Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-02-28
HOW BOYS ARE
MADE THIEVES
Rev. Frank Moore, supt. of
Railway Rsformatory Lee
tures for Teachers Assn
LEARN VICE ON STREETS
Gangs of Young Criminals
Are Formed in This Way
Many Are Redeemed.

Asserting that patriotism OF the
highest degree permeates the souls
CT the young dezens of the under
world and denouncing he attitude
of the government which debars for
mer inmates OF penal Institutions
from entrance into the United States
army and navy. and vividly delineat-
ing and describing the traits and
character OF the street CANNON
Rev. Frank Moore, superintendent
of the Railway reformatory, held
the rapt attention Of the members
of the Perth Amboy Teachers Asso-
citation for one hour and fifteen min
utes at the high school auditorium,
yesterday afternoon. He took az his
subject The Kid on the Corner"
Mr.. Moore began by correcting the
impression given by the prevalent
term of designating the reformatory
at Railway. He said: at ia large
enough to be called the New Jersey
reformatory. 1t is your reformatoSy
and belongs to your city and every
other city in New Jersey"
He continued by saying that We
III the rush and crush or life are
act mindful of the boys about ur
who grow up with their pals ou the
street eve should consider the boy
with dirty hands. begrimed face
who jumps the trolley cars, follows
the circus, and delights in guying the
cop, who sometimes sells papers and
shines shoes. but for the most part
occupies himself with mischief. He
loves to patronize the moving pic
ture show aud the cheap theatre.
Mr.. Moore decaarsA sta1As .s.sas,s,
! as. NOV tha.sxsnnnu2Gnrce OF annoyanS
-. is q zs--ss to the co..
and perplexing probfeir. ......,-=--
munity In which he lives
THAT boy, nevertheless, is par
of our own peculiar society" he said
"He has his own peculiar language
which everyone don't understand
Matches to him are sticks tobacco,
weed; liquor, booze detective
boob and he refers to policemen
as screws When he feigns work II
Is 'stalling.' sharing with his pals ht
calls splitting 1t, and when he man
ages to get drinks without paying fol
them he calls II swinging It,"
Mr.. Moore told OF how the street
urohins organize into gangs and
have inviolubie rules or principles
Eleven OF gang, who called them
selves the DIRTY Dozen" had come
to the refromatory. He told how
they were fond of attending the
cheap theatres In their town, and
hoy each took his turn In supplying
money for a weeks admission to the
playhouses. One of their speciallties
was In robbing stores in one of which
two got to Paris with 5000. only to
be arrested on their return to New
York after spending the money in
rjotous living.
THE gangs" Mr.. Moore said, "are
made up OF boys from fifteen to
eighteen years and when they are
older they are transferred to other
gangs of more experienced and pro
fessonal criminals" He told how
they existed by robbing box cars, for
eigEe.s, stores and committing other
crimes. But he thought the young
crock should be pitied more than
blamed THE street boy should
have more of pity than OF blame" he
said. Practically all, he asserted,
that came to the reformatory had
come from families so INDECENT that
they were encouraged to steal by
their parents, from grossly illiterate
families, from families broken by di
vocce or by the death Of one or both
parents, from families through
which ran a criminal vein. handed
Continued on page 81