The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-05
BOY OF TEN YEARS
R|NGLEADER Of CRIME
One Example of Condition That
Is Puzzling Paris Police and
Clergy Alike.
YOUTHS OFTEN MURDERERS
Organized Gang Commits Petty
Thefts With Assistance Of
Trained Magpie.
YOUTHS OFTEN MURDERERS
BY PAUL VILLIERS.

Special Cable to The Tribune.
PARIS, March i.-The Paris police arc
Interested In philanthropic work and the
clergy appalled, and puzzled over the
constant increase OF crime committed by
children and youth 1t Is regrettably and
notoriously a fact that most Of the mur-
dcrs and dangerous assaults which are
chronicled In the columns devoted to
crime are committed by young people
whose ages vary from Is to 81
Now a small boy, no more than 10
years OF age has suddenly emerged from
obscurity as the rlngleadcr OF thieves.
This child had already been brought last
month before the police comrnissary OF
the township in which he dwels on
charge OF stealing, but in consideration
OF his youthfulncss he was released. A
few days later he organized gang
which promptly set to work With a Will.
Goods displayed for sale outside the shops
in that township disappeared as II by
magic. and every hour Of the day trades
men were seen hurrying to the police
commissary 10 report losses.
A couple of lads were caught in the
act. They confessed. admitting that they
had committed some of the thefts, add
Ing that their gang was under the con-
troll of the boy of 10. He was eventually
discovered. fast asleep, In van al
railway station. Brought once more be-
fore the police commissary. the lad gave
vent 10 lamentations over the capture or
his gang at the moment when IL was
about To distinguish Itself by grand
"fn very short time he cried. we
would have made our fortunes, as had
discovered way OF exploiting the mar
kets. Well. | am caught and SO much
the worse for us all.
These Have Trained Maggie.
Think Of a gang of thieves using
magple in their work. Six lads and a
magpie have been run In by the police;
active member OF the rang II did not
purlon on It's own account. but its help
was invaluable.
sufficiently simple minded tradesman and
entered his shop. The bird perched on
the wrist of one OF the boys and did
tricks bowed. danced. and chattered
The ingenious shopkeeper was amused.
Suddenly the magpie few UP and perched
near the ceiling. oct OF reach. The boys
and the shopkeeper started hunting for
the bird-not all the boys. however. for
one Of them stopped behind. near the till
and e-npiied II. whistle called the
bird down and the bird and boys were
off with their booty
Gives Freedom to Save Life.
Great bravery was displayed by local
criminal. who. after effecting a rescue.
enIea orcd in vain TO avoid recognition
by The police! 4 young woman, having
by young man with whom she keeps
company, as they were strollfng along
together. suddenly left his side and threw
herself In a canal. Her lover did not
know how 10 swim. but he promptly fol-
lowed her into the canal With the idea
of trying TO save her. and the pair were
pened TO be in the neishborhood. jumped
into the water and, bringing the couple
safe TO land. was cheered by many,
Some policemen who had been helping
In this good work went up TO the gallant
rescuer and. with compliments on his
valiant behavior. asked who he was. The
he started off fast as his legs could
carry him, few moments OF hot pur-
suit and lie WAS taken. when caught. TO
the station. where he had finally TO ad-
nit that he was wanted" as he had
been sentenced TO two years imprison-
ment. The inspector handed him the re-
ward which he had gained for saving the
two lives. and then had him taken TO
the prefecture OF police,
Family Robs Railway.
family consisting OF woman and
her two sons has lust been frIcd for
long series OF robberies here. One Of
railway, and as the trains in which he
was travelling were In motion. he tooll
out OF the the, vans san and threw Of a, chosen
his brother The latter carried them to
their mother, who sold them al different
markets. II is calculated that during the
last three years this trio succeeded In
making $4,000 out of these thefts The
railway man has been sentenced 10 five
years imprisonment, his brother 10 two
and their mother to eight months.
May Slap Wife's Face.
in refusing a divorce To d woman who
had accused her husband OF 'slapping
her. face In the woods" the court here
said:
Whereas. il IL be conceded that pc
ttioner did suffer the contusions OF
which she complains. In consequence OF
a scene Of which the court knows neither
the cause nor the origin. save the fact
of the more or less shrewish temper Of
petitioner, such a ground Is insufficient
for granting Il decree nf divorce"
Over 900 foreign deserters. including 222
Germans. presented themselves at the
Mezicrcs recruiting office last year for
service in the French foreign legion.
Only I31 were III for military service