Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-24
LEGS BETRAYED HIM
JIM HARROD IN CUSTODY FOR
ACT OF VANDALISM.
Confesses to Smearing, With Ink, the
Floor and Desks Of School
Building.

Had Jim Harrod used Potomac water and
soap a little more plentifully this morning
he would probably not have been arres-eo
for participating in an act of vandalism
committed last night in the annex to the
Birney School in Hillsdale. The building
was entered last night by party Of small
colored boys and left in a terrible condl-
ton. But little property was taken from
the building by the youthful vandals, yet
considerable damage was done by emptying
number of bottles of ink on the floors
and desks. Drawers were removed FROM
the desks. apparently in search for vail
ables, but it proved there was very little
worth taking away.
The first report of the affair to the police
made it appear that text books had been
mutilated or destroyed and that the walls
of the rooms had been given coats of INK
An investigation made by Policemen stew
art and Raedy showed that the report had
been greatly exaggerated and that not
much damage had been done other than
the staining of the floors and desks with
the writing fluid. Search was made or the
closets in the rooms, but the contents were
not damaged.
The two policemen went about HiIlsda!e
investigating the case shortly after they
received the report, and Jim Harrod was
the first boy found whose feet and legs
showed several shades of black and at
close examination showed beyond a shadow
of a doubt that the stains had been made
with ink Similar stains were found on
his wearing apparel but he protested that
he had not been near the school building
since the beginning of vacation.
Il got the ink on me last night at home"
the youth declared Then he attempted to
account for his time all day yesterday and
last night He had no fear of the result
of his arrest he said. for the members of
his family could tell that he was not away
from home last night.
Boy Weakens and Confesses.
Prof johnson, the supervising principal
of that school division, called at the build
ing this morning after James Smiller, the
janitor, had reported the matter to the po-
lice. He was there when the policemen
reached the building with the colored youth.
He stepped aside with Jim Harrod and
listened to his answers to the questions
asked him. For some minutes the boy
stuck to his denial but he finally weakened
and admitted that he had visited the school
last night, but that he had not taken any
thing.
A little later on he took from his pockets
some of the paints such as are used in the
schools and next he produced an ink WE'LL
The property he surrendered was not worth
more than a nickel. He gave the police
the names of several companions who were
with him last night and the officers went
III SEARCH VI tneHl. lnclOentdlly lney were
careful 10 notice the legs and clothing of
the small colored boys about the street to
see If they could detect any more ink stains
One small boy whose legs were inclined
to be variegated was "held-up'' on the road
and accused of completely with Harrod
His manner was consistent with innocence,
however, and it took him but an instant to
convince the man who stopped him that he
had been stained while in the country gath
ering backberries yesterday.
in
the summer ever think Of putting your feet
in water?' the hoy was asked.
we do when We can get the water" was
his prompt response, but we don't like
the mud unless we are wading in the
branch
The police expect to have all the boys
under arrest in time for Fridays session Of
the juvenile court. Janitor Smiller will
make requistion for a barrel of acid to
use in removing the stains from the floors