The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-10-20
BOYS;
STORY Of EscAPADfs

Boy criminality In the extreme mas
come to light at Owatopna through
the confessions made by two twelve
year-olds, youngest students, at the
Pillsbury academy. These lads told
the story of their deviltry to Presi-
dent Milo B. Price of PillshuTy,
Mayor Hammel and Chief of Police
Malinger. This hair-lifting tale coy
cred their exploits during the past
eight days. Both youngsters frankly
confessed to being omniverousi read
ers of dime novels Of the iurid
type. The two lads have been at the
academy less than a month, but
week before last began to make
trouble, skipping out on mysterious.
adventures, ETC.. while ooimates
began to miss personal property,
says The .Owatonna Journal. Chron-'
icle. At about the same time, ION
Sunday, October 8, two houses In
the fourth ward, were entered and
robbed; and a cow belonging to. "a
resident of that neighberhood was
found badly shot up with twenty
two caliber bullets. 1t, was not un-
til a week later. however, that these
happenings and the two. youthful
desperadoes were connected. .,-...
Stolen Articles Traced to. Boys.
On Saturday the theft. of articles
belonging to other boys in Kelly
hall was definitely traced TO these
lads, and they were ordered not to
leave the campus, pending inyestiga-
ton. They took the first opportu-
nifty, however, at lunchtime, to make
their escape by means of a fire es-
cape, carrying with them blankets
and other articles to fortify them
selves against an outdoor experience.
Taking up the story as told in: the,
confession, they went east on the
Havana road, slept in grove that
night; caught, killed and ate cou-
pie of chickens the next morning,
stopped at several farm houses, evi'
IDENTIFY scouting to find one where
the family was away, and finally To-
Gated what they were looking for at
the Won Ruben farm, the family be-
ing away to church. They cut their
way through : screen door, ran
sacked the house and found a lock
ed bureau drawer. This they forced
by means of a fat iron, and abb
stracted the contents, consisting of
about 1920. They then went onto
the Splittstoesser place. Mr.. Splits
toesser, upon recognizing them as
Pillsbury boys, telephoned DIR. Price.
who had meantime been making
every effort to locate them. He ask
ed that they be held, while he noti-
| fled the Claremont marshal 10 go ohs
and get them. Before that official
got there they had given Mr.. Splits
toesser the slip, but they were finally
located at the bunker farm land
taken to Claremont, where the. mar.
shall kept them all night at his,
home. sssi -
Questioned About Robbery.
The Claremont marshal questioned.
them about the Won Ruben robbery.
and was met with such clever de-
malls that he was convinced of their.
innocence and so positively stated
to Chief Mallinger when he arrived
in Claremont the. next morning.
However, it did not take the Owa-
tonna officer long, after he had the
boys separated, to get confessions
from both Of them. They were then
taken to Owatonna and further in,
terrogated by Mayor Hammel and
DIR. Price. $50 - SO
1t was then that they confessed
fully to robbing the houses of Jacob
Olejniczak and Con Borowicz, on oc-
tober 8, to both of which they
gained entrance by chiseling out cel-
lar windows. From Olejniczak's they
stole $40 and watch chain andrat
Borowicz's they got about thirty
seven cents and watch and spill
ed some ink on rug, besides do
ing some other minor damage. The
cow 'got hers the same day white
they were enjoying themselves in the
woods. They shot her four times
with twenty-five rife, to see her
jump. ss
Parents Are Notified. C.
The parents of, the lads, who 1--we
in st. Paul and Minneapolis, respects
lively, were notified, and came down
Monday. evening. They settled up all
damage, excepting as to the COW,
which case awaits the final outcome
of the .bovine's injuries. Shells ratfr
er sick just now. Then the parents
of the youthful desperadoes took
them home. ss -
One Of the boys confessed -tos hay
ing been q member Of a gang OH
young thieves in the cIties,} priers to-
coming to Owatonpa. The boys are
too young to be. sent to the reforms
school, and the only hope for .tfienT
is wise parental handling.
Minneapolis. October 1S,Georga
E. Vincent was today formally inN
augurated president of the Univers
sity of Minnesota. Addresses were
given by President Harry Pratt Jna.
son of the University OF. Chicago;s
President Albert Ross Hill, of the
University of Missouri; President.
John Huston of Finley college, city