The St. Louis Republic., 1903-07-29

Confined in a long, narrow cell in the St.
Clair County Jail at Belleville, in which are
score or more prisoners ranging in age
from 15 to 45 years. Frank Gregory, the 49,
year-old boy who killed his father Sunday
| afternoon, displays little more emotion than
hardened criminal arrested for some
trivial offense.
The boy is very youthful in appearance and
the veneer Of his common-school education
has not been entirely rubbed off during the
six years he has been associating with
rather questionable companions.
He regrets making certain statements to
the police and others. in which he admitted
that the crime was premeditated. and now
loudly proclaims he is innocent Of the
charge Of murder, saying that the gun was
discharged accidentally.
Either of his two explanations Of the oc-
currence, however. can be traced directly
to the evil that besets hundreds of boys
and young men in every large city and
which is the first step that has led many
youths into the ways Of crime.
Frank admits that he frequently canned
beer" With three or four or maybe a
dozen good fellows' he was accustomed
to hang around saloon at the corner Of
Broadway and Howard street. from the
the morning.
When he first Joined these convivial
crowds he was simply a spectator at the
gatherings in the shelter of some
convenient woodpie or in the depths of
an alley where the can" was emptied and
refilled as often as the necessary Change
was forthcoming.
BOY A GOOD WORKER,
At that time he had just graduated from
the Douglas School and had secured work
with the Niedringhaus Stamping Company.
He is naturally bright, and the detrimental
influences of the crowd had not yet had
its effect upon the boy.
He worked hard, and as his foreman
noticed his steady application and willing
ness his wages were increased, until he was
earning comfortable salary.
His father was also steadily employed
and earned goodly sum as a weigher at
the Advance elevator in East st. Louis.
Things were prosperous in the Gregory
household, and, in addition to many out
ings and excursions in the summer, there
were plenty Of amusements in winter.
Frank always turned his pay envelope
over to his father, but the latter realized
that youth has many needs and that only
little pleasure can be had without money,
SO Franks personal allowance from the
family fund was generous.
The fact that Frank Gregory always
has plenty of money" made him a welcome
addition to the ''beer-canning' crowds and
his advent was hailed with delight and his
absences noted and commented upon when
he again was present.
To boy just out of school and unac-
quainted with the selfishness of men of
the stripe with which he was associating
the fiattery and Establishments of his COM
panions made a deep impression.
HIS DOWNWARD WAY.
From calling for pop or black soda"
when he or some one else stood treat" to
an occasional glass of beer was but mat
ter of time. Then came the first taste of
real booze" and after the initial plunge
when he went reeling home intoxicated, his
downward way was rapid
The morning following his first drunk"
would, perhaps, have saved him, but the
assurances from his companions that he
now was man, all right" and that they
did not think he was such a true sport"
more than counteracted his repentance
earlier in the day.
The late hours and the drink had their |
effects on his work and he became careless. |
AAS SiAA hSu' oAu dlluOuSn MS
tried to undo the mischief, the cause of |
which they knew only too well, he paid lit |
tie attention to their words of advice
The climax come when his liquor-excited |
nerves failed him while at work, and a |
heavy stamper mangled two fingers of his |
right hand.
He was incapacited for work, but after |
two or three days he was able to Join the |
crowd" During the days Of his con-
valescence he became more and more ad-
dicted to the ways his evil companions |
pointed out.
His father did not curtail his allowance
after his injury, but as time passed and |
Frank gave no intimation of returning to
the stamping mills or finding other work |
Mr.. Gregory decided to take the lad under
his personal supervision.
OBTAINS ANOTHER POSITION.
He secured a position for him in the Ad-
yaaes elevator. where the boy would bs