The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-22
HIS FAMILY NEEDED BREAD.
Jacob Mobiles Excuse for Committing
a Theft.

Judge Afford of the Criminal Court yes
terday listened to the story of a man who
declared he had been impelled to commit
theft by the hunger Of his family. 1t was a
pathetic story he related and, although the
judge pitied the man and his family, he
said he could not let him off without pun
ishment. The prisoner was Jacob Noble,
thirty-six years old. He has a wife and
three small children who were in court yes
terday with him. On Nov. 10 Noble was
arrested while in the act of carrying some
copper away from one of the street-car
stables. He had formerly worked for the
street-car company and had also been EN-
ployed at the Kingan packing house.
Noble told his humiliating story with
downcast face and a trembling voice. He
came here from Madison, this State, four
years ago, and was able to make a living
for his family until the last few months
when he found himself without employment
He soon lived up his scant earnings and
could not borrow. In desperation. he went
to the street-car stables where he had for
merly worked, and undertook to commit a
robbery. His family was hungry, he said
and had to have bread. Noble was thrust
into Jail after his arrest and yesterday was
the first time since his Imprisonment began
that he was permitted to sit down with his
little family about him. 1t was strange
place for a family reunion. Noble proved
that his past reputation had been good. He
was once a member of the City Council of
Madison, and an effort was made by his
friends in that city to get him off. A petit
tion signed by the mayor and other officials
of Madison, asking cemency for Noble, was
handed the court Judge Afford fixed his
sentence at six months in the Workhouse.
There a distressing "A
sheriff's deputy led Noble out Of the court
ROOM He kissed his wife and children af-
fectionately and then turned to the deputy
sheriff and waited 10 have the handouts
placed on him. The deputy snapped a steel
band on one of his wrists. Just then Noble
looked at his little daughter, child of three
years. Suddenly she ran forward to her
fathers side and, bending down, he placed
his unmanacled arm about her. He lifted
the child TO his breast and her arms stole
about his neck Fondly he pressed the little
one and then, placing her on the floor
walked from the courtroom.
One of the other cases disposed of in the
Criminal Court yesterday was that of Oscar
Johnson fifteen-year-old boy. charged
with stealing a laprobe. The boys father
was informed that the boys family was
broken up about four months ago and the
named Miller who took him about the city.
He was permitted to go and come as he
pleased and in this way became involved in
trouble. His father and sister now have
rooms on Indiana avenue and the father
promised to take charge of the boy if the
court would release him. With the under
standing that the youth is to hereafter keep
away from bad compeny, Judge Afford al
lowed him to go with his father
The judge heard the story of John r.
Swan, who was charged with defrauding
Carlin & Lennox, music dealers, and sent
the prisoner TO the workhouse for two
months. Swan was employed by Carlin &
Lennox to sell musical instruments. He dis
posed of a piano and claimed that he had
paid another SIS commission to help
him sell the instrument. He showed the
firm a receipt which he said the man had
signed This proved to be "a forgery. Swan
pleaded guilty
william Short, who was indicted with
Noah Baney for grand larceny, was released
on his personal bond. He is brother-in-law
OF Baney He gave valuable testimony
against Baney, and on this account the
state was disposed to be lenient with him.