Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-08-07
JUVENILE THIEVES.

Two IO-Year-OId Boys Confess TO Steal
ing s35, and are Taken TO the YER
mont Industrial SchooI---The Story
of the Case.
Two youngsters, barely 10 years old. have
gone wrong this week. They are Harry
Dudley, son of Mrs. Dudley of the extreme
end of South Main street, and Edonis
Bovey, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Ephraim Bow
ey, also of South Main street. The story
OF the case is this: George Wilson, who is
employed by w. F. Richardson & Co.,
went out to the slaughter house on the
Guilford road Monday noon, and after
changing his clothes in the Office went into
the slaughter house and went to work with
the other men who were there. The Dud-
ley and Bovey boys were seen about the
place early in the afternoon, and when they
went away, at about 4: 80 o'clock. nothing
was thought of their departure.
When Mr.. Wilson came to change his
clothes again at O'Clock his pocketbook,
containing about S37, was missing. The
two boys were at once suspected and Mr..
wilson drove to the village and got Officer
Hall, and the two drove to the homes of
the boys, but they had not arrived. On re-
turning TO the village the bows were seen
near the Vermont National bank and were
taken to the alley way, back of the block.
and searched. A little money was found,
also two cheap watches, which the bows
said belonged to their fathers. Each bow
had on new waist, and one carried a new
air gun. They were put into the carriage
and driven around to c. c. Fitts's office
and questioned further about the matter
but were unable to tell a very straie,.
story, and were finally taken home where
they said that another boy had thrown the
pocketbook into the carriage The pocket
book and about 500 were found in the bot
tom OF the carriage, and it now appears
that the Dudley boy had it concealed in his
haud when he was being searched but
dropped it in the carriage while he was
being taken to Fitts's office
They afterward confessed that they
bought the watches at Fl. II. THOMPSON
Tor 500 each, and the air gun at Clamp 81
Jones's for Sl.0l. Those articles were re-
deemed, so that about SIS in all was re-
covered. The price of the gun was 81, but
Ihe boys insisted on paying an extra cent,
Inc 50 which was displayed at Thomp-
son and the Sl.Ol at Clapp d Jones's was
all the boys appeared to have.
The boys were taken to Justice Newton's
office at O'Clock Tuesday afternoon. and
pleaded guilty to the charge. They said
that they saw the bunch in the pocket of
Mr.. wilson trousers, and the Dudley bow.
at the suggestion of the Bovey boy, put his
hand in and took the money, They were
afraid to go home and planned to hire a
cottage at the lake and stay there as long
as their money lasted. Before sentencinS
the boys it was necessary, in accordance
with provision of the statute respecting
minors, to notify the first selectman. and
Mr.. Putnam wasl notified, DR.. Webster be-
ing away.
If this had been the boys first offence
they would probably have been released
with reprimand, but as they had been In
similar scrapes before it was thought best
to take such legal action as would be best
for them and best for their parents. Mr..
Fltts suggested that they be put under
bonds for appearance at the county court
ana De taken TO the Vermont Industrial
school at Vergennes, where they would be
sent TO school, and given the best of care
oy the state. Then when the time for their
trial arrived he would guarantee that their
cases be continued for six months or a
year and if, at the end of that time, thew
behaved properly their cases would be mol
pressed. All present agreed that that
would be best for the boys and the plan
was adopted, bail being fixed at 500. Mrs.
Dudley was reluctant 20 part with her only
enid, but was persuaded that it would be
Tor his own good, and the boys were taken
10 Vergennes Wednesday by an officer.