The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-29
YOUTHFUL CRIMINALS.

Seventeen years old and a murderer!
Harry Tshorne has arrived at the end
Of his brief criminal career. A yegg-
man at fourteen and behind the bars
charged with a capital crime three
years later. That is going the route In
record time. Possibly he did not mean
to kill, but he had a cooked revolver
in his hand and pressed close to his.
victims breast while engaged In the
act of robbing. The trigger was pulled,
and George w. Fassel fell dead to the
floor. What tragedy Not alone the
Staying of the inoffensive young grocer
and the grief of his widowed mother
and intended bride, but also the tragic
closing of the career OF a youth at the
immature age of seventeen.
The shock produced by Saturday
nights murder had not died away when
boy Of fourteen was shot through the
foot while trying to break into private
residence. Two other lads We're with
the young burglar when he was shot
1t is bad enough when men seasoned
and homes. When boys of tender years
take to the road the situation becomes
truly deplorable. While part of the
blame doubtless rests with the parents,
they can not be justly charged with
the sole responsibility. There are en-
tirely too many places of temptation
for the boys. and girls as well. The
laws are not enforced with vigor Juries
are too lenient with criminals who have
been caught; and last, but not least,
there is too much maudlin sentiment
tally after murderers have been con-
victed.
1t would seem that the time has ar
rived for vigorous action on the part of
the authorities and more watchfulness
on the part of the parents and
guardians. Salt Lake is great and
growing city. 1t must not become noted
as the abiding place of lawbreakers
and nursery of the criminal classes
1t is true that bad men chased out OF
Butte generally head in this direction;
that those going east from San Fran
cisco and other Pacific coast points
drop off the trains in search of victims
in Utah; also that migratory crimi-
nails in their travels across the CONT
nent generally take in Ogden and this
city on the way. A more careful watch
upon these tough characters is abso-
lutely essential. Let them be rounded
up Immediately upon arrival before
they have a chance to operate. 1t is
not enough to merely locate their rem
devious and arrest them after murder
has been committed or some inoffensivs
citizen knocked on the head while
peacefully vending his way homeward
after his days work. 1t was known
to the detective force of this city that
new gang OF thieves had arrived il
town. There was no difficulty in locat.
ing them after George w. Fassel lay
cold in death. Had they been taker
into custody when first observed NJ
opportunity for the commission Of
crime would have been given and the
mother and other loved ones of the un,
, fortunate grocer would have beer
spared unutterable woe and sorrow.
Citizens of Salt Lake should insis
upon general cleaning up. Let us re
move the snares and pitfalls from the
, feet of the young and, above all. let u!
make IL so warm for these criminal!
. from abroad that the news will b.
scattered over the length and breadth
, of the land that Utah is not a SAT-
place for members of their detestabl
? fraternity.