The sun., 1901-10-11
BOYS ADMIT
THEIR GUILT
Youthful Thieves Arraigned Be-
fore Judge Churchman.
SERIOUS CHARGES MADE
Harry Fredericks, Samuel Denney
and William Thompson, Former
Inmates of Reform School,
Again in Trouble.
SERIOUS CHARGES MADE

Three boys We're arraigncd before
Judge Churchman in City Court yestel
day on the charge of breaking into Il
pawiishop and stealing ii variety of ar
tcles, Of stealing grapes from grocery
store, and of breaking into Il fruit stand.
The boys were Harry Fredericks, aged
II years; Samuel Denney, aged IA years,
and William Thompson, aged IL years.
All were former inmates of the Ferris
Industrial School, Thompson having es-
capped and the other boys being out on
parole.
Fredericks was held in $500 bail on
two charges and Denney in $500 bail for
the Court of General Sessions. On nc.
count Of his youth and at the instigation
Of Agent Stout of the Society for Pro-
vention Of Cdnelty to Children, Thomp-
sons case was continued until this morn
ing.
The boys were charged with breaking
into and robbing the pawnshop of Will
linn Hammond, Second and French
streets, and stealing glasses, reyolyers,
razors, half Il dozen silver Spoons, and
other articles valued ut nearly $50
Mr. Hammond testified to having closed
his store as usual on Friday evening at
8 o'clock, and that when he came down
the street about 10 o'clock the same
.veliing. he found officers standing at
his store who informed him that it had
ncen broken into. Investigation showed
That the large plate glass window had
been smashed and the articles above
ncntinned stolen.
Upon the desk of Clerk Of the Court
Harry l.. Joslyn were two pairs of opera
;laSSeS. two revolverS, two raZors and Il
imir Of spectacles. The spoons have not
,ern recovered. Mr. Hammond identified
he articles which were valued at about
80. as his property.
Officers Shields and Brown testified to
having arrested the boys yesterday
morning and said that they admitted tho
.'ohitry and Fredericks also admitted
having robbed the grocery store of John
| IL. Percival Seventh and Jefferson
treets, and taking several baskets of
;rapeS. and acknowledged having been
concerned in breaking into fruit stand
Kept by Greek at Third and Market
| ,treets. The boys implicated another lad
| ShO has not yet been arrested. Acting
| n information received from the prison
rs the officers recovered part of tine
tolen articles at the home of the boys,
where they had been hid. John Fl. Per
..ival gave evidence as to the theft of
several baskets of grapes from his place
If business.
In ,lisposing of the ease Judge Church
man said it seemed of little use to send
HE boys to the reform school, if they
We're allowed to escape and determined
to hold Frclericks and Denney in $500
bail each for upper court and let that
body make final disposition Of the case
fr,lericks was also held in $500 bail adj
litonal for the Percival theft.
In reply to Judge Churchman'S re-
marks about the school, Mr.. Stout said
thnt that institution was conducted along
the same line as similar places Of contine-
ment and that all boys confined there
We're paroled only upon their receiving
the required number of merit marks.
Fredericks. he said, was bad boy when
sent to the institution, but during his con
ilncmcnt lasting for Il period of nearly
two yenrs. he was a model boy and stood
high in the estimation OF the officials.
Fredericks claims that about two weeks
ago his mother turned him out of the
house and that he was practically an
plltrast.
Samuel Warner, was arraigned on Il
charge Of assault and battery, the prose
.ntng witness being his wife. Assistant
City Solicitor Phillip Il. Garrett said to
the court that Mrs. Warren had sworn
mt the warrant Wednesday. hut now re-
3ilieSted that the charge be dropped as
he had small child and She desired
thnt her husband should support it,
The ease was dismissed.
RINGLEADER ARRESTED.
Percy Smith, aged IS years. the ring
!eader OF the youthful band Of boy
thieves was arrested last night in Phila-
.lrlphia.
Smith was with Fredericks when he
was arrested by Patrolman Brown yes
terday morning, but escaped. He was
the principal one of the crowd wanted
by the police and the Philadelphia au-
thoritieS were notified to look out for
him. Smith was taken off freight
train in Philadelphia and a telegram was
received last night saying he was locked
M in the Thirty-second district police
station.
Chief Massey was notified of the
boys arrest and left orders for an officer
TO be sent to Philadelphia this morning
to secure the necessary papers for bring
ing him here.
CAPTURED AFTER a CHASE.