The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-10
HOPELESS AT ELEVEN.
Young Thief Who Prefers Jail
to His Home and School
Held for the Grand
Jury.

A shocking evidence of youthful de-
pravity was witnessed in the First Grim
inal Court this morning when a boy
eleven years old declared that he pre-
ferred a long term in the Penitentiary or
the Reform School to going home with
his mother The poor woman pleaded
with him in vain. He could not be induced
to leave the prisonerP dock if by doing
so he would have to go home. The young
degenerate who acted in this manner is
John Monahan. of No. 400 Grove street,
one of Jersey City's boy burglars, mem
ber of the Anger gang. He was arraigned
before Justice Potts this morning with
Joseph and Louis Anger on several
charges of entering and larceny. This is
his third term of Imprisonment. His
mother, highly respectable woman,
pleaded with Justice Potts to give the
boy, who is only eleven years old, one
more chance.
What is the use?" asked His Honor.
He will only come back here on some
other charge and in the meantime he Will
probably influence some other boy to do
chance, but it doesn't seem to do him
any good. Only two days ago L gave
him into the custody of his father and
he ran back before he reached the door
and refused to leave the other boys. l
have lain awake nights thinking of these
boys and wondering what 1 am to do with
them. They are travelling the down road
as rapidly as they can
DO let him go with me this time
pleaded the poor mother with tears in her
eyes. I'm take good care of him and
make him go to school and see that he
doesn't come back again. He was afraid
to go with his father for fear he would
lick him, but he will go with me-" -.
heart touched by the woman's appeal
'I' let him go this time if you can
get him to go with you.'
You'll go with mamma, won't you. said
Mrs. Monahan, turning to the young in
corrigable in the dock, you'll be a good
boy and go to school if the Judge let's
you go this time won't you deary.''
No answer from the prisoner.
He'll go with me- said the mother, ap-
pealing to the Judge.
Does he say SOP
With tears in her eyes the poor mother
turned again to the boy and pleaded with
him. Speak to mamma, wont you
Johnny?" No answer. My God, what
am l to do?" cried the now frantic
woman bursting into tears afresh and
wringing her hands.
There was no sign of emotion on the
features Of the young criminal, who still
refused to speak to his mother.
He's too frightened to speak, he's all
scared up she said, willing to make
excuses for the childs lack of flial-
instinct.
Nav I amt" said the boy, speaking
as the mother in pleading caught hold of
his coat. Il don't want to go with you
and 1 don't want to go to school,
DO you want to stay with these other
bad boys and go to Jail and finally be
hanged?" asked Mrs. Monahan, trying to
scare when pleading failed
Yes replied the boy
This completely nonplussed Mrs. Mona
han, who did not give up, and begged Jus
tice Potts to let her boy go with her any
way. Justice Potts, however, has had the
boy and the other members of the gang
know them even better than their own
parents. It's no use," he said, as he
ordered the young prisoner back to the
witnesses Augustus PEARL. clerk in the
store of Abraham Birnbaum, No 80 New
ark avenue, was present and heard the
he refused to sign a complaint against the
boys Justice Potts begged him to do So
as he said it was danger to the com
gang remain at large. "As soon as they
get on the avenue they steal anything
they can lay their. hands on and teach
other boys to do the same thing: They
sneak into stores and grab anything they
find lying loose" said Justice Potts.
Pearl still refused to make the COM
plant.
Justice Potts continuing said:-'I can't
send these boys away unless there is some
one to make complaint against them
and in justice to the community / ought
not to permit them to remain at large"
He sent for Chief Murphy and explained
the situation to him. The Chief ordered
Patroiman Bennett, to whom Joseph An
store to make the complaint. Mr.. Pearl
will be summoned as a witness before the
Grand Jury, and at the trial will be forced
to testify against the boys. The boys en-
tered Birnbaum's through the skylight
and stole $40 worth of clothing.