Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-05-09
Many DALLAS BOYS IMPLICAT-
ED IN SERIES OF PETTY
THIEVING LASTING FOR
SEVERAL MONTHS.
ALL UNDER 16 YEARS OLD
teal Pipes, Tobacco, Cigarettes, Pad
locks, Knives, Guns, and Many
Other Articles; Break and Enter
Store Buildings; One TELLS" on
Another; Seven or More Confess.

Discovery of system of petty
thievery which has extended over a
period of several months in this city,
and which has been carried on by a
humber of boys, all under age, and
fanging from eight to 16 years, was
made this week when Frank Kersey
Received information which led to
Bhe discovery of a large amount of
the stuff stolen from his store a
month ago. The goods, which in
RIuded a number of pipes, were found
buried in a sack in a field near the
eity, where they had been placed by
The youthful culprits. 1t appears
4hat the young thieves had been in
the habit of disposing of the pipes
10 some of the other boys and had
given or sold the cigarettes and to-
bacco to others and this action on
stheir part ultimately led to their un-
Doing.
One "Tells" on Another.
AS soon as an entering wedge had
been secured, one confession led to
another, until II or IA boys had been
Implicated in a series of thievery
'that has driven Dallas merchants dis
tracted for several months. Among
chose who have lost stuff are Guy
Bros, Craven Bros, Ross Ellis, Fid-
ler's Cash store, the Dallas Meat
company, Smith & Ellison, Dallas
Soda works, W. l.. Soehren and 9th
erS. In some instances the boys en-
Tered the places of business during
The night time, while in others the
stuff was taken during business
hours, by the simple matter of lift
|ing it when the proprietOrs or the
clerks were not looking. There were
two boys implicated in the Kersey
burglary and both Of them made a
clean breast of the whole matter,
telling Mr.. Kersey and the authOri-
ties how they entered the store and
what they did with the stuff. The
candy was eaten, the cigars and Gig
'arettes were consumed by the gang,
some of the boys who assisted in
this pastime being not more than
Eight years old.
Gang Rounded Up.
Following the developments on
Tuesday when the identity of the
Kersey thieves was first discovered
and the confessions made, an inves-
tigation and questioning of the en-
tire bunch was held Wednesday at-
ternoon in the county judges offices
In the court house conducted by Dep
uty District Attorney Tooze, Sheriff
Grant, Night Policeman Grant, and
much additional information was Sc
cured. One boy after another told
all he knew, and each time he said
anything he implicated some other
boy who in turn was sent for until
the rooms resembled a juvenile court.
Most of the boys appeared to be pen
itent and ready to make amends, but
two or three of them seemed to take
the affair lightly and showed consld-
cradle defiance during the rapid fire
of questions that were hurled at
them by the officers.
Every boy who had any Of the
stolen plunder was ordered to turn
1t over to Sheriff Grant at once and
all of them were instructed to appear
at the court house on Monday after
noon at 2 o'clock for investigation
by the Polk county grand jury.
The Observer will not print the
names of these youthful miscreants.
1t will follow this course, not on their
account, but out of respect for their
parents, all of whom are well-known
and highly respected people of the
community. 1t is probable that sew