Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-11-15
CONNIE IS A TERROR.
HE IS REGARDED AS THE TOUGHEST
BOY IN NEW JERSEY.

Sold His Mothers Hot Stove For 35 Cents.
Glories In His Iniquity-Describes His
Mother as "a "Corkcr" Who Is Given to
'LamminE."
The toughest boy in New Jersey is &C
knowlodged to be l2-year-old Connie Du-
kcy-he makes one word out of his name
who is now the star boarder in the coun-
ty Jail at Elizabeth. He is as bright as
dollar, bad MS IA spurious coin of the same
denomination, and now enjoys the notori-
ETY. of selling his mothers stove for 35
cents so that he could buy candy with the
proceeds.
Connie halls from Linden, n. J., few
miles from Elizabeth, and, although it is
a small locality the boy has made his pres
cnce felt. People Of that place give him
the credit of stealing everything that is not
"nailed down. and his mother has been
compelled for several years to hide her
money so that her youngest offspring
could not lay hands upon it.
A few days ago it is alleged thai the
boy entered the postoflce at Linden while
Postmaster Stone was absent and helped
himself to some small change and 50 cents
worth of stamps. This Just whctted his
appetite for further nefarious acts, and on
Thursday he performed his star operation,
the one which labels him the toughest
boy in New Jersey" He stole his moth
er's hot stove and sold it for 35 cents.
His mother had given him some rags to
sell and he lay in wait for the ragman.
When the Tngman hove in sight, the boy
tried - make bargain with him. The
rag dealer offered such small sum for
the boys commodity that the latter cast
about for some other article of commerce
with which he could barter. His mother
was away, and everything was locked up
or fastened down, except the stove, the in
terror of which was jammCd with live
Goals. This did not deter young Connie
With poker he rakcd out the live Goals
into bucket and called in the rag mer-
chant, who drove a close bargain. The
stove which the mother valued at so,
went into tho junkmnn's wagon and 30
conts into the boys pocket Both then
disappeared.
When the mother returned, she was
highly inccnsed. As the boy expressed it
she was 'raYin, but the boy had fled to
the woods to escape the whaling" which
he know would follow his sale He re-
manned hidden until late in the afternoon,
when some of Justice Oonadson's officials
captured him, and he was taken to Eliza
beth and placed in Jail.
"Ho was the dirtiest little rat " said the
warden, "that l ever saw, and l sent u
man to wash him. 1t took an hour to
mako any impression with soap and water,
and he's not clean yet. When he realized
that he was locked up, he beloved like
| han IL, Loaf Inn, in, b,
to make him stop.
Yes, without doubt" continued the
warden, "hcs the toughest youngstcr that
1 ever had here, and yet you can hardly
blame him. His mother is nearly as tough
us he is. Her husband is an Italian, who
works on the railroad tracks. The fathers
namo is Durucnchrtli. and the boys first
namo is Constant, but the nearest he can
hit it is Connieduley.'
"Wait "a minute, and I'll bring Connie
here, y. said the warden, and in few min
utcs the boy was griunihg in the warden's
Office.
He is rcdhcadcd youth, with small
blue eyes, II stub nose and typical Irish
features.
Mo mother was a2oin to sell ther stove
anyhow" said the boy in answer to
question, $50 I jess thought I'd get in
ahead O her.
He said he had two brothers and mar.
ricd sister. one brother is Dead Horse
Swappcr Lou
"Who?' asked the warden.
con, that pie brother Lou; he swaps
horses, an / jess calls him Dead Horse
Snapper He's Is years old.
An there's Mike, he 5 90 years old an
now he works III Their meadows. Me
mothers a Uorker. She lams - out'n
me- you bet.
Nope. l don't go ter school" said the
boy, II carries hay ter Their pigs N does
chores. Say, didn't steal them stamps.
1t was this way l was in ther postoilice N
Mr.. Stones little baby he was a-payin
about. n now he comes up ter me n he
dumps ther stamps inter me lHp. So l
goes inter Mr.. Stone n gives him ther
stamps, N he gives me Is cents for bcin
homes" And the boy smiled blandly, with
a conscious rcCtitude which was charming.
(which would you rather be, burglar
or carpenter" was asked the boy
"Huh l dunno which," was the an
swer-New York Recorder.