The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-10-24
YOUNG CRIMINALS.
Claude O'Brien Headed a Gang
When a Mere Boy.
One Was Killed; Another One Now
In Nashville Penitentiary, and
Claude, the Leader, Waiting
the Hangman's Moose.

Special t. Cincinnati Enquirer;
: Memphis Tenn, October 6.-The
criminal record of Claude y Brien,
who is now held In Louisville for the
alleged murder of Mr.. Chlnn at Lex
ington, was unearthed here today by
Detectives Wolff and Buckinhaus OF
tine police force.
From the facts obtained 1t develops
that he is one or the most noted young
criminals In the south. his name
appears frequently ON the police
station records, but under the alias or
Charlie Burns. For two years he
figured extensively In this community,
especially in robDeries, aud once was
charged with an attempt to commit
muraer. The mere mention OF the
gang to which he belonged calls 10
mind a series of daring deeds that are
scarcely equaled in the history of the
worst criminals OF the country.
About three years ago the oscar Lee
gang first sprang into notoriety here,
and for more than a year members or
it were in the pubic eye. They were
six in number. their ages ranging
from 10 to Ii years. Their depreda-
tions first consisted of piitering fruits
and other things from the street
stands. Time and again the ponce
received complaints against them, and
an equal number of times an effort
was made to put a stop to the petty
thieving.
AvAILED NOTHING.
j Arresting the youthful offenders did
no good. AdmonltlOn by Chief OF
Police awaited nothing. Ihey seemed
to be above correction. They were
rapidly becoming hardened criminals
After few monGns or this KIND OF
life the youthful crooks decided to
operate on larger scale. Ihey nit
upon j plan to live together and round
an abandoned cave along the Mlssls-
sippi klver. 1t could only be reached
by descending to the river bank by
tortuous path and the avenue OF APP
proach was so closely oDscured tnat 1T
could only be found after continued
search Taking up their abode mere
the gang began to terrorlze residence
portions OF the city. Lumber, tools
and nails were stolen ana the cave
fitted up after the tasnlOn of a robber
den. One room vas a living room
while another held goods that were
/ SGOlCu LILO yOuA6 OAAAAAN"~1 ''~~~
also supplied with a stock or pistols
ana snotguns. The gang began to
steal clothing from the dummy men
that stood IN front of stores on Main
street. Grocery stores, packing houses
and factories were entered at night
and all SORTS of articles were taken
| from their stocks. When detectives
nrst explored the den they found tubs
OF sausage, canned goods. clothing,
tools ana other articles OF every
variety that had been stolen. Com
plants were SO frequently made to the
Cnlef OF Ponce that he determined
to rid the city OF the gang, and derec-
tiyes were detailed to run them TO
earth.
Two years ago the climax in their
career as an organization was reached.
| Mlndows by the score mad been
| broken, show cases hau ueen smashed,
people had been rocked, and CHAP
| Ter OF various crimes nau been COM
mltted, all of which were traced TO
the lads. Detectives located them in
| a bunch and flushed them In broad
daylight -Four OF them made their
escape. put two were captured; and
| o brlen, or Burns, ana a boy named
George Norman, alias Chattanooga,
were arrested.
LOCKED UP.
O'Brien and Chattanooga were
locked up ana two days after their
arrest the other four were caught,
and it was learned that the. gang had
been committing grave crimes. One
of the gang confessed that he had
burglarized Is houses, and others said
| that they mad entered as many more
houses at night.
| They were indicted for their crimes
and the cases came up tor trial in the
Criminal Court. Here they seemed
to have the same gooa luck that had
followed them in their previous era of
crime. Jake Tuckerman, one of their
number, HAD pretty sister, who
sought out the authorities and others
and pleaded for the liberty of her
brother and his comrades.
HER TEARS.
Her tears mad weight, for their
liberty was given them. Several
times subsequently, they were indicted,
and each time they were released be-
cause Of their ages. On being released
the first time the gang got together
again and emboldened by former sue
cesses again commenced their reign of
terror, and for months committed
offenses Of grave character. Led by
Claude O'Brien they nightly went
forth in quest of adventure, and rob-
berries by the score were traced to
them.
One day the police received word
that pitched battle had taken place
between the gang and a squad OF sec
| ton hands on tue Illinois Central Rail
road. A section foreman was at
tackled and held up by the O'Brien
gang, and in the engagement Claude
drew his pistol and fired several shots
at the foreman, who returned the fire
until the chambers of his revolver
were emptied. This was the most
desperate attempt the gang had yet
made.
| npEW nETTANT