Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-18
BLACK HAND GANG"
HELD FOR ROBBERY IN
SUM OF $1,000 EACH
Three Boys, Wilfred Tetu, David
Cloutier, Jr., and George Gil
roux, Jr., Arraigned in Num-
cipal Court, Admit Assault
and Robbery of Mrs. Laura
Leighton, Saturday Evening,
January 6

assault of Mrs. Laura Leighton Saturday
evening, Jan 6, as she was on her way
home after having called on friend on
Chapel street, at which time she was
robbed of an alligator handbag contain
ing a sum of money together with sew
eral articles of miscellaneous nature.
has been dispelled, and the details which
had heretofore been missing were
brought to light Wednesday afternoon In
/ the municipal court when three boys,
Wifred Tetu, aged Is years. David Clou-
tier Jr., aged 16 years, and George Gil
roux, Jr.. aged 10 years, were arraigned
on the charge of robbery.
1t was perhaps the most novel hear
ing which had been held In the Augusta
municipal court since Judge Lancaster
first presided over that tribunal. not only
because of the seriousness of the nature
of the crime but because of the youth of
the respondents. The crime was virtual
~ that of highway robbery. which is one
Of the most serious on the statute books,
and 1t is doubtful if its duplicate can be
found in the court records of Maine
where the perpetrators were as young as
the three who appeared before Judge
Lancaster yesterday afternoon.
Only one of the youngsters had counsel.
young Clouter being represented by Rob
ert A. Cony. and there was really not
much to be brought out at the hearing
as the three had already admitted their
completely in the assault on and the rob-
berry of the complainant. and each of the
three boys had confessed to officer Levi
Cyr of the police force. who did some
first class work in working up the case
against them.
Mrs Leighton, the victim Of the rob-
berry, was present at the hearing and
took the stand. but while she could tell
of the assault in general way and state
what her handbag contained at the time
il was snatched from her hand, when It
came to identifying the boys she was
unable to do SO, more than to say that
she thought the Cloutier boy resembled
the one who had grabbed her bag.
When it came to the testimony of the
Tetu boy, who was the only one of tho
three boys TO take the witness stand,
his story reminded the audience of a
chapter from "DCadwood Dick" or
some other narrative of the dime novel
type, and showed the performance of
the three on the saturday night in
question to have been planned and
carried out with a degree of skill
worthy of older heads. He admitted
early in his narrative that he, Giroux
and Clouuer were members of the
Black Hand Gang" and that Giroux
was the captain, but regarding the
identity of the other members of the
gang he had nothing to say.
Coming down TO the night of the
robbery. Tetu said that the PROPOSE
ton was first thought of when he and
the other two respondents met at about
{ o'clock that evening at Cote's store
on Northern avenue. after which they
came down to the postoftice. and dur
ing the conversation there the details
Of the plot were worked out. While
there one of the boys said: Lets so
out and grab woman's poCketbook."
At this point the court asked the
youngster why he did not try and get
a pocketbook on Water street where
there were many more that night than
on other streets, and the latter replied:
TOO much people"
From young Tetu's testimony it was
Icdlhcu mat dlloE ICdN lnS Inc post
office he, with Giroux and Cloutier,
went up over Winthrop hill to the Y.
NJ c. y. building, and from there far
thor up in that part of the city. but
did not know the names of the streets.
They did not meet any likely looking
victims however, until they had reach
Cd a side street and saw a lady COM
ing. who proved to he Mrs. Leighton.
Just before the three met their victim
Cloutier stepped IN front OF the other
two boys. by their direction. he claim
ed. and grabbed the handbag. When
asked if the lady made any outcry.
Tetu said that she "hollered."
Further testimony was that after
getting possession OF the handbag the
three boys ran down one Of the streets.
probably Court street, to the Maine
Central Railroad station, and from
there made their way up Water street
and up over Northern avenue TO
"Poulins cellar" the location or ma
ture OF which Tetu would not just de-
fine, and gaining an entrance they
turned on the electric light and then
divided their spoils, which amounted to
about SIG. The bag they cut up and
with its other contents was thrown
away.
ASKED about the future movements
of the gang" Tetu said that on Sun
day they met at Cote's store and go
ing down town they took the y o'clock
car for Lewiston, stopping at Gardiner
on the way. whore they went into a
resta Urant and got a lunch, and also
played the punch board" after which
they continued the trip to Lewiston
Coming home they left Lewiston on the
O'Clock car IL the evening. arriving
in ugusta at o'clock.
Some information regarding the
movements OF the gang on the three
following days, Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday, was secured of Tetu by
the court. which led up to the depar-
ture on the Wednesday night Pullman
OF Giroux for Portland, in company
with Adonia Cloutier and a boy nam
ed Binette. When asked why he did not
go to Portland with the other boys, !
Tetu said that he did not want to go,
and shook the gang
At the conclusion of the boys testi-
mony. Mr. Cony, counsel for young
Cloutier, made o very brief plea in |
which he said that while admitting |
that there was no doubt of the guilt |
of the boys he pleaded that the coutr |
.rYl,. In, xx-.tl