The Portland daily press., 1898-07-11
FOR STEALING BICYCLES.
Sentence of Seven Months Imposed on
Harry B. Baker.

Harry B. Baker, a young man about
twenty years old, pleaded guilty IN the
Municipal court Saturday morning TO the
larceny of a bicycle of the value OF $50
from Everett A. Carter and also bicycle
of the value of $40 from Michael R. Kehoe.
The prisoner was not represented by
counsel.
Thursday morning Baker met a boy
named Frederick S. Curtis on Congress
street near Pearl and said that he would
give the young fellow five cents if he
would go around the corner and get
bicycle which he said belonged to him.
Baker explained that he had boon off on
a drunk and that he did not care to get
the wheel himself. The boy readily con-
scented to the proposition and secured the
wheel and turned it over to Baker.
Inside of few hours complaint WAS
made at the police station and the boy
Curtis was arrested. Two police officers
called at the home of Curtis in the even
ing and the boy hearing that they were at
hand, jumped out of the window But
his efforts to escape did not prove sue
cossful for he was captured and taken to
the station. The boy stoutly maintained
his innocence. He gave a description Of
Baker and declared that Baker was the
one really to blame.
Young Curtis sent for James A. Con-
neIlan to assist in lighting the case and
wcrd was sent out by the police authori-
ties to bring in any man answering to
the description of Baker.
On Friday morning Inspector Pickett
found Baker at the Boston boat wharf
tsith a bicycle. The inspector arrested the
man and took MIN to the station. There
Baker was closely questioned. At first he
denied that he had ever seen young Cur
It's, but later owned up. He said that he
had taken another wheel and had ex-
changed it at Curriers' pawn shop for a
watch.
This shed new light on the affair and
Marshal Sylvester recommended that a
mol pros be entered in the case against
Curtis. This was done and the boy was
discharged.
The other wheel to which Baker had
referred, belonged to Michael r. Kehoe,
q telegraph messenger boy. This boy
testified in court that he had left his
wheel on the curb in front of the tele-
graph office while he went up stairs to
get message. j When he came down the
wheel had disappeared. He notified the
officers and the missing bicycle was found
at Curriers'.
Recorder Turner who was presiding in
the absence of Judge Robinson, asked
Baker if he had anything to say and the
respondent replied in the negative.
'Well," replied the recorder, perhaps
ought to say something to You.
Here are two complaints of larceny against
you, and when another is made, no mat
ter what you steal, you can be brought
before the grand jury as common thief
and sentenced to seven years in state
prison. Almost everybody owns wheel
and it is proper that they should feel safe
in leaving them on the sidewalk curbs.
1t is very easy matter to steal a wheel
and II you receive more severe SEN
t,nce than you anticipate, you will know
it is given you as means of lettering
Others from stealing BICYCLES"
The court again asked Baker if he had
anything to say and finally Baker stated
that he had Travelled around with shows.
Recorder Turner then sentenced him to
four months in Jail for the larceny of
Carter's wheel and to three months in
Two boys, Oswald III. Hanson and
Frank A An0Rr90n chaTOad with
having bathed in the waters about Long
and Commercial wharYes. officer Frank
said that for the last two days the bust
ness men of that section of the city had
been annoyed by boys going in bathing
there He had warned the youngsters
Friday afternoon, but in the afternoon
had caught them again and sent them to
the station.
Both of the young prisoners said they
felt shat they had been doing wrong and
they promised that they would not repeat
the performance. Hanson said that he
was l3 years of age, attended the jackson
grammar school and that both of his par
ents were dead.
Recorder Turner stated that the
ordinances would allow him to impose a
fine upon zach of the boys from S. to 20,
but in these cases he would fine each of
them S. suspending the sentences if the
boys would satisfy the city marshal of
1noir luUeHUlOuS W uO Debie'r III bu6 lutuf6.
The recorder told them that they had also
better advise their playmates not to battle
about the wharves any more.
John J. Burke, a cripple, charged with
being vagabond, was sentenced to 30
days in Jail.
William Il. Ewing was given 30 days
in all for intoxieation and fined $50 and
costs for having resisted Officer Brackett.
Margaret Flaherty was sentenced to 80
days in jail for drunkenness and disturb
ance.
THE PASHA,S SNuEE BOXES