The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-03-02

A Young Offender.
On Wednesday boy entered THE NEw
office and asked for employment. He sal
he had been a printer for three years an
could do general work. As there wa
room for a helper he was given case
The boy said his name was Leon Godown
his home being at Lambertville. He wa
told to report at the office on Thursda'
morning. In the meantime he went II
search of place to board and secured
room at the residence of Mrs. Eliza Clay
poole, on Brainard street.
The next morning he was on hand anC
worked quite satisfactorily, but on FRIDAY
he failed to be on hand. About 8 o'clocl
Mrs Clsypoole came to the office ant
made inquiries and said the boy left thu
house early, saying he did not want any
breakfast, that he was not feeling well
and did not intend to go to work until af
ternoon. After he left the house Mrs
Claypoole discovered that $27 had beer
taken from pocketbook which was lying
in the dining room. She could account
for the money for a certain period, but
there was one time when the boy might
have been able to get it during Thursday
evening.
Mrs. Claypoole was down town during
this period, and lady who was in the
house at the time reported that the boy
had come in and gone into the dining
room. The pocketbook was lying on q
sewing machine, and while not in open
sight it was in position where the boy
could easily get at it, as he had seen the
owner pay some money from it during the
day and noticed where she put it. While
circumstances seemed to point to the boys
guilt, Mrs. Claypoole was loath to charge
him with the crime. At her house there
is a boarder who is acquainted In Lam
bertville, and the questions he PROFOUND
ed to the boy elected answers to show
that the latter knew about the place.
Detective Parker was put to work and
it was discovered that the boy had visited
a barber shop, and after having his hair
cut showed roll of bills and said he was
going to Trenton to buy some clothing.
The authorities of that city were notified
and the detective made arrangements to
90 to Trenton in the evening, In COM
pany with some one who could identify
the lad, who had announced his intention
of being at the armory where there was
to be large demonstration in the even
ing.
But the visit was not necessary. At
noon the youth entered his boarding house
and calmly proceeded to arrange for din
ner. He had on new overcoat and car
ried a suit case in which he had complete
outfit of new clothes On being charged
with the theft of the money he was very
much surprised and apparently hurt. De-
tective Parker was sent for and proceeded
to search him, but few coins were all
that could be discovered. The overcoat
was a new one, but the boy said it was
one he had possessed for some time and
that it was sent to him from Lambertville.
D6tuR dSkcu uOW II Aou UhS A0DSA "a :"
Mount Holly dealer, he said the party has
a store in the latter place. After some
questions, however, he admitted that he
found the money lying in the house and
took it. He told where he had purchased
the clothing, and visits to the stores desig-
mated resulted In the exchange of the
goods for the money, all of which was re-
covered and restored to the owner.
The boy was taken to the Jail where he
now awaits the action of the authorities.
At first 1t was thought that this was his
first offence, as he did not act like one &C
customed to committing such acts, as he
did not attempt to leave town, but went
right back to the place where he had COM
mitted the theft. taking with him the pur-
chases made with the money unlawfully
ACQUIRED Had he been so disposed he
could have gone to Philadelphia and all
traces of him would soon have been lost.
His apparent carelessness and indiffer-
ence are probably characteristics which
cannot be effaced, as sufficient of his his
tory is known to assure the fact that
while this is the first time he has been
caught, it is not the first petty offence
with which he has been connected. He
will probably go to the Railway Reform
atOrv