The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-10
BOYS ARE CAUGHT
HOUSE ON SOUTH WATER STREET
WAS BURGLARIZED.

John Higgins and Roy Norman Arc Cap
tured by the Police With Money Taken
From the House in Their Possession
The Boys Confess the Crime-They Are
Members of Two Good Families Who
Are Almost Heart Broken Over the
Anair-Family Were Absent at Social
What Led to Their Capture.
On Wednesday night the house Of W
T. Balm, 421 South Water street, was
entered by burglars while the family
were in attendance ar a social given at
the South Lawrence Christian church.
The burglars had made their entrance
by opening a window. They tore up
things generally, and on the second
took therefrom $500 They also Sc
cured some money from the pocket of
some clothing hanging on the wall.
The work showed that the deed had
been committed by amateurs, for a
poker was found with which they had
attempted TO pry open the trunk They
discovered the key and opened the
same. The first thing that attracted
the attention of the family, said Mrs.
Balm twas when we found the lamp had
been moved We then made an exami-
nation Of the house and found il topsy-
turvy and everything upside down. We
found the trunk had been opened and
the money taken.
I'VE laid the matter before the police
today, and imagine our sorrow TO find
the two boys who had committed the
crime were sons of our neighbor, and
in the case Of Roy Higgins it is ex-
tremely sad and the boys mother is al
most heartbroken.
THE matter was given to the police
and the first thing they done was 10
inquire as to had been TO the social and
if anyone had left before it was over.
1t was learned that Roy Norman, aged
IS, and John Higgins, aged Is, had left
the place, and as the boys We're we'll ac
quainted with the Balm household Har-
ry Sutton began shadowing them.
The officer soon found that they were
flush with money and that one OF the
boys had bought revolver and the
other a lot of trashy literature, and he
resolved TO take them in.
When they were first arrested they
stoutly denied any connection whatever
with the robbery, but when they were
searched SS.25 OF the money was found
on their persons, and being unable TO
account for the money they finally
broke down and made a full confession.
Both boys are connected with good
families and only their own admission
and the conclusive evidence could lead
one to believe that they would have
been guilty of such a crime.
The case of John Higgins is an eX-
-tremely sad one. 1t will be remem-
bered that one year ago his sister was
shot and killed by her husband, Charley
Scott on their way home from church,
and the sad gloom that has hung over
the household has never been lifted and
the poor mother has suffered greatly
and this blow given to her by her own
son has almost driven the poor woman
frantic.
All in speaking Of the case had only
words of sympathy for the families of
the two boys. There can be no doubt
from what the police say of the guilt of
the boys, and they seem to be buried in
shame at the guilt and claim that they
will plead guilty. Higgins cried as
though his heart would break when he
Learned of the distress which his act
had brought upon his mother.