Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-13
BECKER'S HARD LUCK STORY
Seventeen esr-0ld Boy Gets Six Months
in the Penitentiary.
SENTENCED COR STEALING SOME SHOES
Tells His story in Court and Throws
Himself Upon the Mercy of the
~Judge-Tnle of Bad
Company.
SENTENCED COR STEALING SOME sHo

When Frank G.. Becker was arraigned be-
fore Judge Macy in the district court yes
terday on the charge OF breaking into
Chris Johnson's shoe store on South Main
street last June and stealing several pairs
OF shoes he admitted his guilt and threw
himself on the mercy Of the court. Becker,
who Is but II years Of age, has none of
the appearances OF the professional GRIM
inal or thief about him and the story he
told Judge Macy evidently had its effect
in lessening his sentence, as the court only
gave him six months In the penitentiary.
Young Becker's story was, in substance,
that a year ago last May he ran away from
a good home in Hamilton, o. He was
studying for college, but objected to the
strict manner In which his father kept him
to his books. One day, against his fathers
orders, he went to a game Of base ball.
When evening came he was afraid to re-
turn home and meet his father, so decided
to run away. He boarded a freight train
and reached Chicago. where he joined COM
pany with a gang OF professional tramps
and beat his way out west. He wandered
about the country, first with one gang Of
hobos and then with another until he
struck Council Bluffs last June. 1t was
then that he was induced to Join in the rob-
berry OF Johnson's store. His companions
escaped, but he being under the influence
OF liquor failed to get away and was caught
sleeping under the platform of a local rail-
way station. The evidence against him was
almost conclusive, as he was wearing a pair
Of the stolen shoes.
While waiting in the county Jail for the
grand jury to pass upon his case young
Becker had the misfortune to break his
right arm. One night a few weeks ago, as
the prisoners were being locked up for the
night in the cylinder, Becker reached
through the bars to pick up a newspaper.
The cylinder was revolving at the time and
his arm was caught between the bars and
broken.
Parker H. Dexter, who was indicted for
stealing a watch from the residence Of A..
]. Stanley in Rockford township, also
pleaded guilty and escaped with a thirty
days. county jail sentence.
All the other prisoners arraigned entered
pleas of not guilty. Several OF them we're
assigned counsel.
NJ. T. Dermody, a farmer Of Norwalk
township, commenced suit against the Chi
cago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway COM
pany to recover $685. for the alleged burning
Of 1900 bushels of corn. Dermod claims
that a spark from one of the company's
engines set fire to the crib In which the
corn was stored and consumed it.
The hearing OF the Injunction suit of
Slack Peterson against the Board of Edu-
cation set for yesterday was continued in
definitely. This was done at the request
of the attorneys for Peterson, who wish to
await the ruling Of State Superintendent.
Barrett In the Smith site appeal case. In
the event Of the superintendent decision
being adverse to the school board, there will
g no need, they say. to continue the suit.
7 on the other hand the state superintend-
Mt upholds the action OF the board and
aftirms Prof. sawyer's ruling, the suit will
be prosecuted.