The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-01-01
YOUTHFUL DEPRAvITY.
what Cheap Literature Has Accom-
plished in Phiiad 81 phia.

The subioined account. from Philadel-
phia paper. points a moral, which should
not be without effect. The cheap litera-
ture of the age Is doing much TO ill the
prisons;
For some time past the police authorize,
of this city have been troubled with "A
series Of complaints of petty thefts, bur-
garies and the like, the perpetrators of
which have carefully avoided all detection.
Houses would be robbed. and no one ar
rested. Rooms would be entered, clothing,
iewclry aud silyerware be stolen. and no
one arraigned. Indeed, the thefts would
occur so often. and under such strange
completely of circumstances, that for "a
long time past the authorities have been
entirely baiiled. Last evening. however,
a young boy. John Webster BY name, en-
tered pawnbroker's shop in the city, and
upon presentation Of letter purporting to
have been written by his father, secured
an advance of $50 upon gold watch and
chain with Masonic seal attached. The
character OF che letter was so peculiar that
il aroused somewhat the pawnbroker's sus-
picions. which were confirmed when. at
Ter watching the lad, he saw him dividing
the money with a companion. Webster
was arrested, and on his person was found
$40 80. Upon subsequent investigation IL
was learned that the other party was the
thief. and that Webster had be n 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 cilling for various
amounts. No sooner had the actual con-
dltiOn OF affairs been made known than the
Chief of Police ordered Investigations to
be continued, while. Webster himself gives
TO your correspondent the following re-
markable history OF his life:
REMARK ABLE STORY.
lam fifteen years old, and ran away
from home about ten weeks ago. | had
read Claude Duval, Dick Turpn and other
books of that kind. and made up my mind
1 TO be highwayman As soon as | left
home took up quarters in a thieves den
in Bedford Street. Had read a good deal
about lassoing in Mexico, and got a rope
and made il in the shape of lasso. L
then put up a stake in the back yard and
began to practice with the rope. l very
soon became an expert. and could lasso
the stake three times out of every five.
NV idea, as soon a. | became perfect, was
TO go on the road and lasso men. In my
theving ! was very lucky Imade two
hundred dollars week. | wanted 10 buy
horse, one that could run and jump and
lay over any thing on the road. | knew a
young GIRL won't tell her other name.
but her first name l. Fannie-shc is just
as old as | am, fifteen years. She and l
were to be married next week but I've
been pulled now, and | suppose all that
| little business is bursted up. | have been
living with a man named Fay. Fourteen
other fellows just like me lived with Fay
too. Fay is rich man and owns a big
place i'm Camden Fay charged me and
all the other boys fifteen cents night.
We all used To take what we stole TO his
place. He'd never let us sleep with our
clothes on; we all turned in naked.
When business was dull all Fay would
give us TO eat was buoketful ofold crusts.
scraps, ETC., which he would throw into
an old box and leave us alone to our pick
insg.
You see, could chance my appearance
mighty quick. Tnis shirt of mine has
three fronts-a white one. blue one and
a red one. | can change my hat and coat
and shirt front as quick as lightning. II
| could have raised enough to get horse
! could have gone out along the country
roads that run into the town; could have
lassoed plenty OF people, and got lots Of
"swag." I'm most bothered because Fan
ME and me can't get married next week.
FAY ARRESTED.
The reader has above the boys story
Just as he narrated il. Little Webster Is
young. bright and intelligent, while he de-
livered his biography in the coolest. most
nonchalant manner imaginable. His his
tory gave the police a new wrinkle, and ut
three O'Clock this morning the chief. along
will 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 was entirely
fol lac. ale..aa hnFa ftA
slept was dirty cellar. dark, noisome and
abominable, reeking with foul air, filled
with fumes of whisky, tobacco and decay
ing garbage and overrun with every
species of vermin. Like Fagin Of" Oliver
Twist Fay was found with fourteen Of
his "angels" and taken To the station
house. He begged and pleaded to be let
go. demonstrating and insisting that the
police had no right to intrude. but all his
prayers and rernonstrances were In vain.
ANOTHER DEN CLEANED OUT.
The police also made another raid upon
a similar den on Water Street. above Arch,
where five boys were found under the
guardianship of man named Kelly.
These were also arrested. Buckets full Of
trinkets and jcwelry were found, along
with many stolen goods, a great part OF
which has been already identified. There
were found numerous cases of juvenile de-
pravity. so startling as to seem almost In
credible.
Kelley and Fay had hearings before the
alderman this afternoon and both were
held under very heavy bail. Since the ar
rest of the young thieves many burglarles
hitherto inexplicable have been explained.
Young Webster. from lying around old
Fay's den. was covered with vermin. bat
since his arrest has been cleaned and has
become quite penitcnt. Though only NJ
teen years old. he Is quite disciple Of the
{" tender passion. and says that II they'll