Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-12-30
TRAPS FOR THE UNWARY
PITFALLS THAT ARE LAID FOR
COUNTRY BOYS.
What Chief Inspector Byrnes OF New
York Has to Say on the subject
To Secure ~ Situation Is
Dlaisult Thing.


steady work; but it il the boy with
no occupation and nothing to depend
ON for living who is surest to be led
a5tray.
Boys who come to the city on thcir
own account and especially il they
have run away from homo very sosn
find that to secure a situation is a
most difficult thing-in the great ma
Jority OF cases impossible.
In few days at tho farthest what
ever small capital the boy has is al
most gone and in the efforts to live
as cheaply as possible he drifts into
one OF the cheap lodging houses
which abound in certain parts OF the
city.
This is long downward sten
writes Thomas Byrnes in the Youths
Companion. These lodging houses
are often frequented by criminala OK
convicts and the like. These quickly
make friends with the stranger. who.
In his loneliness ana disappointment
in the great city. is glad OF any com
partnership and grateful for any
words OF kindness.
In short time the boy is al the
mercy OF his friend. and unless he
should be sought by his parents and
rescued by the police tho chances
are ten to one that he will find his
way TO the state prison.
A few weeks age the residents of
Spring Valley. l. l.. were startled by
the news that a daring burglary had
been committed in tho house OF
farmer there The burglars. before
attempting to enter tho house had
called the watch dog to them. and
seized and choked him. A ladder
was then placed against the house
and one OF the thieves entered sec
ond-story window and plundered the
house.
While in pavn-shop on Canal
street one OF my detectives saw Il
bright looking German lad trying to
dispose of some clothing. The boys
action aroused Suspicion and the de-
tective asked him how he came in
possession OF the articles. The
were unsatisfactory. and the
boy was arrested.
After he had been locked up .cv
hours he told this story:
My name is Jacob Wagner. am
10 years old and was born in Ger.
many. 1 have been in this country
six months | ran away from home
because my parents wanted me to be.
como a soldier. After my arrival
here | secured employment with a
farmer at Spring Valley
He treated me we'll. but l got
tired and wanted to see some city
life. My wages were small and when
| came back 10 New York had only
a little money. At night | driiteJ
into lodging house on tho Bowery
aud got bed.
The next morning while sitting
In the reading room OF the lodging
house | looked for some ono to speak (
German with. Thus made the &C.
iuaintance OF Charles Pfeiffer. who
me to John Heinrichs
They soon found out where | had /
been since coming TO this country.
Then they wanted to know IL the 1
farmer for whom worked at
Spring VALLEY was rich. Pfeiffer asked /
me If ! wanted TO make some money. I
told him had no money. and would .
ike TO have some.
Then he asked me TO show him
Inc farm and said that he would fur.
1ish the money to go there
Well they took mo out to Spring ,
alley. After the farmers family
lad gone TO bed we went 10 tho
house. | told Pfeiffer that the farm
pr had a savage dog. He told me 10
;all tho dog to me. did so and he
taught it and choked it to death.
Then they robbed the house and
,ame back 10 tho city. Pfeiffer and
ieinrichs made me try to dispose OF
he booty and | was doing 80 when
'ou began TO question me-"
This boy can hardly escape being
ent to prison or refornatory. and
possibly this lesson may be sufficient
o induce him to lead an honest life
m his release II he had not been
aught he would have gone on until
Ie had become "A con firmed criminal.
Even boys who obtain employment
re by no means free from tempta-
ion. Their wages are small and
cry often they may have strong
esire to spend more money than
hey have Hat such time a boy is
ntrusted by his employer with money
D carry 10 bank or for any other
urpose there is grave danger that
10 will become a thief
The habit Of going 10 the theater IS
bad one for BOYS. For ten or fifteen
ents they can secure admission to
he family circle OF cheap East side
heaters where they are suro TO see
ither blood and thunder melo-
rama or. at least. some piece which
ives them false and distorted views
life and is calculated 10 inilame
leir imagination injuriously.
Another place OF evil influence is
ne pool room where even very
mall bets arc taken on the results OF
lie contests on the race tracks The
abit OF betting in these places is
lost demoralizing. and If boy once
rquires it the chances are that he
iii be tempted 10 steal If he has an
Dportuuity. in order to make good
Is losses.