The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-11
IN A SCHOOL OF CRIME.
Young Negroes Said to Be Used as
Tools by a Crowd Of Thieves.

Lewis Morris, a 9-year-old Negro Chap,
Arrested for Stealing $40, Tells the
Story of the Gang-Whether Reliable
or Not Tt Should Be rnvestiga ted.
Probability That There Is Some
Truth in It-They Make the Boys
Give Them Half the Plumber.
Justice Waring Russell had before him
yestesday a case of theft which was in
many respects unique. The culprit in
question was very small negro lad, nine
years of age, and in every respect a fit
subject for a house of correction were one
established here.
Lewis Morris was the diminutive
darky's name He was arrested on a
warrant sworn out by Sarah Brown, who
lives at Huntingdon and Green streets,
charging him with larceny from the house
in the sum of $40 After the warrant
had been sworn out Morris was caught
and brought to the office of Justice Russell
by the husband of the woman from whom
the money was stolen. Brown stated
to Justice Russell that the young negro
had gotten to be an habitual thief and
that he had stolen on various occasions
before.
SAYS GANG PUT him UP TO IT.
Morris, the youthful culprit, tells
story which, even if doubtful, ought to be
investigated by the authorities. He says
that he was put up to stealing the money
by a crowd of grown negroes, the names
of two of whom he gave to the officers in
that court. This crowd, he says, is in a
regular business of making young darkies
like himself steal for them,
He does not deny having stolen the
$40, but said this crowd of negroes put
him up to it. There are eight in the
crowd, he said, but he knew only two of
them by name. "They get the small ne
groes to do the stealing, -" said young Nor
ris, land then they make US give them
half, and sometimes all, of what we get"
How much of that $40 did you give
them2" he was asked.
Il gin 'em cents a piece" he replied.
'Why didn't they take it all2"
"Cause they didn't know how much
had" was Morris reply.
His story was told in a straightforward
manner but this last remark made it APP
pear that there might be some doubt
about it. However, the matter ought to
be investigated, and if there is such
gang at work in the city corrupting
smaller negroes they should be given the
limit of the law.
FOR HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
Morris says this is the first time he ever
stole anything in his life and that he
wouldn't have done it if he had not been
told to do it by these negroes. He says
he didn't know it was wrong to steal it,
and he didn't know that he would be sent
to Jail for it.
Whether the negro knows any better or
not it would be hard to say. He is lit
tie bit of chap and a proper subject for
a house of correction rather than for the
Jail He is not alone, either, but is oueof a
large number for whom such a house
might be constructed.
Some of those around the court were
trying to terrify him in one way and an
other and pretended that they were going
to cut of his hand as a punishment for
| his crime.
Would your rather have your hand cut
| off or go to jail}" he was asked.
Rather have my hand cut off," was
! his reply without murmur.
The chances are, however, that he will
| go to the Changing. He was sent to jail
and WAS turned over to the city court by
! Justice Russell. A number of boys, none
of whom, however, are as small as he is,
| are working at the camps employed in
carrying water and doing other work
| about the places.