Evening star., 1909-07-14
NEGRO BOY IS CRACK BURGLAR
GRADUATE OF BowERY -FAGIN
SCHOOL.
Began by Bobbing Small Stores.
Studied Theory Of HOUSEKEEPING
One Month Before Working.

NEW YORK. July 14.-Attired in a nat
ty blue knickerbocker suit and not the
least worried over his arrest for
breaking into the house of Alfred Reeves
in Yonkers early yesterday morning.
Frederick Douglass a sixteen-year-old
colored boy, told the Yonkers police yes
terday a story Of his previous exploits
in crime and his long training in school
for crime on the lower east side.
AS a consequence Of the boys confess
headquarters in New York where boys
are taught to steal and are hired as tools
by accomplished criminals.
Douglass admitted yesterday that he
had been employed to break into houses
by three white men. whom he called the
"Parkers." He would not tell the police
where they could be found even after he
was subjected to severe third degree.
Boys Tale Of Burglaries.
About his own exploits in breaking
into houses the boy was perfectly frank.
He said he had begun to steal about a
year ago when he was working in Asbury
Park. He entered the home OF Mrs. De
Areas there and stole So, with which he
~
Only few days after he arrived here,
he said, he was on the Bowery when he
was approached by white man and
asked whether he would like to be shown
an easy way OF making a good living.
He said that he would, and was then
taken to the headquarters Of the gang,
where he was shown how to use Jimmy
and the other appliances of a burglar.
80, Ixy;vr H. ~, II "a
the business for month he was taken
out on Sd avenue with a couple of ex-
perienced men, where he was given a
practical lesson.
They liked the way 1 worked he
said, 'and soon had Job to do every
night In most cases they were just
robbing small stores in the downtown
district. 1 would enter the stores by
the window or the transom over the
door, and while . pal stood watch would
pick up everything worth having"
When he was arrested Douglass was
with three white men. They were all
waiting at the railway station for a train
when the police approached them, about
; o'clock in the morning. AS soon as
they saw the police the three men fled
but Douglass remained.
The police found In his possession two
children's banks. S35, a gold watch and
chain and some silver spoons and forks
These he confessed to having taken from
the nome OF MT. Reeves.
Worked With Two Pals.
THE men with me were pals that
met when l worked for the Parkers,"
Douglass explained yesterday. I'VE all
used to work together until we got tired
of doing all the work and not getting
the swag, so Goodwin and Davenport
andsI started in business for Ourselves.
1.-The first job we did alone was in
Mount Vernon. Then we went up to New
Rochelle and robbed a house there and
got S4Oo, Of which l got S175 as my share.
That was about three weeks ago, but 1
spent the money playing poker, buying
orchids and American beauty roses for
my girl and on new clothes.
After the money was all gone we got
busy and did a number of jobs around
Long Island and in the smaller towns.
The first job l did used TO be scared
to death, but after a while / got used to
1t and never was bit afraid to 60 into
a house where the people were asleep