The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-20
Youthful Criminals.



The N. Y. Herald. of the 10th, publishes the
following letter f.om its Philadelphia cores
pondent:
For some time past the police authorities of
this city have been troubled with q series of
complaints of petty thefts, burglsres and the
like, the perpetrators of which have carefully
avoided all detection. Houses would be robbed
and no one arrested. Rooms would be entered,
clothing, jewelry and silverware be stolen, and
no one arraigned. Indeed, the thefts would
occur so often and under such strange COM
plexity of circumstances, that, for a long time
past, the authorities have been entirely baff1ed.
Last evening, however, q young boy, John
Webster by name, entered o pawn-broker's
shop in the city, and, upon presentation of q
letter purperting to have been written by his
father, secured an advance of $50 upon gold
watch and chain, with Masonic saal attached
The character of the letter was SO peculiar
that it aroused somewhat the pawnbroker's
suspicious, which were confirmed when, after
watching the lad, he saw him dividing the
money with companion. Webster was ar
rested, and on his person was found $40 IS.
Upon subsequent investigation it was learned
that the other party was the thief and that
Webster had been simply 'disposing Of the
stolen property. Still later, through Webster's
talk, three other Juveniles were arrested, in
the possession OF whom were found many
stolen goods and pawn tickets calling for
various amounts. No sooner had the actual
condition of affairs been made known than the
Chief of the Police ordered Investigations to
be continued, while Webster himself gives to
your correspondent the following remarkable
history of his life:
REMARKABLE HISTORY.
1 am fifteen years old, and ran away from
home about ten weeks ago. had read Claude
Duval, Dick Tnrpin and other books of that
kind, and made up my mind to be highway
man. AS soon as left home took up quarters
in thieves den in Bedford street. Had read
q good deal about lassoing in Mexico, and
got rope and made it into the shape of q
i -. = A. ~
and began to practice with the rope. 1 very
soon became an expert, and could lasso the
stake three times out of every five. My idea,
as soon as became perfect, was to go on the
road and lasso men. In my thievipg l was
very lucky.
Imade two hundred dollars q week. want
ed to buy a horse, one that could run and jump
and lay over anything on the road. know q
young grill wont tell her other name, but
her first name is Fannie-she is just as old as
am-ffteeu years. She and were to be mar
I suppose all that little business is bursted up.
have been living with man named Fay.
Fourteen other fellows, just like ME, lived with
Fay, too. Fay is a rich man and owns big
place in Camden. Fay charged me and all the
other boys fifteen cents night. We ali usel
to take what we stole to his place. Had nov,
let sleep with our clothes on we all tnrued
in naked. When business was dull, all FAY
would give us to eat was bncketful of old
crusts scraps, etc, which he wonld throw into
an old box, and leave US alone to pickings.
You see, could change my appearance mighty
quick. This shirt of mine has three fronts-a
white one, blue one and red Que. can
change my hat and coat and shirt front
quick as lightning If l could have raised
enough to get horse I could have gone out
along the country roads that into the
town could have lassoed plenty of people,
and got lots of "swag." Pm most bothered be-
cause Fannie and me can't get married next
week.
The reader has above the boys story, just
he narrated it. Little Webster is young, bright
and intelligent, while he delivered his biogIa-
ply in the coolest, most nonchalent manner
imaginable. His history gave the police a new
wrinkle and at three o'clock this morning the
Chief, along with several of his best officers,
made a raid upon Fay's den. The place was
located on Water street, below Vine, and the
appearance of the police entirely uneN
pected. The place where the boys slept was
dirty cellar, dark, noisome and abominsble.
reeking with fon air, 6lled with fumes of
whisky, tobacco and decayed garbage, and
overr1n with every species of vermin. Like
FAgin of "oliver Twist" Fay was fonnd with
fourteen of his "sugels," and taken to the sta
ton house. He begged and pleaded 30 be let
go. demonstrating and insisting that the police
had no right to intrude, but all his prayers and
circumstances we're in vain.