Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-10
A Warning to Parents.
New York Times

There seems to be little use in bewaIlinr the
circulatlon OF vicious juvenile literature OF the
highway man type. Every Intelligent man ad-
mltS that IL does a frightful amount OF harm
among boys, but no one takes any effective StpD
10 check It's circulation. The story which
teaches boys that robbery stealing lying DrO
family and drunkenness are manly and noble
sports does not offend against any existing
statute, and Mr.. COmStOck cannot interfpr2
win IT'S circulation 1t is clear that if this evil
is TO be checked, our laws must be amended.
ana IL Is 10 be hoped that the recent painful In
cldent IN North Adams, Mass. which is directly
tIaceaDie 10 the influence of demoralizing 1uve-
nile literature Will arouse public indignation
which VIII lead 10 substantial results
Inc TWO DOyS who are now eXpiating their
crime In the North Adams Jail in brown paper
and sweet oil. TO wit, Master Charles Briggs and
Master James PluDkett, are both under fifta,n
years or age. IL is known that for the last two
years they have been In the constant habit OF
and other story papers of like reprehensible
character. Mr.. Danforth, the teacher of the
LaneSbOro boarding school. which these bows
attended. teStif1eS that they established an un-
foreground railway by which reams OF
p1ratfcal literature were Struggled into
the school, and that they openly con-
Iessed that they had rather read the Desperate
S'isdu-Oogs than solve the most attractive prob
lem IN fractions, or bound the most abStrlls =,
south American Republic. The natural result
was tnat week ago they ran away. There
was nothing TO hinder them from walking down
stairs and going out through the front door
but they preferred 10 tear their sheets into srros
ana with the help OF ropes thus extempaorized,
10 lower themselves from the window. Their
subsequent adventures are set forth In their
toint confession made to Esquire Hickock. of
North Adams, and will be painfully suggestive
10 any active fathers who may read IT.
1t appears th3t, after much debate as to what
particular held or crime they should cultivate
me boys decided TO become plumbers Ii may
seem Incredible that the sons OF Christian pa
rents, educated amid the wholesome influences
or The WelLknoWn LaneSbOrO' school should
pe capable OF entering upon so shameless and
wicked a career; but such is the consequence
OF the constant reading OF vicious literature
masters Briggs and PllInkett found much
Gunculty Ia obtaining the necessary tools
Ior the prosecution of the plumbers ne
Bile and law abiding mechanic viii make or sell
them. IL Is believed that the boys must have
MADE the acquaintance OF some member Of the
sang OF plumbers that has 50 long infested
western Massachusetts,, and that they were
supplied with tools by him. Al any rate. they
succeeded In obtaining portable furnace two
pans Oh gas longs, two soldering irons, and
supply OF solder. These they concealed in their
mattresses until the day. or rather the night
OF lnelr escape, and, or course they took them
WIZ h them WI wnen they fed from the school.
AS ootn Ihe boys lived, when they We're not
at school. at North Adams they endaayored ~
Daie pursuit by taking the road from I,anesbor0
10 South Adams ThPv walked RAPIDLY dnring
One night, and al about O'Clock In The morning
they began Operations Approaching h.ioise
ia the outskirts OF South ADAMS, they concealed
themselves until the man OF the house had gone
10 his work. They then boldly catered the
house, and confronting the mans wife. in
ioIIne9 her that they were plumbers and in
tended TO put the kitchen boiler In order.
Inc terrified Worpan made no resistance,
and the young criminals went into the
kitchen aud severed the connection be-
M .H, poliGr ana tne range. Master Briggs
ih< - -, Ie would have 10 go TO
1nOp for tools, ard accordingly departed,
leaving her under the guard OF Master PiunSett.
Al hour later he returned, having spent tbs
the IN selecting other houses in Which to CO..
sumInate plumbing outrages. The boys then
replaced the boiler, scattered q great Zeal of
melted solder. and made out Oill In which 81
was Charged for repairing the boiler, 81 for their
time $50 for materials, and g for the Job.
This bill, amounting 10 all TO $3.50 was maid
by their victim, and they then departed. eXuIr-
ing over the success or their first crime.
Seven other houses were visited by these des.
pefadoeS, and their booty amounted TO nearly
seventy dollars. AZ the seventh house. how
ever, they were oyeTtaken by Justice A report
that two Young. but peculiarly bold and rack-
less PLUMBERS were devastating South Adams
reached the authorities or North Adams. and
came 10 the knowledge of the parents OF the
boys. IL was Immediately suspected thai the
two boys who had Just run away from the
IanesDoro school were the rufIians In question
and strong force or police was immediately
sent TO the scene OF their depredatlons The
TWO juvenile plumbers were surrounded in the
while they were in the very act OF Knocking
holes liz his bath-tub, and were ex
erclSfng n brutal terrorism over the FoJts
family. TIE boys were taken to North Adams
and securely lodged In the jail, where, after an
interview with their parents who are excep
tlonally athletic men, they made a confession
but without showing any signs OF penitence
Apparently, they have no conception OF tn
enormity OF their crime, and IL Is feared that II
they are released they will seize the first oppor
tun1ty TO resume the infamous career which tht
police fortunately interrupted.
Such an Illustration OF the results Of reading
VICIOUS ntei allure ought 10 arouse all parents
anu phllanthropistS 10 a determined effort &c
stamp cut the defaoralizfng publications which
eedcn our children TO regard robbers and plumb