New-York tribune., 1895-12-15
THE BURGLARIES BY BOYS
NO DIME-NOvELS OR sTORY-PAPERS THE
CAUSE OF THESE THEFTs.

CAUSE OF THESE THEFTs.
AT LEAST TWO OF THE FIVE LADS ARRESTED
HAD COMFORTABLE HoMEs-THEY ATTENDED
SCHOOL AND cHURCH-soRRow BROUGHT
UPON DECENT FAMILIES
When a boy is caught in any deed OF particular
daring, in piece Of criminal mischief 'ie
reasoning part Of the community begins TO iooN
about for cause. In the search people ge"ei a"y
light upon the dime-nove or the cheap WeeAiy
story-paper and then shout for reforma'oh 90
literature intended for the youthful mlnd' N"'''
however, these experts in criminoogy begin 10 ca,
about for a cause Of the recent boyish exploit
Of serious nature they will have 10 drop TINS
theory. only last Monday morning five youngsters
arraigned In the jefferson Market Police DouI.
TO plead TO the charge Of burglary. The o'u7s' %.
the lads was only fourteen. and the ages rahseu
down 20 eleven for the remaining four Two ol
the boys as the agonlzed mother Of one or thei"
expressed IL 10 a Tribune reporter, were reared ID
the fear and the love Of God. Why she con-
tinued as the tears streamed down her face, III
was only on Thursday that the boy TOOK com
munion, and on Sunday he was IN the PROCESSION "l
the Church Of the Immaculate Conception, in East
Fourteenth-st. That was in the morning anu 10
think that In the afternoon he should 20 and 30
thing Of this kind oh, can't believe il OF him'
indeed | can't and It's breaking my heart FOR the
disgrace OF It all that he has brought on me- and
mine"
Then the father took up the plant. saying: Yes
he came home from church. and he had on his uni-
form and he had his dinner he tooA Ok
the coat and vest and started for the door. l
asked him where ne going. and told him 10
keep the uniform on. but he said he was only going
down in the street 10 play. and ! SAID An right
Their he went on over toward Sixth-ave. 10 look at
the holiday windows There he met these other boys.
and | am certain they led him astray. for he never
did anything wrong before this" The speaker was
the ia thor Joseph Foster who is thirteen years
o.d. Arrested with the latter William Tob!n,
fourteen years old.
HOW THE BURGLARIEs WERE COMMITTED.
The facts OF the case may be briefly rehearsed.
In Fifteenth-st.. just east Of Union Square thcre
il big vacant lot and IN this the lads from widely
separated parts II the city have been accustomed
to gather on holidays and Sundays for a game OF
ball. Possibly all the truth will be told after a
while. but for the present It is only known that
some Of them learned how easily access could be
gained to the windows and door OF the Mer
camille Printing Companys establishment at 40.
q East Fourteenth--t The windows flush with
the ground in the There is likewise a rear
door part Of which is filed in with glass. one OF
the panes in the doorsash broken by the
first comers. who helped themselves to brass rules
used in making up jobbing forms and lot Of lead
Their frequently repeated visits, the bungling char
acter OF the thieving done. and kindred circum-
stances were enough 70 convince The proprietor
that he had not to deal with expert hands He
thought the stealing the work of boys. and
regretted that he had been wise enough to con-
ceal himself in the office after the second Sunday.
fer then he would have been abe TO capture the
origins. dscoverers Of the lead pipe c!nch."
they termed il. But he let the matter 90 until last
Sunday. and then Mr. Niliett. the manager. con-
cealed himself. with Defective Rein. Of the Thir-
teth-st police station and caught Foster and Tobn
in the place with the brass rules in their hands
The lads were frightened sight OF tho de-
tective and Foster begged be free. declaring
that II he only permitted to 20 home he
would on the following SUNDAY bring the whole
gang" round so that sll might be bagged This
proposition was promptly rejected. He gave the
names OF three other boys whom he knew, these
being Herman Borbet. OF 40 53i East Fourteenth
ST. twelve years old: Edward Bremen. twelve
years Old and otto Brenner. eleven year, Old both
of No 605 East Fifteenth-st. The mother of the
Brenner boys is widow and has beer supporting
herself and the children by doing washing. going
out to her work in the daytime. The boys along
with the Borbe boy. attended the Fourieenth-st.
public school.
ONE BOYS PARENTS AND TRAINING.
Fosters parents live at No go East F fteenth-
ST There on the third floor OF big tenement
chdren-two boys and two girls The father is a
waiter by occupation. and, having nothing 10 do
for the dav. home Like good husband.
he aiding his wife with the work OF the little
household. and when the reporter entered
busily engaged in preparing the evening meal
Judging by the pleasing odor from the small but
tidy cooking-stove he in falr way 10 achieve
a satisfying culinary triumph. II a tenement
house home but it comfortable The little
ones We're bright ana dressed in cleany. neat
clothes. The boy Joseph has been attending the
parOchial school in connection with the Church
OF the Immaculate Conception. and the mother
showed with a good deal OF pride a commendatory
note from the hand OF Brother Clement, the prin-
cpal. The boy has been going 10 this school regu-
larly anl said that he had never read any books
except those In the list OF studies. These included
an advanced reader, issued by the Brothers.
grammar a geography wordbook and small
history OF the United States. Indeed said the
mother he never had time to read II he attended
TO his business in school. He in school till 4,
then he came home, and he was good boy round
the house | must say that He got up In the
morning and built the fire for me. When he got
home from school OF night he did my errands
for me. and by o'clock ne was In bed. That *
pretty good for boy. | think
bout the small room. looking a. sheepish pos
sblo lie brayeiy brought out his schoolboks for
examination. but Vas reticent when asked any
in addition 10 the names OF the three he 10
hat ff4 1~iaef I,tr had