The evening times., 1899-01-20
YOUTHFUL BANK R0BBER
ADMITS HIS GUILT
REJECTED AT REFoRMAToRIEs
Raphael NoffO. Eleven Years Old.
Arrested for Six Burglaries in
as Many Days.

Mount Vernon, " Y, Jan. Compelled
to the act by the thrill he felt at
witnessing bank robbery on the
stage of a local theatre, Raphael
MOTTO, eleven years old, Wcdnes-
nav night burglarized the banking house
of John Oprando, in North Fifth Avenue.
With his pockets filled with small coin,
the youthful burglar rode on trolley car
10 Yonkers, where. tired after his night s
exertious, he fell into the hands of the
police.
MOTTO has received much attention from
the Mount Vernon police ever since the
time more than six weeks ago, when he
was arrested for having committed SIX
burglaries, and Judge SchatZ, owing to the
prisoners youth, reduced the charge
against him from felony 10 misdemeanor
He then sentenced MOTTO TO the Elmira
Reformatory and wrote letter TO Super
intendent Brockway asking him 10 send a
keeper after the boy. Mr.. Brockway never
answered the letter, but few days later
when he was in New York he telephoned
TO the local police headquarters and asked
if the boy was only eleven years old
When told his age Mr.. BTockway said the
boy could not be taken to Elmira, as they
did not accept anyone there under twelNe
years of age.
Judge Schatz then had MOTTO taken TO the
reformatory on Randall's Island, but the
superintendent refused to take him there
as he admitted no one charged with
felony. MOTTO was brought back TO the po-
lice station here where he remained for
two weeks.
Judge Schartz could do nothing further
in the case and as the police had no power
to release him without judicial direction,
the boy stayed at the stationhouse for
three weeks. His parents then retained
former Corporation Counsel SwitZ TO begin
proceedings TO have the boy released. MOTTO
was again taken to court on December y,
when Judge Schatz released him in the
custody of his counsel until he could de-
eide what to do with him.
Nothing more was heard of the boy until
| last night, when the banking house OF
| John Oprando was burglariZed.
When Mr.. Oprando opened his store yes
terday morning he found that the window
| adjoining the back door had been smashed
| in with a stone, and that the burglar
reaching his hand through the broken glass
| had drawn the bolt and walked in. 4
twisted piece of burned paper which Ia!
| on the floor near the cash drawer showed
! that he had used this as a torch TO fine
his way about. The money drawer. which
| contained $40 in change and stamps hat
been rified
The ponce IN 1onkerS early yeSterda,
morning called up the local police ant
told them they had a young boy in Gus
tody who had been picked up in th'
streets, and who said he was from Noun
Vernon. He had nearly $40 in his pocket
! From the description given Sergean
Beckwith decided the boy was MOTTO. anC
Policeman MARI went to Yonkers for him
The recognition between the boy burg a
and policeman was mutual. The little fel
low still wore the red turban which h
had on when arrested before.
Before MARI returned to the station
house Mr.. Oprando had made compla II
that his bank had been entered the nigh
before, and the police soon discovers
that MOTTO was the burglar
When the boy was confronted with th
facts he pleaded guilty and laughed. Ii
explained that he had attended play a
the opera house the night before il
which one of the scenes depicted ban
burglary. From the theatre, he SAID h
went to Mr.. Oprando's bank and afte
midnight he smashed the window glass @
the back room and walked In. After. h
had looted the cash drawer he boarded
trolley car for Yonkers.