The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-20
TOUGH ON TERRIBLE JACK.
Boy Desperate Taken by a Ruse at
Mount Vernon.

Mount Vernon, N. Y, May 20.-John
Weiss. II years old, who, armed with
two revolvers and a bowie knife, has
been travelling on horseback through
towns in Westminster county and west
ern Connecticut seeking adventure, was
arrested here today by Police Sergeant
BeckWith. The prisoner says that the
reading of cheap novels led him to be-
come a. road agent. In addition to the
reVOlverS and bowie knife the boy car
ried a leather hoodwink, a blackjack
and a bag containing a hundred pounds
of ammunition.
When taken into custody he had just
left his charger at a livery stable and
was on his way to a restaurant to eat
his dinner. He wore Rough Rider leg
gings and a big SLOUGH hat. AS he was
on his way to the hotel an acquaintance
who knew that the police were looking
for him induced him to take a walk. He
was led around to police headquarters
and was brought unexpectedly face to
face with Sergt. Beckwith- The boy
reached for his revolvers but Sergt.
Beckwith was too quick for him. He
was disarmed and placed in a cell. De
tective Gleitzman who was sent to the
livery stable to take charge of the horse
searched the saddle bags and found
them filed with plumber consisting OF
opera glasses, silverware, souvenir coins,
watches, chains and jewelry.
Weiss is a native of Mount Vernon,
and his mother says that he has always
been a hayward boy. He was an in
veterate reader OF cheap novels or the
"DeadWood Dick variety, and fire.
quently said that to be a road agent or
a highwayman was the great ambition
of his life. Although the lad began his
chosen career only about a month ago
he is wanted by the police of New York
city, of Pelham and of Redding, Conn.,,
for crimes committed in those places.
In New York he is wanted for robbing
Tichenor's butcher shop at First avenue
and Thirty-third street The Pelham
authorities have a warrant for him for
burglary.
In Redding. Conn. the boy got board
with Farmer George White. One m orn-
ing after he had been there three days
Mr. White awoke and found that his
bank roll. his SilVerWare and his best
horse and buggy were gone. The boy
bOarder was also missing The horse
Weiss was riding today answers the de-
cription of the one which the farmer
lost, and he has been notified to come
on and get it.
Weiss kept a diary of his travels. He
took a three years course of pen-and-
notes are illustrated with sketches of
brigands masked burglars and cow
boys. In one part of the diary he wrote
Nearly starved today. Had to steal
a chicken to eat. Business very bad"
The young brigand confessed to Chief
Foley this afternoon that he had COM
mitted the rObberieS in New York, Pei
ham and Redding, Conn. He said he
had been riding about on horseback
nearly a week, travelling for the most
of the time at night and sleeping in
the daytime at secluded places in the
woods To a reporter who asked the
prisoner how many dime novels he had
read, he replied:
Il don't know. guess I've read them
all was seized with q desire to be-
come a cowboy. Sleeping in the woods
and lodging the cops is no picnic. I've
got my fill of It already"