New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31
WHERE SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT TO STEAL
EAST SIDE FAGINS CAREY ON THE BUSINESS SYS-
TEMATTCALLY DESPITE EFFORTS OF TEACHERS.

,r snsc,oI nnvS,caI exercises for the purpose OF
building I'D stronger bodies. Frequently boys
brain is abnormal and his mind vicious because
his body is shrunken and his blood sluggish.
Since the arrest OF "Cockeye" Lewis the police
of the Eldridge-st- station have discovered fagln
schools in Orchard Hester. Bayard ana Chrysue
SITS.
"of course these places are shut tight now that
the police have been made wise, said Ponceman
Maddox OF the Eldridge-st- squad and thinA
they will stay closed"
A few days after Maddox made TINS statement
a Tribune reporter visited a candy store not Iai
from the Bowery, the address OF Whlch mao peeh
given him by the principal of a school, and whlch
was said to be a "Fagin kindergarten" The store
was only two doors from primary school, A snort
counter with showcases stocked with rev cheap
kinds Of candy. extended back 10 wooden paru-
ton, beyond which could be heard the voices OF
children. There no one behind the counter
At a table near the rear door a boy was playing
cards with q young woman. A pile Of pennies IN
the of the table showed why the players
were too much interested in the game 10 look up
Now and then there a heavy scuthing noise
behind the partition. like the scraplng or feet On
one wall was hung a series of pictures supposed TO
represent the career of criminal showing him'
first carousing over table: second, behind the
bars, and at the end. resting beneath tombstone
bearing the Doweism. Peace be TO thee.
Let have pound of chocolate drops said
the reporter finally to the girl card player. With
exclamation of surprise. she looked up ana
shouted something in a foreign tongue to some one
behind the partition. The scraping noise suddenly
ceased. Another woman made her appearance IN
the rear doorway with half dozen boys at her
heels While she doled out the candy the urchins
gathered about the visitor nquisitvely. and two OF
them jostled against his hip pocket. A glance into
the rear room discovered numerous skirts, trousers
waistcoats and other garments hanging on line
as If fer purposes OF exhibition.
There is an alley back Of the Mills Hotel No 2. at
Rivington and Chrystie which is also said to
be rendezvous for the child thieves Of the neigh
borhood A visitor there at certain hours of the
day will find gangs of boys lounging about, ap-
parently in utter Incidence Should one listen
closely however. one will hear them calling each
other. not by names, but numbers. Watch them
for time. and will see that they congregate
and scatter with promptness and regularity
which betoken sort of system. Most of the
boys in this alley also frequent the candy store
with the picture Of the convict's grave.
According to II. William Smith principal OF
Public School No. 90 at Rivington and Forsyth
SITS, the Fagin schools are only the kindergartens
of crime and their graduates promoted to
holder and more desperate lines Of criminal work.
Here is illustration" said Mr.. Smith, TO
show how Systematically these Fagins work A
pupil OF this school was accused OF stealing his
teachers watch. l brought him my Office cross
examined him closely and at last obtained a con-
fesson. and also the watch Later the boy was
arrested for stealing in the street. and paroled by
the Children's Court. The lad came back TO school,
but broke his parole by playing truant His
mother tells me that man comes TO the house
nearly every night and takes her away with
him. One time the boy away from homo for
nine days and nights
A class OF pupils passing by and Mr.. Smith
called TO a bright eyed girl 10 come TO him
did your brother tell YOU where he went
when he was away from home over night he
asked.
He said he was with the gang" was the tlmid
reply.
What gang?" asked Mr.. Smith.
1.-THE Monk Eastman gang was the answer.
Many are the reasons why so many East Side