The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-21
~ AN A PORN rHIaFl,,

Frank Comics sion of Bright German
Boy Who Speaks Eight Languages,
From the Rew York World
Joseph Wierski, a genteel-looking youth
Of Is, with the fair complexion which
accompanies German parentage, was ar
raigned before Judge Cowing for burglary
yesterday.
81 am guilty." said the boy. 81 can't
help stealing. am born thief. When
see things ike jeweTy or watches / steal
them because l can't help it. / don't steal
them because l want TO get money, because
don't get anything for them. | give the
things l steal away. My parents sent me
to America because ! stole and they could
not stop me.h
The boy added that he had been sent 10
the best schools in Germany and spoke
eight languages. Judge Cowing remarked
that 1t was the most remarkable case he had
ever had before him. He caleb tue inter-
prefer up aud tested the boys capacity to
speak different languages, to see II he was
| telling the truth. Tho Interpreter talked
with him and reported ID was fact that he
was a llnguist.
81 do not see what can do for you ex-
cept send you 60 Elmira reformatory, -
said Judge Cowing. perhaps it viii do
you some good"
''Your honor might commit him to my
| custody said Lawyer Berlinger, who was
| assigned to defend Weirski Il need boy
In my office, and there is nothing in it he
can steal or that Is worth stealing"
WierskI Rnd.rhomas Sullivan were ar
rested by Detective Samuel Price of Head
quarters on Oct. II for breaking into the
rooms of George Whitehead, PROPRIETOR Of
the lodging house at Nos. II and u Chat
ham square and stealing s102 rs worth Of
clothing aud jewelry The two boys we're
stopping at the. lodging house. The prop
erty was pawned With Simpson. Sullivan
pleaded not guilty yesterday and will be
tried.
When a reporter saw the boy in the
Tombs no talked very frankly about him
self. He 10 Is years old and his fathev aud
mother are dead. He lived with his step
brother, wealthy merchant in Danzig
Germany. until a year ago. when he was
very young he was sent to the best lbs itu-
tions Ia Europe to learn languages and OBJ
! tain his education. He learned ten
languages. but now speaks only eight. lie
made this last statement regretfully. But
from his infancy, the boy said, he was pos
seseed of an innate desire to steal. de was
a thief, aud realized the fact with the great
est sorrow. When he saw things OF value
about he had strange feelings IN his head,
| and was, as IL by some unseen force,
turned toward the object within reach. In
dancing school which he attended be stole
things from the pockets of his sohoolmates,
not because he desired the money but be-
cause he could not help it. He was detected
| and was about to be arrested when his
brother bought ticket to this country and
| shipped him hero, with directions to seek
out a grandfather who lives in Chicago. He
arrived here on the Fuerst Bismarck on Oct.
g. 1891. He found his grandfather and
remained with him few months Then
he robbed his relative, and to use his own
words, Skipped out to Erie, Pa.n Then
be secured employment with farmer
| He worked with him two weeks
then stole some money and went 70
| Elmira, where he robbed his mex employer.
| He was arrested and served twenty days in
| the EImira jail. Then he went to Bing-
| hampton, where he also secured work, and
in short time robbed his employer He
bodght ticket to New York, and came
here a month and half ago. he secured
employ ment in the Grand Museum, in
Grand street, at the candy stand. He stole
the first days receipts and went to see an
acquaintance in Brooklyn. A pooketbook
| lay on table at the friends house. he
stole it and came back to New York. 1t
| contained $145.
81 don't care anything about the things l
steal,' said Wierski. II blow it all in and
give it away, whatever it is"