The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-08
JUNkMAN AN
ALLEGED FAG|N
San Francisco Man Accused of En-
ticing Boys to Theft as Did
Character in "Oliver Twist.
THREE BOYS ARE ARRESTED.
Lads Secured City for Valuables
Which They Say Were Eager
~ Bought by Simon,
Dealer in Iron.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
San Francisco. March 7.-simon the Junk
| man is accused Of melting three boys to
commit theft for his own personal profit.
If Dickens were alive and desired to de-
pict another Fagin, he could choose Simon
the Junkman. Small stature brlstly
bearded, smiling. the personifcation OF po-
likeness. Simon the Junkman is living pic
ture of the famous character described in
oliver Twist
He maintains his rubbish heaps in a din
gy shop. His wife. less than feet in
height. stands watch over the scales and
aids her husband in haggling the youths
who come to sell rags. bottles and sac:,s
For Simon the Junkman no longer trav-
erses the streets with that cry peculiar to
the itinerant fellows of his craft.
He has got beyond that, according to his
customers Of his own. Special Policeman
Peter Levin of the Southern Pacific attests
TINS fact, but he declares that Simon the
over George Whiting. James Cremins and ID
Edward McDermott. aged Is. IL and II, re-
sspectively. whom he has had driving about
ing with scrap iron and other salable junk
OF considerable value. The boys were ar
rested and the accusation against Simon
the Junkman was made In Police Judge
MoSans court.
SIMON NOT PERTURBEp
When taken into custody the boys had
In their possession a cooper's hammer,
which has proved to be the property of the
Woerner cooper shop. besides some scrap
iron taken from the railroad yards. The
boys were driving a small wagon. hired
from ". Rosenberg, who keeps livery
stable on Fifth street. The boys were taken
Special Levin identified Cremins and Nc
Dermott as members of crowd Of boys
that have been guilty of repeated depreda-
ti9ns in the vicinity Of the railroad yards.
He informed Judge Mogan that in his
opinion. the boys were not criminally in
ciined. but were urged on to their deeds by
issue summons for the dealer in old iron.
as we'll as a dealer named Cohn. who keeps
place OF bryant street.
When/1nformed of the charge that had
been brought against him. Simon the junk
man was not the least bit perturbed
beg your pardon" he said politely: II
the theft Of some iron from the Preside
and Ferries Railroad Company The case
was dismissed in the Police Court, but De-
tective Egan had me UP before the Police
Commissioners to take away my license.
The trial was ready to go on when Mr..
Newhall said: I cannot try this man: am
cost me 500 for lawyers and all that.
don't want anv more Of it
Il never buy from boys. l don't know
any of those arrested. / never saw them
in my life. No. I never buy from boys
At this juncture two lads entered the
place with cfiul of cid stuff and emptied
1t upon tie floor. But Mrs. Simon, tire guar
dian for the tunkman. had heard him de,
claim that he never bought from boys and
she peremptorily ordered them to leave the
place.
I'VE didn't steal it," was the ironical re-
mark of one of the boys
Take 1t away: shrieked Mrs. Simon.
I'VE don't buy from boys
BOYS USED A WAGON.
But II Simon the Junkman would not pur
chase rubbish from boys while a stranger
was present he did so from the three boys
arrested for petty larceny. Whiting de-
clares he was on his way to the juBkman's
place when arrested, and he asserts that
the other boys had been going about the
city for more than week picking up stuff
which they took TO Simon, who purchased
II and paid them we'll. He always compn-
menfed them on their industry. Just as Fa-
gin did when he gave Oliver Twist his first
lesson in the gentle art of pocket-picking.
berg whom they paid at the rate of 81 day.
Whiting had only made one trip with his
companions when they were arrested. but
Crernins and McDermott were engaged In
a day there must have been much profit in
the business.
Judge Moean learned that the Southern
Pacific has been losing much valuable iron
of late, and. strangely enough. It was al
WAYS unearthed In some neighboring junk
shop.
Levin to Judge Mog=l. but 1 do blame
those who encourage them to do this sort
OF work Simon the Junkman has been
doing this sort of thing for a long time. not
only with these boys. D;;t with others with
whom we have had considerable trouble
He buys all the boys bring to him and
urges them to go after more"