The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-02
Three YOUTHFUL CROOKS
Committed the Three Recent Burg.
laries on the Hill.
ONH MAKES A CONFESSION

ONE MAKES A CONFESSION
Each Boy IL OF Respectable Parsntsss.
Thsfts Committed as Night Ia Fash.
ionable Section Of tho City.
Revealed BY Guilty Actions.
Although almost passing belief, Il
now develops that the mysterious
burglaries Of the past few weeks, which
have been SO puzzling the police. were
the work Of two little colored lads and
a white boy. none OF them over II years
Of age. and all sons Of very respect BILE
families.
Jimmie Foster and Howley Dorsey,
are the colored boys, and each Is about
Q years OF age. George Seeley. the
white member OF the trio. Is about u
years old. Fosters father Is coachman
for William Connell. and Dorsey's
father occupies n similar position In
Colonel II. M. Boies' employ. All re-
side In the same neighborhood and are
accustomed to play together on the
streets.
Chief Discusses Hop. Scotch.
Yesterday Chief Simpson came upon
crowd Of little fellows playing 'hop-
scotch" on the sidewalk near the cor
ner OF Mulberry street and Quincy ave-
nue., and had his attention attracted
to them by the suspicious actions Of
two of the group. Foster and Dorsey.
..,,tt sk.t, a ntao hn nj
approached and retreated sheepishly to
the center Of the street, casting furtive
glances at the blue coat and brass but
tons as they slowly got out of his path.
The chief had In mind for some time
that the burglaries were committed by
boys, as the nature OF the stolen ar
ticles would indicate such. So when
these little fellows, living right In the
neishborhood OF the burglaries, showed
an unusual dread of the police officer,
1t occurred to him that possibly these
boys knew some thing Of the affair.
He stopped and watched the game
that was in progress, and when he evil
denced an intesest in the playing Dor
sey, having his fears dlsarmed, slowly
found his way back to his companions.
and in n few moments he and the chlei
were engaged in an animated discus
sion of the merits of the ancient game
of "hop SCOTCH" Suddenly turning the
conversation and assuming a conhden-
tial air the chief asked Dorsey:
"How much did those boys get In the
ring "a a toy bank which was stolen
ing to a toy bank which was stolen
| ,.or G II Prices residence on last
Friday night.
The Lad Weakened.
"I don't know, Mr.. Simpson," he re-
piled, II didn't do 1t. 1t was Chariey
Johnson and Jimmie Foster"
Even though he had surmised hha1
such a thing might be possible, the
chief was somewhat startled at the re-
suit of his conjecture. Fearing to
arouse their suspicious the chief, after
a few EXCHANGES of casual remarks with
the bows in general, withdrew and pro-
ceeded ito the homes of the Johnson and
Foster boys, where he notified their re-
spective parents to bring the poys .o
his office Immediately. The two lads
were in the chiefs office an hour later
accompanied by their parents,who were
greatly astonished and sorrow-stricken
at the revelation of their children's de-
rcavity.
The Johnson lad stoutly maintained
his innocence, but Foster, urged by his
father, made a full confession. He said
that the johnson boy had not accompa-
MED them, but had shared the sweet
meats which they bought with the
money stolen from Prices. He imph'
Gated Dorsey and Seeley In all three
butglaries which they committed.
They entered the residences OF John
r. Howe. 1O11 Mulberry street; DIR. Ed
ward A. Pierce, 916 Mulberry street
and s. b. Price. SOC Quincy avenue. All
the burglaries were committed at nighV
and while the houses were temporarily
unoccup,ed by reason Of the occupants
being absent at summer resorts. A sill.
ver watch and gold pen were taken
from the Howe residence; toy bank
containing $3.50 and also a number OF
other articles were secured at Prices
and at DIR. Pierce's they made away
with two boxes of cigars, two per
knives and a quantity Of other small
articles that would attract q boy.
Were lnde pendent Rogucs.
At Dr. PIerce's they coolly sat dowr
in the dining-room and smoked a cigar
apiece before decamping. The little
fellow denied having taken the watch
and pen from Howe's, but Chief Simp'
son Is of the opinion that he was MOI
telling the whole truth and he further
believes that he may be shielding some
one, possibly the one to whom the
watch and pen were given or sold.
Mr.. Howe says that his house was
twice entered, SO 1t Is possible that the
Foster lad may be telling the whole
truth. and that some other boys got
the watch. The boys were allowed to
go home with their parents. They will
be brought down again today when
be brought down again today, when
toned.
The Hand residence burglary Is moi
connected with these IN any way. Tha,
was probably done by man. as Is evi.
denced by the old clothes which the
burglar left behind in exchange fol
Mr.. Hands trousers and russet shoes
The chief says that he received tele.
gram from Hawley yesterday announc'
ing: "Your pants and russet shoe.
passed through here yesterday" De
scriptlons of the stolen articles were
circulated In all adjacent towns. and
It Is likely that the Hawley authorities
may be able to follow up their informa
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