The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-14

One DO! Caught and Finally Let Go After
Scare In Court--BrOoklyn Gang OF
Youthful Cave Dwellers Temporarily
Broken Up-CsDtain Kidd Their Hero
The Capt. Kidd band of cave dwellers
have abandoned their stronghold in the
vacant lot back of Grace Gospel Church,
on cambridge street near Saratoga ave-
nue., Brooklyn. The police Of the Ralph
avenue station and the parishioners of the
church hope that they have disbanded the
gang for good.
This bold, bad band is made up OF school,
boys who read dime novels and talk Of the
deeds Of the bad men Of old. OF course
they had to have n cave. Some fifteen
boys made up the band, and they spent a
good deal OF time in digging out their cave.
They installed small stove and odd pieces
OF furniture. The cave was really great
big hole with n board cover. There the
boys would squat after school hours and
have the time OF their lives.
Everything went smoothly with the band
until Wednesday. Their occasional raids
for wood and eatables had not excited much
comment. except among the parishioners
Of Grace Gospel Church. The Rev. W. j.
Mosier is the pastor of the church, and he
has looked with dsfavor on the cave
dwellers for some time. Mr.. Mosier be-
lieves in boys having a good time, but he
objects to their climbing through the win
dows of his church and taking the furnish
ings to fit up their cave.
He found two OF the boys in his church
two weeks ago. Mr.. Mosier chased the
boys away, but he didn't scare them much
and Wednesday afternoon scouting party
of three was sent out from the cave to gather
wood They had skinned the lot pretty
clean in previous wood hunting expeditions,
and the only wood in sight was on the
church.
That the storm door in the rear of the
church was made of wood the boys had dis
covered long before. The three scouts
decided they would have that door. II
made no difference to them that services
were going on in the church at the time.
They laid hold of that storm door and
started with il back to the cave.
The noise the boys made disturbed the
Pensioners. and the wife Of the sexton
spotted the boys carrying away the door.
She gave the alarm and 100 or more persons
gave up their prayers to join in the chase,
in which Pastor Mosier took hand
The boys heard the cries Of the pursuing
party and dropped the door. The boys in
the cave heard the racket and they poured
out of their rrtreat and made for the fence
and safety. Every one got away but one
boy. Frank Lynch was caught. and, az
it turned out later, he was a new recruit
TO the Capt. Kidd band.
Pastor Mosier turned him over to the
police Of the Ralph avenue station. and
Frank spent many uncomfortable hours
until he was arraigned before Magistrate
Furlong in the Gates avenue police court
Yesterday morning Frank wasn't allow ed
to lnger all night in a police cell. His
father bailed him out and took him home
Frank tearfully admitted later that he
would have spent far more comfortable
night in cell.
He was a scared and penitent boy when
he appeared in court. Pastor Mosier was
there as complainant against him, and
Frank seemed to think the best he would
get was Jail for life.
who stole the door," demanded the
Magistrate.
Two other boys and me-" said Frank.
Jack and Joe and me took it," he con-
/ tinued.
! Pastor Moscr spoke up then and told the
Court how the cavedwelleH had broken
up the prayer service. Mr. Mosier made a
strong plea in Franks favor and declared
4 he thought the prisoner was the least guilty
of tho whole gang.
Il was only in the cave once said Frank
bracing up.
Il don't want TO press the complaint