Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-24
HOW BE WORRIED IT.

A Young Thief Goes Through an OIL
GERS Ststeroom on the Steamship
gate City''-Caught with the Plum
der.
TIE Boston steamship Gate City, which
arrived in port yes erday morning, had on
board a case of depravity in Storage
passenger, named Joseph MOriarity, lad
about 10 years old. that is seldom equaled
The boy went aboard the ship in Boston
In company with another lad of about the
same age. and with one other passenger
made up the steerage list.
The weather was cold, and the boys
were allowed by Chef Engineer Penning-
ton TO remain in the engine room, where
they staid during nearly the entire trip.
Some time after the vessel had arrived
the engineer had occasion 10 open the
deck in his stateroom on the main deck
to set some money which he placed there
with n number Of articles, which he
had taken from his pockets. To his sur
prise the money was missing. A search
through the desk also revealed the
loss OF silk pocket handkerchief
and quantity OF cigars and tobacco.
tie was unable for some time to account
for the loss, but finally, after thinking the
matter over, his suspicious rested upon
m,ssing was somewhere between $50 and
$50. allIn bills, with the exception Of a
silver half-dOllar. lie Immediately came
up 20 the city and placed the case in the
hands OF Officer WetherhOTn. The boy
was foand in a short time with about SIG
in his possession. be had in his pocket
a handsome silk handkerchief which the
engineer at once identified. He was
taken 70 the Office OF Magistrate War
ing Russell, Ir., and upon being
charged With the theft stOutly denied IT,.
lie said the handkerchief and the hal!
dollar IN silver we're given him by bis
companion, who had gone to WaycrOss.
The SIG he claimed TO have had left
after buying his through ticket in ooston.
When charged with stealing the money
he burst into tears. and excited the synI-
patty Of the engineer, so that for d time
be healtated 10 prose cute him. Upon be-
ing closely questioned by the officer, who
charged him directly with having taken
the money from the staterOom, he CON-
milted himself several times. lie first
said he earned money in Boston, where
be worked in a shoe shop, and
Bnaiiy admitted that he stole it
from his father and had run away from
home. The officer followed up his ques-
tiOning and the boy finally, after having
stOutly denied it dozen or more times.
admitted that he received the money from
his companion, who stole it from the en-
gineer's room, and that he watched the
door while his companion was rummag-
ING the desk. This fastened the guilt up
on him, although it was apparent to the
officer that his companion had very little
to do with the stealing, and that MOriari-
" had worked the game himself
and cot lie li0n's snare. After
arriving in the city yesterday
he speut a part of the money in buying
fruit and cigarettes and laid IN stock oil
candy and other stuff, amounting in all,
with what he had left, to about the
amount missing from the engineer's desk.
The tobacco and cigars he had disposed
o. 70 a sailor on the ship. After admit
ting his guilt and while in the Magistrate's
office he attempted 10 conceal part OF
the sic In the lining OF his cap, but the
officer was too quick for MIN, and detected
HIM in the act. The theft being CON-
mitted on the high seas, the matter was
beyond the jurisdiction Of the Justices
court, and, after turning over the $40 and
the handkerchief to their rightful owner,
the boy was turned loose with 3 few words
of warning aud ADVICE tnat will probably
last him for long time to come.