jerry Hill street, Toxteth Park.
sir"
Now, Mr.. Stubs, what is the case"
said the magistrate with some interest.
"The old story, your honor" replied
the clerk, ratherfam.liarly. "Thievihg.
He's stolen a purse containing over
twenty pounds and wont give any ac-
count of it."
where are the witnesses~
Here, your honor. The gentleman
who lost the money and the boys en-
ployer."
go on with the case"
The boys master stood forward, and
after swearing upon the book, proceed
ed to state the case lie was a keen
featured man, love of gain stamping
his manner and acts with shrrwdness
and selfsulficiency. He grasped the
rail of the wItness-box with firmness
which showed his self-possession and
determination to have the accused
made an example of for the whole fra
ternity of shop boys.
With a pompous tone he thus stated
the case: This gentleman came into
my shop, your honor, to purchase some
goods He paid me the sum Of four,
eighteen, six, ordered the parcel to be
sent home, and left the shop; but in
the course of ten minutes returned for
his pocket-boek, which he missed, and
was confident that he had forgot it on
my counter. The boy, Harry, had hcen
with me but few weeks, and re- /
marked that he hurried away out of
the shop Immediately, and did not
lay my eyes on him for three days af-
forwards. There was no one in the
shop at the time but Harry and my
self. The pocket-bOok was gone, and
no one in the world would suppose
stole it. This lad must have stole it,
for he can't or won't give any account
of it. verify believe he is an incor-
rigible young thief and vagabond He
is one of those "street arabs" whom
took out of charity and set to work,
and this is the return he makes me- He
was poor, naked little beggar, whom
I clothed and fed, and he thus adds in
gratitude to his villainy."
"a Is that all, sir?"
eyes, your honor hope you will
give him at least five years to a Re-
formatory. t" teach other shop-lads not
to rob their employers"
The owner of the lost purse then
stated that the shopkeeper's evidence
was correct. He had lost over twenty
pounds in the way described-and he
saw no one in the shop but this boy
and his master, and the lad had made
his escape before he returned to tell his
loss. He was quite positive he had
not lifted the purse, for he remembered
distinctly where he laid it upon the
counter, near where this boy was tying
up the parcel of goods. He had not
the least doubt in the world that he
had stolen it, and made off with it dur. ;