Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-03-18
JUVENILE TOUCHS.
A Young Philadelphia Boy Killed
by Youthful White Caps.
CHILDREN TERRoRIzED BY GANGS.

Demoralizing Organizations That Rule the
Children of North rhiIadeIphia-An In
offensive Bny Beaten to Death-Five
Youngsters Arrested Suspicion.
PHILADELPHIA, March 1S.-Three rival
gangs of Juvenile toughs that frequent
the vicinity of Lawrence, Third, Cams
bria and Fourth streets in this town are
engaged in continual warfare. They are
known as the .'Lawr ence-streeters. the
.Somersets'' and the white Caps. "
The 'Lawrence-streeters" were formerly
one gang. but they split last summer.
The white Caps are more power
full than either of the other crowds, and
they are terror to the neighborhood.
''Sleepy" Donohue is their leader. He is
a tall, slim boy about 10 years old, and
his right name is Thomas. He is the
commander of about twenty-five hard
ened boys. They are mostly sons of re-
spectacle parents, and have been influ-
epced by reading trashy literature of the
half dime novel order They had meet
ing places on empty lots, where they had
dug caves.
Last Thursday night week ago about
twenty of Sleepy" Donohues gang
started out TO find the Lawrence
streeters." There were only eight of
them, and the white Caps" intended to
capture them. When they reached Law
renee and Cambria streets they met
Johnnie Humphries and Harry Beer
halter, who lives next door, at 2951 Law
renee street. The two boys were too lit
tie to take part in any of the fights, but
the White Caps" knew that they could
tell them where the Lawrence streeters"
lived. They intented to lay in wait for
them in front of their houses and cap
ture them as they came out after supper.
The ''White" Caps surrounded Humph-
ries and asked him to tell them where the
Lawrence streeters" lived. He was too
frightened to speak. One of the biggest
boys in the party knocked him down.
Young Beerhalter ran away and watched
them from safe distance.
He says that the boys started to take
off the childs clothing. They said they
would strip him and give him switch
ing, just like the Ohio White Caps
treated their prisoners. Little Humphries
screamed with terror as they pulled off
his coat While he was struggling with
his captors big boy jumped on him.
Then another fell on him. Before they
could kill him outright some one shouted
Police and the White Caps fed. The
boy picked himself up and went back to
his home
He did not tell his parents, but went
directly to bed. About midnight he was
taken very sick. He raved and cried
piteously, Don't let them kill me!
Those boys are after me!' A doctor was
ollled. He said the child had congestion
of the brain. brought ON by severe in
jury to the back of the head.
Five boys were arrested on suspicion
and given a hearing on Friday before
Magistrate Hackctt and held nnder S400
bail each for further hearing. About
IL o'clock yesterday morning Officer
Flood discovered that Young Humphries
was dead. He had died nearly twelve
hours before. SLEEPY Donohue and
the Salmon brothers were arrested. The
inquest will probably be held today.
On the same night the Humphries was
brutally beaten, the white Caps" at
tackled George Sheely and "stood him
up. They went through his pockets
and then knocked him senseless with q
blackjack.