New-York tribune., 1896-12-29
NEN.JERSEY NEWS.
YOUTHFUL TAND4LS IN A CHURCH.
A QUARTET OF MIsCHIEvOUS BOys HAVE
GREAT LOT OF FUN WITH THE CHRIST
MAS DECORATIONS IN RED
BANK HOUSE OF WORSHIP


Red Bank Dec % (SpeciaD-Six boys. whose ages
range from nine to eleven years. accompanied by
their fathers visited Justice Chd's courtroom To-
night and the chances that the youngsters
will not repeat their visit In the same capdc'!
Four of the boys attended the Presbyterian Churcn
on Christmas afternoon. II they had gone there
as Sunday school children to be Instructed IN HOLY
Writ nothing would have come OF tneir Vislt' pu'
the lads didn't go there with good intentions. ana
hence this story. The four boys were John case
Leon Morford John White and Herbert Sherman
all sons Of prominent residents Of Red Bank
spirit Of mischief filed the souls OF the youtnfui
quartet on Christmas Day. They entered the Pres
byterian Church by the back door and MADE tnem-
selves perfectly free for two or three hours Al
the end OF that time the interior OF the church
looked as II n cyclone had been turned loose IN IL.
Things were turned topsy-turvy. Ihe oea".'u'
decorations. which the women OF the church hdd
been weeks In arranging. were all torn down. iahs
were destroyed and other mischief done The prin-
cipal decorations were festoons OF green's whch
occupied prominent place about the pulpit. These
were removed and scattered to the four winds.
Around the church was wide string OF hohy ana
other green's which also fell prey to the boys
pranks. Some boxes OF candy had been LETT over
from tho Sunday-schoo's celebration two days be-
fore The youngsters found these and II goes witn-
ont saving that the confectionery disappeared. lr
their wanderings about the church the boys stepped
on tho scarlet holly berries the Juice or wnch WIS
absorbed by tho carpet The lads thoughts then
turned to music. Tho Case boy was the organist
young sherman acting the pumper IL Is not
known whether or not there any singing by
the quartet but anyway the Rev. +. r. Harbaugh'
pastor of the church. along just then. and the
bows made a bee line for the front door or the
church. Matters were In such shape at the church
Yesterday that services could not be held In II, and
the congregation worshipped In the chapel adJoin-
Ing.
Now for the punishment OF tho lads. NOBODY
but tho parents Of the boys and the boys them
selves know what befell them. but It Is safe to say
that corporal punishment Of the oldfashioned va
r,ety was administered TO them. The hearing was
set for o'clock tonight. In addition to the mis-
chievous quartet. there in the courtroom John
Stiles and Charlie Chandler and their fathers
These lads had been mentioned In connection with
the affair but they said they had taken no hand IN
IT, and they were corrobora.ed by the other four
Tho guilty four not inclined to put the blame
on any one but themselves. and were apparently
willing to suffer the consequences Henry ;. White.
Isaac II. Adlem. George V. Sneden and William
Hockman, trustees OF the church. were In attend
ance. Mr. White the attorney for the trus-
tees, and the boys answered his questions without
any hesitation. Mr.. White said that the trustees
would prosecute the boys II their parents would
repair all the damage done TO the church. This
the fathers willing to do. and the boys were
let off. Judge Child told them that II they were
brought before him again he would not inform
their parents right away but would Immediately
commit them 10 the lookup. The lads went home
In custody OF their parents with their appetite FOR
fun in n church fully appeased.