The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-09
A MODERN "FAGIN."
Chicago Youth who Guided and
Ruled a Gang of Thieves.

Denver Times.
The discovery has been made that Chi
cago has a ''Fagin" barely eighteen years
old, who is as cunning and wicked as his
progenitor whom Dickens has immortalized
in "Oliver Twist" Joe Bernstein, as he is
known to the young boys whom he has
taught to pick pockets and rob stores. Is
the product of the Ghetto. Born in New
York of Polish-Jew parents. he has devel-
oped into a general among his associates
before his brown lip shows signs Of a mus
tache.
In Chicago he had q company OF thieves
ranging from eight to twelve years. His
trusted l~ieutenants were some two or three
years older. They have systematically
robbed the big department stores for a
long time, and were so clever at their work
that but for the truant Officers, VINO keep
track of all the children not regularly at
tending school, they might never have been
apprehended.
But this young "Fagin' has added to the
plans of his London model a new idea for
holding his dupes in his clutches. 1t turns
out tina he had as his accomplish a lewd
woman who entertained the gang OF boy
thieves whenever they had made a success
full raid. She bought such of the stolen
goods as she could use. The boys spent
their money in her house, slept of there
their drunken bouts and played the grand
with the regular inmates.
Joe Bernstein used the lowest passions to
gain power over the boys that came in his
way, and kept them in his power through
thus degrading them. He Is as shrewd and
corrupt as the most successful diplomat,
and has intrigued with as much knowledge
OF human nature as though he had been a
court faVOrite.
The boys who confess to being his fol-
lowers are as preposSesslng In appearance
as would be the same number of boys taken
from the most ariStocratlc ne1ghborhoOd
of the city. They are brown from exposure
and more or less dirty. But their heads
are well formed, their eyes are bright,
their limbs we'll rounded. Their minds
have been sharpened by being continually
alert to escape detection and arrest. When
they found the game was up they told of
their escapadeS with a rankneS and a
pleasure i'm the recital that excluded belief
in a still, small voice" inherent in their
natures. If any one of them was born
with a conscience he gave no evidence of
it. He feared bodily punishment, he dread
ed Imprisonment, but spiritually there
was no fear, no regret, discernible. Heredi-
u and environment had made them crea-
lures differing in this one respect from
their brothers born with more fortunate
surroundings. They knew nothing Of prop
erty rights beyond the weight of a police
mans CLUB.
All these boys are residents Of the
Ghetto. They are an integral part of the
society of a great city. They cannot be put
into sacks and thrown into the lake. They
must grow up to be men and have food and
fire and clothing. How will they get it? If
lney nave not the klONleuBe OF now 10
earn money they will take money or the
fruits of money with a strong hand.
There are thousands of such children in
all the great cities of the world, heather
at the very doors of Christian civilization.
They may be trained TO be Of use to them
selves and others or may fnd "Fagins"
to train them 10 rob and steal and murder.
No matter how small the group Of human
beings may be, one person there is superior
in ability to all the others. That person
will rule. He may be a natural evangelist
or a natural robber. Whatever he is. his
companions TO a certain extent will be.
Society has it's own life to care for and
can take part in the training of these chill
dren If il chooses TO do so. IL IL doesn't
there will still be "Fagins' to breed a gen.
Grafton Of still-breeding "Fagins."