The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-24
MADE THE BOY DRUNK
Shocking Juvenile Depravity
Revealed in the Police
Court.

The circumstances of the drunken es-
capade of a half dozen boys, ranging in
age from ten to twelve years, Were re-
| yealed in Justice Potts court today when
Martin Morrissey, 10 years old, of No.
2S7 Erie street, was arrested to answer a
charge of atrocious assault inflicted upon
five year old Thomas Doyle, of No. 233M
I Fifteenth street.
Yesterday evening the Doyle boy rushed
into his home, his face and clothes coy
from an ugly wound in his forehead.
There was an odor of liquor about the
boy, and his terrified mother Selling him
in her arms commanded hin to tell her
where he had been and What had hap
pened.
Between sobs he told his mother that he
had been to Johnny Burke's wagon shed
in Erie street, between Fifteenth and
Sixteenth streets: There he found Martin
Morrissey and four other boys, drunk.
the collar and forced him to drink beer
from a can. The beer made the young
ster drunk. n because he refused more
that was offered him Morrissey dumped
the contents of the can over his clothes
and hurting the empty can at him in
ficted the wound from which he was
Mrs. Doyle a physician and
had her boys wound dressed. 1t was a
painful and dangerous n and may af-
feet his ~eyesight. Mrs. Doyle after be-
ing assured hat her baby boy was in no
immediate danger hurried to the Seventh
street station and notified the police of
SAiO OAtS L - GeIliIl WAS
sent out on the case. He was directed
to the wagon shed where the young
jewellers were holding forth;
AS he approached it four boys ran, or
rather staggered, out n ran in differ
ent directions. Feehan knew Morrissey
and pursued him. He was unable to over
He followed Morrissey to his home. and
finding the boy hiding under a bed ar
rested him. There was a strong odor of
Feehan says he was drunk. Morrissey
was taken to the station house.
When questioned he admitted having
having compelled the youngster to drink
beer He astonished the Sergeant in
charge when he declared that he and sew
eral other boys, no older than himself.
among them Johnny Burke and John
Connolly, had been drinking beer in the
~wagon-shed all the afternoon. Morrissev
had % cents early in the day, and it was
with hat money that the beer. which
chased Morrissey refused to say where
the beer had been bought. Captain Nc
Nulty ordered a rigid Investigation of
the case to be made.
This morning when Morrissey was ar.
raigned In court Ind the circumstances
of the assault were made. known, Justice
Potts was Indignant: He denounced the
and declared that the offenders in this
Instance should be punished. He was
about to direct g polite Investigation
when Captain McNuity entered and ex-
planned that he had set afoot an exami-
patton. The Captain had ascertained
that the boys procured the beer from
James Coyne's saloon; ait Fifteenth and
Erie streets. 1t had been sold to them.
1t was reported, by James McGfnn. the
bartender, who is the pro5rietor's nephew.
Connolly and Burke are held as wit
nesses in the case. Justice Potts found
young Morrissey guilty OIL assault, but re-
served his decision until tomorrow morn
ing. In the meantime Il further exam