Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-19
IL BlBY BURGLAR.
ONE OF SHERIFF MMULLEN's PROTE-
GEES HAS A RECORD.
He's But Thirteen, But Has Committed
Burglaries, Broken Jail and Must
Go to the Penitentiary.

About two weeks ago the Elk Grove
Postoffice and store of John Andrews was
robbed and thirteen year-old boy. who
gave his name as Willie Anderson, was
arrested for the crime. He was examined
before the Elk Grove Justice of the Peace
and held to answer the charge before the
Superior Court.
The boy, who is bright-faced, cheerful
lad, bearing few of the characteristics of
criminal, was brought to this city and con-
fined in the County Jail pending his trial.
By his cheerful manners he became quite
q favorite at the Jail, and friends advised
him to plead guilty to the charge, if he
were guilty, and thus benefit by light
sentence through the sympathy of the
Court for his tender age.
The youngster wisely accepted this
counsel and informed the District Attor-
ney of his intention to plead guilty. His
case was to have been disposed of the latter
part of this week.
But this is an off year for the generation
OF bright-faced criminals. who look not
what they are-at least young Anderson
thinks so now.
Sheriff McMullen received a communi-
cation yesterday from the authorities at
Visalia, containing description of pris-
oner who had escaped from the Jail at that
place several weeks ago. 1t seems that
five of them escaped at that time, but since
then all have been recaptured except one.
and this was the one described in the COM
munication. The Sheriff read the descrip-
ton and it nearly took his breath away
his bright-faced, CHEEKY young prisoner
fitted it exactly.
corted him into the Sheriff's private Office.
Upon being asked if he had ever been in
Visalia, the boy said he had. but only for
two or three days. He stoutly denied,
though. that he had ever been in Jail there,
or that he had escaped form any Jail.
Here, read this, said Sheriff McMullen,
handing the youngster the description.
Anderson read it carefully and changed
color. "Well,' he said, finally, handing
the paper back to the Sheriff, that's pretty
straight. Looks pretty bad. 1 guess it
must be me-"
The Sheriff said he guessed so. too, and
then importuned the boy to come out
openly and tell all about it.
The lad thought for while, and then
confessed everything. He told how he
and another prisoner 10 the Vlsalia Jail
had nicked an old case-knife until it an
swered the purposes of a saw, and how
they sawed away the iron window bars of
the Jail. He said he did not know how
many escaped besides himself.
There was one fellow went out ahead
OF me- he said, land after l got out l
never looked back to see how many fol-
lowed. just put across the country with
the fellow who went out first. We went to
Ernenn Hrcf av,1 L
there and coming up this way"
Young Anderson was convicted of burg
larry in Visalia and had been sentenced to
i've years imprisonment in the Peniten-
tlary. He was to have been taken to the
Penitentiary on the very day that he es-
capped.
II told them at the Jail the day before we
escaped that they had better hurry up
about taking me to State Prison, or they
wouldn't get chance to take me at ALL"
said the youth, rather boastingly.
Sheriff McMullen has telegraphed to the
authorities at Visalia and an officer will
be here in day or two after the youthful
criminal
District Attorney Bruner was informed
OF Anderson's confession by RECORD
UNION reporter and asked what disposition
was to be made of the Elk Grove charge.
Mr.. Bruner replied that he could give no
positive answer just yet. "Of course" said
he, I'VE can sentence him here, too, and
the Atence can be made to follow right
on ate, the other one expires. But, owing
to the prisoners youth, should think the
five-year sentence ought to be enough. If
he has any disposition to reform and re-
nounce his evil ways, he can make up his
mind to do so in that time. But this is
only my opinion. l don't know how the
Court will look at it'"'
The boy says that his true name is John
Jones'