Daily globe., 1879-04-04
PETTY THIEVING.
A Pitiable Scene In Judge Fllnt's Court
Yasterday-A Sad Story of Youthful De-
prAvity.

A Pitiable Scene In Judge FlInt's Court
Yasterilay-A Sad Story Of Youthful De-
pravity.
The sceno presented at the municipal police
court yesterday morning was pitiable in the
extreme, and the facts developed were sad
commentary ON the system that partially in
vites the commission of petty misdemeanora
by children who in most instances, have
scarcely reached their teens. The oulprit was
a fresh faced mulatto girl about fourteen years
of age, who tremblingly acknowledged the
crime with which she stood accused, which
consisted in having pilfered few valueless
trinkets from Insersolls dry goods store,
Bridge Square. The girls story revealed an
extent of Juvenile depravity that is absolutely
shocking. not as pertaining to herself particu-
larily, but as having reference to the manner in
which even younger children yield to the
temptation SO oarelessly presented for stealing
whatever may come within their reach.
Resting her head on the railing that surrou ads
the clerks desk in order to hide her shame, and
in q voice choked with emotion, she told how
she had entered the store for the purpose OF
looking at the goods, and becoming dazzled
with the profusion of bright things first seized
piece of ribbon, then growing emboldened
strove to possess few gaudy trinkets, when she
was caught in the act and arrested. The girl
told straightforward story. her frame
convulsed with mingled fear and grief
The trinkets were there, a few dimes worth
in all, and considering that it was her first Of
fence. and her tender age, the court felt dis
posed to be lenient, and after portraying the
enormity of the crime and it's dread conse-
quences if repeated, in tones that were re-
markable for their sense of duty and almost
pathetic tenderness, the upright court ordered
her discharge in bonds for future good be-
havior.
The extent to which petty thieving is carried
| on by mere children as revealed in the girl
story to the clerk, and as related by Mr. Inger-
! aoll to Q GLOBE representative subsequently,
| is far greater than the general public has any
idea Of When asked by the clerk how she wal
led to take other peoples property, she replied
| that the example had been set by other coloreC
| girls few weeks since who displayed trinkett
that had been abstracted from store counters
| while the clerks were not looking. The names
| of the girls were given, and the most remarka
BILE fact about the affair is that none of the cul
prits are over II years of age. In conversation
with the GLOBE man Mr.. Ingersoll stated tha
be had been subjected to so many petty annoy
ances of the kind under description that he hac
about made up his mind to prosecute to tn
full extent of the law all future Offenders
was further learned that notion and fame,
goods dealers throughout the city are constant
ly annoyed by these petty depredations whicl
are almost invariably committed by children
who are generally let off without punishmen
on account of their tender years or the inhu
ence of their parents.
That a screw is loose somewhere, either il
the home treatment of such children, or in tht
unwarranted temptations offered as premium
| for the commission of the offenses alluded to
| there can be 10 cause for doubt, and the para
mount consequence of the question is such a
| to command the attention of humanitarian
who employ their efforts on the solution o
matters of far inferior Importance.