Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-19
BOY BURGLAR to-
SUPPORT HIS IS
YEAR OLD BRIDE
Gayly Holds UP Offices in Chi.
cago Loop and Secures
S45 From One.
PLANS CRIMES BY BOOK
Unable to Provide for Wife on Incon.
of 50 Week and Decides to
Turn Robber.

! this ungodly errand, although knigntlv
in purpose. IL i am caught, which VIII
! only be at my death, as that "a much
preferable, learn TO forgive and for.
| get, as my sincere love for you promus
| ed this action.
81 wanted to give you comfort and
| happiness, but alas, the best laid plans
Of mice and men aft gang agles' In,
worthy,
HENRY ]. FERNEKEs.
"a loving kiss"
Two days after he wrote that letter
| Fernekes married Miss Lulu Mae
Woodland, IS years old, IN Valparaiso,
Ind. Fernekes is Is years old.
About 10 o'clock yesterday morning
a rosy-cheeked boy rushed painting
| through the doorway into room 1925
| First National bank building. There
| was revolver In each hand.
CLOSE that door," he ordered, "and
keep STILL"
Charles S. Norton, his brother, Irv.
ing, and the two stenographers, Miss
Florence Mayer and Esther E. Pent
koff, sprang toward the door and
closed it.
The boy put down his pistols and
took off his coat, slipping one of the
weapons into a pocket Then he hung
the coat on the wall.
All Begin Joking.
1t was almost incredible The big.
black pistol in his hand was almost
as big as the youth himself, it seemed
to the girls. They began to giggle.
The Nortons grinned. The bandit him
self gave way to laughter.
Say" he said, I'D like to take
your pictures"
The boy grouped them as he wished,
and then took from his vest pocket
small kodak. He snapped them in all
sorts of poses until his film gave out
The youthful desperate was pleasant
and entertaining. Norton vowed ha
ought to charge him for floor space
and made similar remarks. Then they
tried to coax from the child burglar
the story of his life.
After an hour of bantering, Norton.
saying he was about to wash his hands,
left the room. He went to the ofacs
of the building. The mysterious youth
followed him part way.
From the office Norton got Miss May.
err on the telephone.
Take the revolver from his coat"
Norton said. But the girl would not
handle it. Irving Morton took it.
Then the elder Norton learned the
police were searching all over tbs
building for young man who had just
committed holdup in room 1017.
Hears of Robbery.
The youth had pointed a revolver as
Miss Ella L. Jones. The girl had Civ
en- him $3.50 in tin box in the vault.
The robber had insisted on more. He
had grabbed the girl by the shoulders.
She had pushed him into the vault.
She had tried TO close the door on
him, but had not been strong enough.
He had attacked her. She had scream
ed. He had run from the Office, down
the corridor. A porter with a pail OF
water had tried to intercept the fugi'
tive and had been sent spinning. Then
the runner had disappeared behind
corner in the corridor.
So Policeman Harold Fogarty came
back with Norton and found the
stranger sitting at desk sorting mall.
He submitted gracefully TO arrest and
gave the name of Henry ]. Fernekes'
is years old, 1852 Fremont street he
had been rooming since Sunday, ne
said. at 1S49 North La Sale street
Couldn't Marry on So Week.
The police went there. Among the
boys effects they found the letter
printed at the beginning of this story
and a marriage certificate dated Aus.
81.
Then the boy robber talked. He was
getting 50 a week, he said, as cierS
in the office of the Independent Pnsa
matte Tool company. He couldn't se'
on that and he must hat'
So he bought a magazine pr
toll and long black-barreled revolver \
some cotton batting for gags, SONS
leather thongs for binding wrists o.
arms, a jimmy, a book called SOY
Thief" and other implements OF tn' i
burglar trade. Then he bought y
package of cigarets and took tne
Turkish rug 1t contained. cut holes
(. fastened 4 rubber band 10 the w
and made fancy mask o.
The youth procured several maps "
he elevated railroad system, ana W
Sept. 2. he says, he began his care"
II crime by holding up Edward J. hano'
ticket agent at the Sheridan road
ion on the Northwestern l. He sn''
/ cuff button from Kane's sleeve 0N'
got no money.
The youth came back on Sept l0'
,oked his gun through the winoo"'
md took 1926.
Have you got a grudge asains'
ne?" asked Kane.
Not particularly" answered n
10Y. but I'm coming back ana 81
'ou again."
Admits Other L Robbery.
Fernekes admits also holdlhs ~
William MeCrea as ne Schiller sties
tatiun Sept. II and taking s7oc' Os.
cnies he had any part in the roooeIN
n Sept. Is of William LuetGe at NV