Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-21

For several weeks past Armand La
Pierce, who resides in the large house on
San Pedro street, near Second, has missed
from his poultry yard some of his
choicest birds. He did not mind the
loss of one or two of the feathered flock,
but when some OF his big turkeys were
among the missing, he thought it time
to inquire into the cause of the disap-
pearance of the hens and gobblers.
1t occurred to him that possibly the
colored brethren of the neighborhood
were laying in supply OF Christmas
poultry, and in order to catch the thief
he consulted with Messrs. Insley and
Kearney, who detailed a patrolman to
watch the premises.
The watchman took his post about
two weeks ago, but the poultry yard was
not disturbed until about daybreak yes
terday morning, when the watcher saw
boy apparently about 10 years of age
and very small in stature enter the yard
and emerge few minutes later with
two large turkeys over his shoulder.
The youngster picked up a bag and
showed the birds in it and was prepar-
ing to make off when the patrolman
nabbed him and started for the station.
I The patrolman thought it very strange
that boy was the thief for whom he
watched, and questioned his young pris-
oner, who stated that a colored fellow
hired him to get the turkeys. The col
ored fellow, he said, didn't care about
going after the birds, as he had stolen
seven or eight before. He said he was
to meet his employer between the fence
of the poultry yard and truck belong
ing to the Citizens Transfer company,
which stood near by. A search was inn
mediately made, but no one could be
found.
The young prisoner gave his name as
Willie Downing and his age as 13 years.
His father, he says, is the proprietor of
the "electric wagon" which stands about
the streets at night.
His story about the colored boy was
regarded with suspicion, and late in the
afternoon Captain Roberts and officers
Auble, Insley and Hawley questioned
the young prisoner.
At first he adhered to the story about
the colored boy paying him to steal the
turkeys, but after considerable Question
ing confessed that he was the the thief,
and in relating his story made use of
language that showed him to be utterly
depraved.
His life has been wandering one, the
family going from place to place, stop
ping where they chose, and leading the
life Of gypsies. Their home has been
in wagon, and the boy states that he
The wagon in which they live stands
in corral near the New Orleans house,
and the La Pierce residence is but a
ch0rf dictopno from, tho mn
In very calm voice the youthful
prisoner said to the officers: "Well,
the things up, and l suppose this
means the Whittier reform school," He
did not appear to worry about his future
in the slightest degree, and told how he
stole the turkeys in a very matter OF fact
way.
| He said he went to the wagons one
night with two turkeys and told his
father he bought them for 10 cents
apiece. He sold one to his father for 20
cents. When ne had three turkeys he
and his father sold them to restau-
rant.
He said his father did not question
him about the turkeys, and became in
dignant at suggestion that his father
knew he stole them. He said he would
not be allowed to do so by his parent.
The officers went to the wagon last
night to see the prisoners father, but
he was not there. His wife told them
that he started between and 10 O'Clock
in the morning for trip through the
country with his electric wagon, and
would not be back for several days.
The officers believe that the parents
of the boy were aware of his stealing
and encouraged him in it. They are
only awaiting the fathers return to place
him under arrest.