The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-23
THIEVES AT TENDER AGE.
Strickland Children subjects for &
ReformatOry.


Ira and Oteela Strickland. charged with
robbing the postohice at Bliss, were given
a preliminary hearing before United
States Commissioner Lewis yesterday af-
| ternoon. The evidence established the
fact of the children's guilt, and they ad-
mitted it. On account of their ages,
given by themselves at and IL years
the commissioner stated that he would
keep them confined until he could COM
munieate with Judge Speer and if the
| proceeding were practicable he would have
them placed in a reformatory. IL this
cannot be done, he will order their dis
charge. The law of Georgia fixes the age
az which criminal responsibility begins at
10 years Between 10 and II the question
is one of fact for determination by jury
or magistrate exercising the functions
of a jury.
The Witnesses examined were Thomas
w. Lanier. postmaster at Bliss; Benjamin
f. Lanier. his father. and John A
Foures. Mr.. Foures was the first wit
ness sworn. He testified that while driv-
ing along the Statesboro road in his bug
gy upon Feb. 3, the day after the rob-
Eery was committed, he was approached
by Ira Strickland. He offered to sell him
hve stamped envelopes, and he purchased
them Tor cents. Ira admitted that he
had taken them from the postofice, and
asked Mr.. Foures not to say anything
about it. The witness also testified that
the boy had some small sum of money.
which he said had been taken from the
postoffice
Lanier testified that he had driven up 20
the postoftice at Bliss Feb s. AS he
approached the house Oteela Strickland
Sc mined one of the upper windows and
heightened his horse. Before he could get
ocwn ana tie the animal Oteela had dis
appeared He did not see Ira In the
mousse He stayed around the postoffice the
rest OF the afternoon and subsequently re-
ported the matter to his son.
postmaster Lanier was the next wit
ness When his father told him that he
mad seen Oteela in the postoffice he made
an examination of his cash. He found
that between 50 and 81 in coppers nickels,
alfnes and half-dollars, had been taken
from the drawers. He missed nothing
else. He went over to the home Of the
strickland children and charged them with
the theft. At first they denied IT, but
nhally confessed that they had taken a
watch and returned it to him. They de-
MED taking money and at the time he
knew nothing of the loss Of the envel-
ops.
The children then made their state
ments. They acknowledged taking the
watch and the envelopes but said thew
had not taken cent of money. When in
terrogated by the commissioner thew
stated that Horace and Rhoda williams
woh live in the vicinity of Bliss, had in
duced them to commit the crime VIII
mans and his wife had told them that
one OF the postmaster's children had sto-
he na1 brINr
them suit of clothes and a pair of shoes
If they would break into the office and
get 1t. After much persuasion they were
induced to make the attempt The
watch they did get was not the one that
Williams wanted and they had return
ed it to Mr.. Lanier. They seemed to have
no appreciation of the fact that they had
committed crime, nor either hesitation
or delicacy in relating it's details.
At the CONCLUSION of the testimony Mr..
T. y. Morgan, who had volunteered 10 de-
fend the children, spoke few words i'm
their behalf. He alluded to their tender
ages and the absolute disability of one
and presumptive disability Of the other.
under the Georgia statutes for commit
ting a crime. Their appearance and man.
ner certainly, in their cases, indicated the
wisdom OF the law. Mr.. Morgan asked
the court to deal as leniently as possible
with the youthful offenders.
The commissioner thought ii would be
best for the children themselves If they
could be confined in a reformatory and
stated that he would write to Judge Speer
upon the subject at once. If they could
be brought under some controlling moral
influence they would have a chance 10 re-
form; living as they evidently had been
living they had none. II the law did nor
permit their confinement in a reformatory
he would order their release. In the mean
time they are being kept at the county
Jail, where Sheriff Roman is giving them
all the comforts in his power
The children belong to the class
which the honest and prosperous country
man alludes to as "po' white trash.
They seem as destitute of moral percep
ton as one of Nordau's degenerates. The
boy consumes cigarettes with rapti1rouIs
avidity, and was lost in admiration at the
sight of a gas jet. The only sensation
that he seemed to experience at his trial
was one of satisfaction at the interesr
he excited, and his only request was for
a cigar. He made lazy inquiry as n
where he was likely to be sent. but an.
peared not very greatly to care.
A QUIET HOME WT1DnTNc