The San Francisco call., 1897-09-24
Youngest Offender Ever
InCarcerated at Los
Angeles.
A Sim pie Minded Lad Whose
Franks Are Construed
as Larceny.
Public Indignation at the Harsh
Method of Dealing With the
Little Fellow.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, Sept. 23.-
Locked up in a cell in one of the tanks OF
the County Jail in this city is Harry Haas
OF Pasadena, a child-a mere babe lii knee
pants. He claims to be years OF age, but
the jailer and attaches of the prison dc
not believe he has seen more than five, or,
at the most, six birthdays He is the
youngest offender it has ever been the
duty of the Sheriff to turn key upon.
Considerable feeling has been aroused
over the incarceration of the boy, many
citizens protesting that some other less
harsh means should have been taken to
punish or control the child. What adds
to the pity of the case is that the little
prisoner is somewhat imple-minded. He
is neither aware, apparently, that he has
committed any offense against society or
that he is behind prison bars as punish
ment for his evil dotngs.
Harry lived with his parents in Pasa-
dena, anG for some time previous TO his
arrest he caused the authorities there con-
siderable annoyance by borrow ing teams
standing along the curb without the leave
OF the owners, and taking drives into the
country. Il would sometimes be three or
four Gays before the rigs would be recov-
cred. OF late he had developed a predi-
lection for shovels perhaps to ride them
also, as lads of his tender years often O.
1t was the pilfering of one of these from
the nursery company OF which w. n.
Campbell Is secretary that made jailbird
of the child. Cam pbell had him arrested,
and he was convicted before Justice of the
Peace Rossiter of Pasadena of petty lar
ceny, and ordered into the custody OF the
Sheriff pending sentence. lie was brought
10 the County Jail yesterday.
The gate of iron bars had no signifi-
canoe or dread for him. Once inside the
doors of the penal institution he scam
pered about everywhere, en- njoying the
novel sights Of iron cages and prisoners
with all the ingenuousness OF an innocent
child. 1t was when locking up time came
that he was brought to q realizing sense
OF his situation. As long as he had the
freedom of the corridors he apparently
forgot home and parents and playmates,
but the darkness ana ionesomeness of the
cell shocked him into a natural child lsh
condition.
Il want my mamma. | want TO go
home. | don't like this place. | don't
want to stay here.
These were some of the fearful expos
tulations that made moist eyes OF even
the mo t hardened criminals within hear
ing. But there was no relief for Harry.
The Sheriff had his orders. said the deputy
IN charge, and they had to be ob-yed.
When the babe was ready 10 be put 10 bed,
one OF his cellmates had 10 assist him to
disrobe, and the same helping hand had
to be extended TO dress him this morning
Throughout the jail, on the part ofprison-
ers and wardens alike, there Is general
sympathy Tor the child.
mo man who has a drop OF the milk of
human kindness in him would have had
that child arrested" said the Deputy
Sheriff in charge of the jail to The CALL S
correspondent. "Ot course, under the
circumstances, the Justice had no choice
IN the matter He sent the child here to
give the father an opportunity to arrange
for sending him to relatives in the Ea- t
or for placing him in some suitable public
institution. In my opinion the liltle iel-
low is rather mischievous and wild than
vicious or malicious. He does not even
know what offense he has been convicted
Of To me he said he had stolen some
bread, as he was hungry"