The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-23
ROBBER BUDD|ES
 ARE BROKEN UP A Notorious Gang of Boys in
 Birmingham CAUSE MUCH TROUBLE The Leaders Are Only 13 and II Years old Respectivcly-An Organixa- tiOn Composed of Eigh-
 teen Boys
CAUSE MUCH TROUBLE

Probably the most amazing series of mysterious thefts and other felonious acts which have been unearthed in Birming- ham recently has been exposed, and the offenders sent to reform schools by the school authorities of Birmingham. No names of the members of what was known as the "Robber Buddies' have been made known by those having a hand in the wind-up of their activities, but 1t is said more than 25 reputable families of Birmingham were directly concerned in the exposure of their youth- ful members belonging to the gang"
 The activities of the crowd of school boys and street urchine baffled the de- tectives of Birmingham. who finally con fessed their utter inability to cope with the series of mysterious acts of depre- dation that were daily reported. Finally the school authorities started an investi- gation, forced some of the members to confess and the grand finale was reached when fathers and mothers returned to people who had lost them a great uuan- tity of bric-a-brac and small trinkets.
 Eighteen Members
 The organization was composed of about IS boys, whose ages averaged Ii years. In the neighborhood where they operated chickens were stolen, where upon every negro of the community was placed under suspicion. A pig was taken from harmless countryman and this sold for g. The money went into the treasury of the gang.
 The youthful James Boys" entered the schools of the city, carried away many things of value and the students were from time to time deprived of the serv- ices of many articles of personal own ership.
 The churches were not exempted from these depredations. and it is stated the communion service of one church was hastily unearthed from the cellar of a prominent home.
 The resourcefulness of the youngsters was emphasized in great many ways and their activities wended into more than a score of channels,
 The password of the organization was Buddy" derived from the title of the piratical gang. They used this as sig nal and no one could get into close touch with the members without using this word quickly and distinctly.
 Had Council Chamber
 result of the investigation by the school authorities disclosed the fact that permanent council chamber was main- tained by the gang and to this the young men would go every day to get instruc- tions for the days work. The leaders of the gang were aged Il and B, respec- lively. The elder was taken in charge by Maurice Willows of the Boys club and the other one allowed to remain with his parents after summary punishment of tine most youthful abhorrent kind had been administered unto him.
 None of the school authorities will dis cuss the case with view of it's pub licity, but tt was stated that the gang kept the neighborhood in a high fevec of expectation and fear for several weeks before the end came and that a sigh of relief went heavenward since the lead CTS have been tanned.
 It was added by the school officers that the boys who were members of the gang had suddenly become very atten- tive to their school duties and have been completely reformed of their erring ways.