Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-03
Leader of Boy Bandits
Captured by the
Police
Lurid Dime Novel Claims
Another Victim of
Tender Years
Roy Vaughan, Held on Burglary
Charge, Tells Details Of Plot of
Modern Dick Turpin
Gang

Roy Vaughan, the 12-year-old leader
of an alleged band Of boy bandits, was
arrested yesterday afternoon by De-
tectives Mcnamara and S. Mckenzie
after an exciting chase in the vicinity
Of Tenth and Flower streets.
When the detectives surprised the
gang of boys in barn near the new
building of Orr & Hines undertakers,
they scattered like covey of frightened
quail. One climbed a tree, others
jumped to the roof of the Orr e. Hines
building and others sought refuge in the
barn.
Detective Mcnamara finally captured
young Vaughan, who squirmed like a
fish in his grasp and nearly got away.
BY means of tracings of footprints
taken in a Mrs. Giles room on South
Hope street, Detective Mcnamara said
he identified Vaughan as the boy who
entered her room and stole two rings.
When the boy finally realized that he
had to do with the majesty of the law
he made full confession, according to
the officers, and freely told them of his
rlans,
Would Be Bandit Leader
He said, it is stated, that he wanted
to be the leader of a gang of bold boy
bandits. He wanted to secure plunder
from robbing houses and stores, buy a
lot of guns and masks and hold people
UP at night.
The other boys, he is alleged to have
said, were his followers and bound to-
gether by most terrible oaths of fealty
1t was learned by the detectives that
the captain of the boy bandits only
came to the city a month ago with his
parents.
He is accused of stealing a drum and
sword from the Masonic temple. This
particular theft was understood not to
be for gain, but to furnish proper equip
ment for the captain"
Vaughan is charged with burglary for
entering the room of Mrs. Jennie Giles
at 947 South Hope street and stealing
two valuable rings.
Mrs. Giles reported to the police that
she suspected boys living In the neigh
borhood. With this meager clew the
detectives unearthed what is said to be
the most complete plot on the part Of
would-be boy robbers since Detective
Tom" Zeiger captured a gang of boy
bicycle thieves.
Detective Mcnamara said: Young
Vaughan'S father is very i'll with
consumption and his mother earns
a living for the family by dressmaking.
feel only pity for the family and will
try to keep them from any undue noto-
riety.
Mrs. Vaughan came to me this after
noon with tears in her eyes, telling me
to spare her boy if possible. | could
not promise her any immunity from
punishment and the boy will probably
be sent to Whittier Young Roy is GER
tainly a cool little fellow and his reve-
lations of plans for theft were start
ling"
Make Tracing of Footprints
when the report of the robbery
from Mrs. Giles room was turned
ov to us we secured a tracing of
footprints in Mrs. Giles room on South
Hope street.
I'VE measured them carefully and
compared them with the length of
Vaughan's feet. They showed an ex-
act similarity.
while Vaughan was the only boy
arrested this afternoon, we have a line
OH the others and will shortly take
them into custody. We believe that al
tmost by accident we have stumbled
on gang of boys that were planning
Wholesale thefts.
Boys can easily enter houses with
out suspicion where an older man
would at once be discovered"
Concealed in the barn. which Is near
Tenth and Flower streets. We're found
lot of articles which will have to be
identified later by the owners.
Gang Recently Organized
II was evident said the. Officers, that
the gang was just organized and was
planning wholesale robberies.
Roy Vaughan was the acknowledged
leader and his naive confessions to the
officers made them think they were
dealing with a modern Dick Turpin.
Dime novel reading with boy bandits
as heroes is believed to have inspired
much of the material for the lurid inn
aginations of the boys, none of whom
are more than IA years of age
From what Roy told the detectives,
1t was evident to them that the barn
was to be the rendezvous for the gang
and that all plunder would be secreted
there until II could be disposed of 10
second hand men and pawnbrokers.
AS far as could be learned no older
person was implicated in the plot, and
the boys seemed to look to Roy
Vaughan as the only leader He was
said to be sharph very cunning and
brazen-faced until given searching
examination.
Then 1t was, according to the detec-
tives, that he broke down and gave
a startling account Of his plans and
alleged tkefts
The Masons had not missed the drum
and sword, and were astonished to
learn that a 12-year-old boy was ac-
cused of stealing their property.
identifies Stolen Rings
Mrs. Giles was asked to identify her
rings which she did. and other plunder
Will be identified later
Several thefts from rooms on Hope
Olive and Flower streets lately are laid
IN the exertions of the boy bandits and
the detectives expect to obtain more