The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-27
N0CHARGE AGAINST THEM
Their Own Statement Compelled Mayor
Powell to Bind Them Over.
MUCH NIEREST WAS SHOWN IN THE CASE
Boys Were Guests of Mr.. Robbins Yesterday
President Meserve Found in Young Pratt
the Grandson of an Old Friend in
North Arlington.

Yesterday morning the two boys who
departed from here Sunday last with
two of Mr. Robbins saddle horses and
were caught in Fayetteville, were before
Mayor Powell. Mr. Robbins forbore to
make any charge against the boys. but
upon their own statement the Mayor was
compelled to bind them over to the next
term of court. He fixed the bond at 500
each. President Charles f. Meserve, OF
Shaw University, went on the bond and
furnished the boys with tickets for their
homes in Massachusetts. They left on
the north bound train last night.
The two boys were objects of consider
able interest in the city yesterday. They
are Gordon II. Pratt and Lewis n. Thayer,
and their home is in North Arlington.
Mass about eighteen miles north of Bos-
ton. Both boys gave the appearance of
being we'll brought up and bright little
fellows. They gave their ages as fifteen
years and they do not look a day over it.
In conversation, they tell straightfor-
ward story, without any attempt to con-
ceal or gloss over their shortcomings.
They say they have come to their
senses now, and sincerely regret the
mischief they have caused. When asked
this morning if they had taken the trip
because they wanted to see something OF
the world, young Pratt replied yes, but
we don't want to see any more of it,
Both boys expressed themselves yes
terday as deeply grateful to Mr. Robbins
and every one they had come in contact
with fer the kind treatment they had
been accorded. They seemed to feel very
keenly the position their boyish scrape
had gotten them into, and to be fully
aware OF the fate they had been saved
from, as the minimum sentence for the
crime of horse stealing is five years,
and it might be twenty.
The story the boys told is about as
follows: They were both employed in
the shoe factory of NJ. N. Arnold, at
of their monotonous life and anxious TO
sec something of the outside world, they
decided to save up their money and take
a trip. Hearing very alluring stories of
the Sunny South with it's balmy
breezes they decided that was the de-
isred land for their peregrinations. When
nearly $50 had been accumulated, the boys
decided that had enough to make a
start. Once fairly on the way, they be-
lyieved they could trust to their wits or
hands, or what not, to continue. Their
idea at first was to go to New Orleans, |
thence to San Francisco. and then back |
home. So they started to see the world |
upon seventy-five or eighty dollars. They |
took q through Southern train at Boston !
after running away from home, and made
no stop until Richmond was reached |
Here they spent several days. Young |
Pratt said 1t was his desire to stop at |
Fredericksburg, to see the spot where
his grandfather had been shot in the !;
Civil War
After Richmond, Raleigh was the next
stop, the boys reaching here last Sat
urday evening. They saw Florodora and |
spent the night at the Branson House,
without giving their names. On Sunday
morning they applied at one or two pri-
yate boarding houses for room without
success 1t was then they determined TO |
go part of their long journey on horse
back, thinking they could sell the horses
to give them money enough to get on
good bit further.
But, as has been told, they came to
grief in Fayetteville. Mr.. Robbins had
sent out descriptions of the boys and
horses in all directions, and Mr.. Lam
EeEl, the livery ludu III f9yeLISVllle, 10
whom the boys went to put up their
horses on Midday, was forewarned. A
policeman standing by was also on the
lookout. He asked the boys if they
wanted to sell the horses and offered $50
apiece for them. The boys said they
wnated more. Before anything further
was said they were nabbed
Mr.. Robins was Immediately notified
and went down to Fayetteville Monday
night, and at an early hour yesterday
morning arrived here with his young pris-
oners, very penitent and remorseful Mr.,
Robbins says they Wept bitterly when he
first saw them. He soon assured them
however, that he was kindly disposed |
and would do the best he could for them.
hey gave him what money they had to
PARTLY reimburse him for the loss sus-
tanned AS stated Mr.. Robbins made no