New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-08
FOUR DARING BOY BURGLARS.
THEY ROB A STORE OPPOSITE POLICE
STATION
1T WAS EARLY EVENING AND PATRoLMEN WE'RE
PASSING ACROSS THE STREET.-THE
YOUNGEST PRISONER NINE
YEARS OLD.

The Mercer-st. police station last night contained
four young prisoners, who, with a few years expert
ence, promise TO become past masters in the art Of
burglary. In daring and GOODNESS they could give
points TO some OF the most famous crooks" whose
portraits adon Inspector Byrness gallery The names
Of the youthful burglars Julius Liederman thirteen
years old, Of Ten Eyck-st., Brooklyn William Crowley
thirteen years old, OF No. SIT East Fourteenthst. ,
John Dooley nine Old OF No 533 East Fifteenth
st., and John Murphy, twelve years old, of No. $50
East Sxteenth-st. In the early evening yesterday
when the daylight had not yet faded, and under the
very Of the police Of the Fifteenth Precinct these
four boys succeeded in breaking open ockedup store
and stealing quantity Of valuable property.
The circumstances OF the robbery go to show that
the juvenile gang had mapped out n programme Of
wholesale robbery Their plans had been laid with
precision and nicely. The place chosen by them for
attack the store kept by Edward Hughes, at No.
2Gl Mercer-st. Hughes is q dealer in plumbers
materials and his store faces the Mercer-st police
station. At rs O'Clock last night, the four stroed
into Mercer-st, from West Fourth-st., and began
operations. Six O'Clock is the hour at which the
patoons of police are changed. The night staff had
lust marched out and being scattered over the
precinct. The day men who were about to be relieved
had not started for the station. Thus the coast
for a few minutes at any rate clear.
The BOYS knew this and had timed their operations
accordingly. Dooley and Murphy the smallest Of the
four we detailed for skirnishing, while Lederman and
Crowley WateQ rOuTu Ule corner IN west fOurJlSl.
Creeping up to the window of Hughes's store Dooey
and Murphy waited until that part of Mercer-st
empty Of foot-pasSengerS. Then Murphy made hole
( in the store window. In the window was large
assortment of faucets and other articles used by
plumbers. Dooley and Murphy took many Of these
as they could carry and round the to
Lederman and Crowley who slowed the things in their
pockets. Whenever DOOley and Murphy a citizen
coming along the street they started lively game Of
tag which continued until the had disappeared.
, Then they resumed their attack Hughes's stock.
The light infantry made several forays TO Hughes's
store apparently unseen by the policemen who
tramping into the station the street When the
boys had obtained faucets etc. worth about $40 they
started for home. Policeman Van Delft happened into
Fourth-st Just as the boys walking away. They
were coming toward him. The policeman observed
suspicious bulness in Ledermans pockets. lie stopped
the party and asked few questions Then he marched
the boys into the station Sergeant Thompson on
duty at the desk, and he opened his eyes wide when
/ Van Delft charged the diminutive prisoners with
burglary. He opened his eyes wider still when Hughes s
property was laid the desk in front OF him. But he
fairly gasped with amaZement when Van Delft diving
deep down into trousers pockets OF Lederman and
Crowley shed ont two big punches Of skeleton Keys OF
all sizes and shapes.
The prisoners will be arraigned in court to-day.