The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-06-26
4 JUVENILE SHOPLIFTER
Tiny Girl Tempted by the Glitter
of TrinketS.
Seized a Few and Ran. Pursued by
the Store Propriefor-Made Captive
cused of Theft I'm Court, But the
Complaint Withdrawn.

New York, June 25.-"Tse awful sorry
and, honest. ] won't do it again"
Tears filled the eyes Of many spectators
and attendants in the Harlem Police Court
yesterday morning as little Lucy Doherty.
too young in the view OF the law to be held
responsible for crime, weepingly made
this plea when arraigned on a charge Of
shoplifting. Never in the history of the
city had a child so young been taken into
court on such a charge, and Magistrate
Joseph Pool, moved to mercy. set the
youngster free.
Lucy, who is ten years old, and lives at
254 East 125th Street, was taken TO the
court by one of the agents of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
The little girl. her long auburn curls form
ing pretty framework for a rosy face
that was lighted by pair of black, ro-
guish eyes, attracted much attention when
she was arraigned before the magistrate.
She wore a dainty muslin frock, trimmed
with blue ribbons, and her white straw
hat was bedecked with apple blossoms.
She was too young TO understand her pre-
dicament. and looked in wonder at Magis-
trate Pool, the court attendants, and the
line OF other prisoners whose appearance
bore such a striking contrast to her own.
What is this girl charged WITH" Magis-
:rate Pool asked as he raised his eyes &c
survey the little one, who stood supported
by ST. John. agent of the Society for the
Prevention of Crewelty to Children, upon
the bench.
There was quiet In the court room as the
agent told how little Lucy. with another
girl named Annie Toomey, had entered a
department store at PISS Third Avenue on
the evening before. He said they had wan
dered about the store until they came to
G counter on which various articles OF jew
elry were displayed. The glitter seemed to
fascinate the youngsters. and they were
he said, helping themselves to trinkets
when one OF the proprietors of the store
happened to notice them. The girls, wher
they saw him approach, Magistrate Poo
was told, darted around the counter ano
disappeared into the street.
Many OF the pedestrians who witnessed
the flight OF the two girls and their pur-
suit by the dealer rather enjoyed the scene
They imagined that Lucy, either in play
full mood or to escape parental wrath, hac
undertaken to give her father little ex-
ercise. She sped along the street at pace
that seemed likely to prove too swift FOL
her pursuer. and the success of the young
ster in keeping away from the man de
lighted many a passerby. But Lucy sooI
tired and at the end OF the second bloch
she was taken captive. In her possession
the dealer found several little trinkets
worth in all, about 81.
Lucy was turned over to Detective Me-
han. OF the East One Hundred and Twenty
sixth Street police station, and he in turr
delivered her to the Society for the Pre-
yeution of Cruelty to Children. While she
was crying herself 10 sleep in the society
room her father and mother, distracted
over her failure to return home and ignor-
ant as TO the reason therefore, searched
the neighborhood for their young daugh-
ter.
what did YOU steal for?' Magistrate
Pool asked, after he had heard the story
Use awful sorry,'' the girl replied, as
she buried her face in her hands and be-
gan to cry. II won't do it, again"
Don't you know you did wrong?" thu
magistrate asked kindly, as he looked a
the tiny prisoner. She was too busy cry
ing to reply and the magistrate, much af'
fected. asked:
win you be a good girl if let you 90
homer"
Honest. 1 WILL" she sobbed.
Magistrate Pool told the complainant
that under the penal code child of sucl
tender years was regarded as being incom
petent TO commit crime. He suggested
that in view of the fact that the article
taken We're of small value and becaus
of the evident penitence of the littl
prisoner the charge be withdrawn.
The magistrate hardly needed TO max
the suggestion. Before he had finished hi
remarks the complainant had stepped u
beside the sobbing girl and was strokin
her curly head. He said he desired Z
withdraw his complaint, and little Lucy
still crying bitterly. was discharged an
led out of the court room.
Lucy's companion in the store escape
~. he