The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-04
NEGRO BOYS CAREER
 Is ONE OF CRIME Judge feagin's Plan Might
 Have Saved Him SAYS IFS TOO LATE NOW Ludie Daniels First Came Into Police Prominence as Leader of the "Aud- torium Gang" Who Came Near
 During the Theatre.
SAYS IFS TOO LATE. NOW

The great need of a probation officer cannot be better illustrated than by the life of Ludle Daniels, who is said to be the meanest and most dangerous young criminal in Birmingham. This little ne- gro, scarcely IA years old, and very small for his age. causes the police more trou- ble than any other one person in the city. He is arrested with great regular guilty of a crime which was wrose than the previous one.
 More than two years ago this little ne- gro first came into prominence in police circles. He had been arrested several times before on charges of throwing rocks. fighting, or snatching fruit from a Dago stand. But just about the mid dle of December two years ago he was caught and tried as the leader of the famous gang of little negroes which was known as the Auditorium Gang" But for some miracle this gang would have destroyed the Auditorium, known now as the Bijou, by fire.
 Gang of Ten Negroes.
 The gang was composed of about ten little negroes, none of them over 15 years old, and headed by Ludie Daniels. They all lived under the theatre and had a regular nest of stolen blankets, lap robes cushions and provisions Of all kinds in their hiding place. It was when this gang was arrested and broken up that Ludie first became prominent.
 In these two years the little negro has been arrested no less than twenty times At first it was for minor charges on which Judge Feagin would fine him ten days or maybe twenty days. It was known by the police that he was doing a great deal of stealing but they were never able to catch him so that they could con- vict him.
 About three months ago the little negro was caught and convicted on a charge of petty larceny, this being the most serious charge on which he had ever faced Judge Feagin. He served his time out on the city streets and was released about week ago.
 On last Saturday a dozen hand saws Fhlueu at dDOut $4O, were sIOlen rom a freight car in the Frisco yards, and Ludie Daniels has been arrested on a charge of stealing them. It Is grand larceny this time, and Judge Feagin can bind him over to the criminal court Too Late, Says Judge Feagin. Judeg Feagin said yesterday:
 Had we been able to get this boy earlier in his career we could possibly have saved him from being a criminal but now there is but one place he will ever end-the gallows. He has been rais- ed and educated as a criminal, and lie will be one until he dies. He has two older brothers who are criminals, and who have served time on the city streets. They have been his teachers
 "This is striking example of the need of the probation officer. Had there been one five years ago he could have looked after this boy and probably saved him from being criminal. Now it is too late, l am afraid but we will take the chance and he will probably be placed on pro- bation There are a hundred other simi- lar cases in the city. and we hope to in- fiuence all these little negroes"