The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-16
TOUGH BOYS HAULED UP,
JERSEY CITYAND Love ISLAND CRY
d THIEVES F1bE PUNfSHMENT

Young KcrrlRnn Had Brcn Arrested RTany
Times, but Got Away because OF Recorder
McrbVnouEh's Fear or Judge nudspeth-
Long ISLANDS Gang OF Car Thieves Caught.
James KerriEan and John Devan, two ragged.
dirty.faCcd little urchins, neither OF whom Is 10
years old, were arraigncd In the Special Sessions
Court in Jersey City yesterday afternoon.
charged with petty larceny. Kerrigan is from
Uobokcn and Dcvnn from Bayonnc, and, not
wiihstanding their ago, both are incorrigiblo
thieves. Korrigan kept tho Hobokcn police
busy for several days recently arrestinR him
every day for stealing. Regularly every morning
the prisoner was discharged by Recorder MELON.
ough, who said IL would DO useless to send him up
to the higher court, because Judge Hudspeth
would only discharge him and %criticise the
Recorder for sending up such u small boy. After
he had been released in this way two or three
times Kcrrigan grew holder. and did not hest
tato 10 rob n fruit stand or u candy store even IL
n policeman was looking Mt him. He boosted
that he was not afraid of the police, because the
old man, meaning Recorder McDonough, would
discharge him anyway. As he was leaving tho
court room ono morning after being released for
about tho sixth time, Chief of Police Donovan
stopped him and asked
What nrc you going 10 steal to-day, Johnnyf'
Il dunno yet, Chief" replied tho boy with n
grin, II haven't mhdo up my mind. Mubbo I'll
swipc II trolley car"
The boy was arrested again that night for
stealing u lead pencil and was committed to tho
county jail to await trial. judge Hudspeth
learned yesterday TINT Kcrrigan's mother and
father are In the county Jail, AMI thnt he has
no home and nobody to look alter him.
Il dislike very much" said tho j dse. Ito
send II boy OF his age TO the Hororm $ hoo, but
If turn him loose he will return 10 the streets
and in time become u hardened criminal. III
appb hin, IN th, nnFnrp, C,l,,,l a. ,,ny ,,olsa IN
man of him.. This boy seems to have been q
source of great tribulation to Recorder Nc
Donough of IIoboken. That Magistrate has
expressed great apprehension as to the
NIT If Allowed to remain at large, but
because he feared criticism BY this ~ Court,
time the esi,ormity d the boy threat that he
would steal u trolley car, 30 impressed the Re
cordcr that he held HIM for Stealing a lead pen
oil and committed him to the county jail 10 DO
disposed of by this Court. The R~ecorior de-
serves great credit Tor his fear of what this court
ever. will simply perform his duties properly In
matters before him and refrain from WASTING his
this Court he williind that he has all he can do"
Then addressing. the prisoner, who was dig
make some tears flow, Sudse Hudspeth asked:
do you want me TO try you, or do you want
to stay in the county Jail until the Grand Jury
II want to go home" replied the hoy.
He finally said he preferred to be tried by the
Court and was remandcd until Thursday.
Devan admitted that he had been arrested q
plumber of times for stealing coal, but said that
his father compelled him to steal IL and whipped
him severely il he refused or failed. Judge
Hudspetli said IL that was the case he would
issue u warrant for the arrest oil the boys father
and see that he was punished properly.
Detective Sarvis of the Long Island Railroad
succeeded in bringing before Justice Duffy, in
the Long Island City Police Court. yesterday
morning, q gang of six boys who have been steal
ing from the cars of the Long Island Railroad as
they lie In the freight yard. Detective sarvis
and Conductor J,unius set a witch for the boys
on Saturday night. Junius, had seen some boys
prowling about the yard. They had managed TO
rob u car OF two crates OF eggs and three bushels
of oysters. Stanley Scarda, one of the boys, re-
turned for more plumber and was captured by
the detective. He was taken to the station
house, and there, under vigorous questioning.
broke down and confessed to many robberies
and gave tho detective the names of the fivo
others who were arrested and arraigned with
him before. Justice Duffy. These boys were
John Smith, 10; George Rooney, Ii; Robert
Rooney, IL; Walter Likens, IL, and George
Gray, II.
Smith was an old offender. He had been ar
rested before on Il charge of robbing a printing
shop. Tho evidence tended to prove that he was
the ringleader of the gang, and Judge Duffy
held him in $500 to await the action Of the
Grand Jury.
Scarda is supported by a woman who knew his
father, who is dying in st. Johns Hospital.
Judge Duly sent him to the House of Refuge.
The other boys were paroled in the custody Of
their parents.