The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-09-06
AN INFANTILE BURGLAR
A Little Milwaukee Boy With a
Remarkable Record of House
: Breaking.

If there ever was an incorrigible boy
tits little Johnnie Mclaughlin, whose
conscience didn't disturb his slumbers
any more than did the hardness of the
plank on which he slept in cell Of the
Central Police Station last night. De-
tectives Hannifin and Baldwick placed
him there, and it was about the tenth
time that the little shaver had peered
out through a greeting of that kind.
Little Johnny is eleven years old, but
his size and general appearance make
him appear about s. He is as keen as
the edge of a razor, and has the mis-
chievous spirit of half a hundred
boys compressed into his little body.
Last night he had companion three
years older than himself-Thomas Cody
who is accused of having aided him
to rob.
On Tuesday little Johnnie McLaugh-
lin heard that a spinster named Miss
CaIharine Farrell, who lives at $50
Broadway, had fallen heir to $500 or had
obtained that sum of money from some
other source. He at once planned to get
the cash and have good time with it,
and prevailed upon young Cody to help
him out. SO they repaired to Miss Far
rell's house. Johnnie opened a window
and, according to his own vernacular,
boosted" his companion through it.
The youthful crook ransacked the
house and succeeded in finding a poe
textbook containing $37. He took the
money and replaced the pocket-book
where he had found it. Then the boys
proceeded to have glorious time, re-
CARELESS of expenses. They hired livery
oh ~ houn oT,H 0f "a
spent the each until the detectives took
them in. They had less than S. of the
money left.
Young Johnnie has had an interest
ing career. When nine years old
burglary on the west side was traced to
him, as he tried to dispose of the stolen
goods at pawnshop. On account of
his youthful appearance the pawn
broker refused to rec i've the goods,
whereGpoa the little genius went out
and returned with an order from his
father subsequently ascertained to
have been written by himself). This
resulted in the arrest of both, tut after
a nights Imprisonment the boy con-
fessed.
Next day it was proposed to have the
boy committed to the industrial school,
but Judge Mallory was out of town, and
80 he was transferred to the county
Jail to await the Judges arrival. While
tt g jailer was showing visitors through
the jail Johnnie watched his oppor-
tunity, q1ietly passed through the
door and made good his escape. For
three months the officers we're unable to
get trace of him. Then, one day, they
ascertained that he had returned to his
home, in the rear of st.
Calls Church, and surprised the
diminitive fueitive from justice.
When the officers walked into
the room little 9-year- old Johnnie sat
on chair with his feet cooked up On a
table and industriously smoking a
cigarette. The next day Judge Mallory
sent him out to the industrial school
week after this that Detective Hanni6n
was walking up Grand avenue.
"Shine, sir 2" said q piping voice in
the doorway.
The officer was staggered. There
was the identical little chap who but
few days before had been sent out to
the reform school.
"Why," said he in surprise, "how
did you manage to get awayY"
"Easy enough nc trick at all, }" was
the reply. in tone of lofty indiffer-
ence, SIS though breaking jail and es-
Gaping from the guards of the indus
trial school were an everyday sort of
affair.
the officer allowed Johnnie to take
advantage of his runaway propensities,
but it was only short time thereafter
that he got into trouble again, this
time for stealing watch. and since
then he has been getting into trouble |
similarly irregular Observation-Disclosures
kee Sentinel.