Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-18

well known to the readers OF, the
LEDGER, again figures before tn,
public in the role of grand larcenist
He is only about eleven years of age
and during the last three years has
been arrested and incarcerated not
less than a dozen times, thus begin.
ming his career of crime at the tender
age of eight years.
HIS FIRST CRIME.
During the fall of 1877 he obtained
a toy pistol in some way, and falling
into a dispute with one of his associ-
ates, a little negro two years older
than himself, shot him in some Aeshy
part, iniicting a painful but not dan.
gerous wound; hen adding insult to
injury, by cursing his victim after he
had shot him, He was arrested, but
discharged for want of prosecution.
PrLFERING FROM THE DEAD.
In 1873, when many houses were
left entirely without protection, when
the dead and dying lay alone and un
attended, he found a.rich field for his
operations. Cellar windows we're
prieG open, back doors pried off their
hinges, and after pilfering what most
pleased his fancy, the doors left open
to the access of every chance thief.
The police were unable to do anything
in the part Of the city infested by
him. Several times he was arrested,
but each time escaped punishment on
account Of his tender age. During
this time he broke into Wetter's hard
ware store, stealing among other
things a pair Of futing irons. To
these poor Tim Hope fell heir, which
accounts for the ~gorgeously rufled
shirt fronts the fine old fellow used to
display SO profusely.l
A sCURvY TRICK.
One day a countryman complained
to the police that some one had cut
every strap of the harness from his
horse as he stood hitched in an alley
way, and that he had no means
Of hauling his wagon home, matters
being made worse by the fact that his
wife had entrusted him with the pur-
chase Of a new bonnet, which he was
afraid would go out Of fashion before
he got home. Inquiries we're made
and the authorship of the lout's
troubles traced to the omniscient
Fitzsimmons. The countryman could
not stay to prosecute and Charlie es-
capped once more.
HOW HE SPENT IT.
He was next arrested at the instance
Of his mother, who charged him with
stealing five dollars from her. On.
searching his pockets a quantity of
marbles were found, and an harmoni-
GUS mouth organ, with silver bell at
tached, for which he gave a dollar and
a half. He spent the remainder for a
bunch Of bananas. On this occasion
his mother declined to prosecute, and
he was once more turned loose on the
community. On several other occa-
sions he has been wanted" by the
police for various petit larcenies, such
as stealing chickens, flowers, tools,
and in truth, anything he
could lay hands on, but now
is in a more serious trouble than any.
Locked up for
STEALING A GOLD WATCH AND CHAIN.
About a week ago, Mr.. j. II. Pur-
nell, studying medicine with his
uncle, DR.. Purnell, at 1877 Main street,
missed a fine gold watch from his desk
drawer. On making a round of the
paw nbroker shops, Mr.. Purnell dis
covered that the watch had been Of
fered for sale at two places by Charlie
Fitzsimmons. AT one of them he had
traded about half the chain for a steel
watch key, but was unable to sell or
pawn the watch at either. Captain
Davis was notified, and the boy, when
arrested, made a full confession. The
watch had heen sold to a negro cook,
employed on the steamer Batesville,
named Jessie McDayitt, who had paid
one dollar for it. McDavitt had sold
it to Manuel Boyd, a brother cook, at
a profit of one dollar. Both were ar
rested on a charge Of buying and re-
ceiving stolen goods. The accom-
plished little thief bears them
company, and should be dealt with
severely. He has been, for years, a
constant annoyance to the police and
the terror Of every neighborhood in
which he has lived. He has stolen
everything but a brickyard and an
elephant, and if allowed to go on, he
will take them in next.
Sewer %connections made in tha host