New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-27
BOY BANDITS IN PARK ROW.
THEY POUNCE ON NEwSBOYS AND GET
AWAY WITH THE PLUMBER
RAIDS APPARENTLY CARRIED OUT WITH THE
INsTIGATIoN OF OLDER oUTLAws-DIFFi-

RAIDS APPARENTLY CARRIED OUT WITH THE
INsTIGATIoN OF OLDER oUTLAws-DIFFI-
CULT TO DETECT OR PREVENT
A large number Of highway robberies have been
committed by bands Of boys in Park Row recent
10 many OF them in broad daylight before the
gaze of hundreds OF people. The victims nave
been attacked I'm dashing bandit style Win
show OF bravado and deprived OF their money
The robbers for the most part are or foreign
birth who seem TO have had the training OF o'uer
and more expert outlaws. Almost always inc
victims have been newsboys. The methods Oh 'ne
bandit gang new to them. ana nave lah.n
them by surprise. The strange boys are apie "
20 among them without suspicion. ana scuine
between barefoot lads on the street a'rac'S no
ones attention. As matter OF fact roppe'y 10
being committed. and one who looks on ever
imagines that 1t is any more than scufne over
.'craps' or pennies between the boys The news
boys have always been thought well able to take
care OF themselves but bright as they are the
tactics of the bandits have been carried OUT 50
shrewdy that they have not yet been able 10 ue-
wise a way to circumvent them
The small boys who rob them are organized INTO
bands They make their raids and disappear with
a holiness and cunning which suggests that II
may have been inherited from ancestors who for
generations dwelt among the Scilian mountains
proud Of their descent from the famous criminals
of Rome When the robbery has been committed
there is commingling of small boys and then
the guilty disappear. No one seems 10 kho"
exactly where they swarm together or where they
disappear. They play around City Han PARK
noncbalantly at times hatess and shoeless. clad
only I'm a Jumper for the most part. ana ragged
pair of knee breeches Many Of these little terrors
are 50 small of stature that they look as II they
would be an easy prey for good sized river rat
They never seem to have any worse mischef III
view than to plunge into the fountains for cool
bath when the police are turned away. But
watch them!
All al once shrill whistle is heard and It is
quickly followed by rush TO the place from
which It comes. The scouts have done ther part
and there is work for bandits TO do. Then there
is a scurrying pemell of little arms and feet.
scuff,e and few moments later a small newsboy
Is seen as he stands crying II his heart would
break The marauders meanwhile are scamper-
ing away.
Petty thieving among the newsboys has been by
no uncommon In the past. but there nave
never been bands of boy robbers with such well
Within the last few days the little bandits have
become so bold and their robberies so frequent
that the larger boys who sell papers have taken
measures TO break them up. Last night tn, the
House square and before he knew 1t they had
taken about s. from him in pickels and pennies;
an outcry and number of large boys ran to MS
assistance The robbers scattered and all tine tine
pairs OF little brown legs whisking around the
corner of An9.s' The big soys heir 'hf e
victim cried bitterly his loss. which com
prsed all his capital. and his ehums made up
purse to help him out OF his trouble 49,,
So many similar robberies have occurred that
meetings have been held recently by the newsboys,
and they have decided to take drastic measures In
dealing with the brigands There has also been
talk Of organizing vigilance committee 10 clear
out the whole band of youthful robbers
The arrest Of Joseph Vito, six years old, Tor
earroting and robbng Joseph Hymanwltch, an
eleven-yea old newsboy on Friday, and his com
mitment to the care OF the Gerry society by
Magistrate Brann 1t is thought may have good
effect on the other boys. In behalf or vito IL is
said that he was compelled to rob in this manner
in order to get food When he committed the
crime he was alone. Had he been member or
the bandit band. as reported, the whole crowd
would have been with him
The policemen who patrol Park Row have been
aware of the depredatons of the boy bandits for
some days but they know that they have difii-
cult problem to handle, In the first place. II is
hard TO tell what is going on In a crowd or news
boys whether It is a fight, crap game or one
Of many other prankish diversions Then again,
n Is almost impossible to catch the rascaIs. ana
the average policeman feels loss of dignity in
chasing small boy down the street. Should he
succeed In catching the offender the bystanders al
ways take the boys part and assail the pohcefnan
with cries of Shame"