The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-02
A GERMAN BANKERS SON
ACQUITTED IN CRIMINAL COURT OF
BICYCLE STEALING.
Julius Keefe Claimed He Bought the
Machine for $5-An I'm
usual story.

Julius Kiefe, sixteen years Old claiming
to be the son of a wealthy Hebrew banker
Of Stutgartt, Germany, was a prisoner in
the Criminal Court yesterday on the charge
of grand larceny The youth related MS
story with such frankness and apparent
sincerity that Acting Judge Null was con-
strained to acquit him, and at the conclu-
SIGN of the case, sent the prisoner on his
way rejoicing. 1t was an unusual story
the young Hebrew had to tell He had been
in jail since the last State fair, being
brought here from Cincinnati on the charge
Of stealing bicycle from the Ingalls, block
The boy had no money and was defended
by John G. Ruckelshaus, attorney for the
poor
Young Kiefe shows every evidence Of hav-
ing German university education He
speaks fiuently four different languages and
is able to write with either hand AS in
dicated by his story to the court his desire
TO wander from the parental fireside is
what brought him into court He came
to this country a year ago last May. HIS
father objected strenuously to the young
man leaving home but finally consented
for him TO make the trip. The boy was in
structed to come to Cincinnati to his uncle
who lives at 1888 Chapel street, Walnut
hills The latter is a well-to-do Cincinnati
citizen. Young Kiefe came on to America
and found his uncle. He was supplied with
funds when he reached Cincinnati, and for
several months his father sent him allow
ances regularly. The youth was much daz-
zled with all that he saw in Cincinnati, and
readily took up with American customs. He
told Judge Null that he began by having
good time after reaching his uncle, and
spent his money too freely. He soon found
that the allowance forwarded him each
month from his father was not nearly suffi-
cient to meet the expenses incident to the
kind of life he was leading, and he tried to
find some kind of employment. He tried to
get into the army, and imagined he would
like hospital work. He had had no eX-
perience, however, and they would not take
him. Then he left Cincinnati. He worked
for time in a st. Louis newspaper office,
doing any kind of work that came to hand.
He came to Indianapolis during the X of
T. encampment and worked during the
week at Camp Colgrove. When the State
fair came on he secured a place at the
grounds and worked two or three days
At the close of the fair the young man
was paid off and came to the city. He
made up his mind to return TO Cincinnati
at once and started to the depot. At the
says, he stopped to look at some show bills
in a window. While standing there some
one slapped him on the shoulder and he
turned about. A young man confronted
him and remarked:
Hello, Dutchy, where you been?"
II don't know YOU" replied the youth.
Don't you remember, / met you on Ala
bama street?' The youth was puzzled and
could not remember having met the man.
The latter then asked him If he had any
money and the question was met with an
indignant response.
"Oh, you don't understand me-" laughed
the stranger. Il don't want to borrow of
here that you want The stranger stepped
to the curbstone and laid his hand on fine
bicycle. He said he wanted to sell the
wheel and offered it at a bargain. Young
Kiefe, after some effort to cut down the
price asked, took the wheel and paid the
stTange IS. He proceeded to the express
office with his purchase and arranged to
have it sent to his uncle's address in Gin
cinnau. That night the young man started
for Cincinnati. The same evening the own
er of the wheel missed it from its rack in
the Ingalls, block. He reported the matter
to the police, and the detectives sought the
different express offices. They secured trace
of the wheel, and on its arrival at Cincin-
natl it was recovered and Kiefe was ar
rested before he had an opportunity Of go
ing to his uncle's home He was greatly
cast down when brought back here, and
says he had not the courage to write 10 his
haus wrote to the uncle day or two ago.
informing him of his nephew's trouble, but
had received no reply.
The manner in which the boy told his
story yesterday convincved the court that
he was innocent, and he told the youth he
was free to go. After the hearing Kiefe
informed his attorney that he had no mon
ey. He expressed desire to return at once
to Cincinnati, and the attorney gave him
a letter of introduction and sent to Rabbi
Messing.