Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-05
FIVE BOY BURGLARS CAUGHT
Mystery of Robberies Uncovered by
Arrest of Youthful Gang.
RANGE FROM EIGHT TO SIXTEEN
Lnds Confess to Having Robbed sew
eral stOres-RRn Away from
Home, Ate Chewing Gum
and slept Outdoors.

Five small boys. ranging in age from to
l6 years, trembled before Captain Savage
Thursday and confessed to having com
mitted a series Of burglaries which have
baffled the police department for several
weeks. Part OF the loot was recovered
and the remarkable disclosure of juvenile
depra yity was made when two of the lads
suffered arrest and were made to confess
the secrets OF the robberies Thursday
morning.
The entire band of young culprits then
were quickly gathered in. They gave their
names as Fred Kelley, 10 years old, 1910
Howard street; Sam Kohn, 10 years old 935
North Twenty street; George and
Carl Martin, and 3 years old. 2522 Lake
street; Cornell Norton, years old, 1884
Lake street.
The Kelley and Kohn lads were captured
Thursday morning at II o'clock by officer
Pszanowskl and taken to the station, where
they confessed after a long sweating to
committing several of the burglaries which
have occurred within the last few days.
Detectives Devereese and Van Duesen
took the hohn lad. who had owned up that
there were others to their gang, in the
police auto 10 a place in the vicinity of
headquarters, and there captured the last
three, who have also confessed to their
guilt
The gang has made a number OF robber-
les but none of the latter have been heavy
hauls, as far as is known. They have been
successful IN entering and looting several
places without attracting attention., how
ever, and in each place they have stolen
a large quantity of property.
When searched, Kelley and Cohn had a
screw driver, a large number of keys and
about $40 on their persons. Both of the
boys, It is stated, have run away from
| their homes, and for a short time have
| been living wherever they could bunk for
the night. Wednesday night was spent in
a wagon, and other nights have been con-
| sumed in making raids and proving
around it is thought
! some of the Robberies.
/ July 81 they entered the Bee Hive store al
2422 North Twentyfourth street, which is
owned by Abraham Kahn and stole a gold
watch, razor, shoes and a hat The lads
made their entry by cutting panel from
| the rear door.
On August the Freggar drug store at
1902 sherman avenue was entered and about
~ taken from the cash register. The rob-
bers succeeded in unlocking the door, and
made their escape without notice
The Schaffer and Morse grocery company
at AIS South Eighteenth street was broken
into August 3, and four pounds of chew
Ing tobacco, two boxes of cigars, a carton
of smoking tobacco and large quantity
OF chewing gum taken.
Their capture came after a two-day search
Wednesday afternoon, while Officer Pszan
/. lie
to him and pointed out the lads and sale
that he was sure they were the ones whc
had robbed his store
Boys Run Into Building.
| AS Patrolman PsZanowski started toward
them, the boys, who, were keen to what wal
going on, made a quick dodge into thu
Brandeis clothing; store. They went through
the tunnel and up the elevator in the mair
building. For more than an hour and
half the officer searched for them, but thei
escape was complete.
Thursday noon, as he neared the corne
Of Sixteenth and Douglas, he noticed tn
boys coming down the street He stepped
in doorway and waited until they wer
even with him, when he grabbed the olde
boy. Sam Cohn, however, started to run
when the officer called to him to stop, o
he would shoot. This frightened the la,
and he gave himself up TO the policeman.
The watch which was stolen from A
Kahn, and valued at $40 was pawned in
shop where the boys got but 81 for IT.
complete description was obtained from tn
pawnbrolIer when the watch was recovered
and the detectives were looking for the boy
at the time they were captured.
The police say they hope that by tht
caputre of these boys they have broker
up the gang which has been doing so mucl
thieving in he-north part of the city, which
has 80 long baffled all their efforts.