The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-26
John Osborne, NewsbOy, En-
tered Scores of Homes.
Hid Money and Valuables and
Told His Bold "Gang."
SHOWERED CANDY ON BOYS
No End to His "Set-Ups" of
Shows, Ice Cream, Chilis.
Walked Thru Houses If He
Found No One at Home.

At the age of II years. John Os-
borne, 1906 East Third street, has en-
tered the homes of dozens of Topekans
money aggregating from $50 to $40.
Such was a confession made today by
the youth to Police Sergeant Frank
Summers and F. F. Dawdy, probation
officer.
The arrest of the lad at Fifth and
Quincy streets by Summers Thursday
afternoon and his subsequent confess
sion clears the mystery of numerous
daylight robberies reported to the po-
lice in the last two months. Always
the reports received by the police told
of a newsboy who had been near the
premises shortly before or after the
robbery.
With a bundle of papers under his
arm the lad roamed over the city in
the evening, knocking at doors. If he
found anyone at home he asked them
to buy papers. If not, he entered the
house and helped himself to anything
of value he desired, he told the po-
lice.
His confession explains the mysteri-
Gus robbery of two street car conduc-
tors on jackson street last week while
they were enjoying '.siestas.' 1t ex-
plains the robbery at the home of Mrs.
George Peyton, 422 Quincy street.
where SIS was stolen; the robbery at
the home of Mrs. Richardson, 306
West Tenth street where two 81 bills
were taken. and at the home of Mrs.
Price, Fifth and Quincy streets.
About week ago 81 was stolen
from the Holiday hotel. 401 Holiday
street. The Osborne lad was seen at
the time. He was seen to enter the
hotel again Thursday afternoon and
was followed from the place by the
son of Mrs. E. E. Shoaf, the proprietor
Young Osborne las seen to enter four
homes on the East side between Holli-
day street and Quincy street by young
Shoaf.
Caught by Young Man.
Finally after he had knocked at the
| door of the home of Mrs. G. N
Ernest, AIS Quincy street, he was
nabbed by young Shoaf and the police
called. Eight dollars stolen from Mrs
/ Ernest were found in the lads pockets
the police say.
whom young Osborne ran around were
called into the probate court one at a
time Each lad had a wonderful tale
to tell of chilis, shows, ice cream and
candy showered upon them by young
Osborne. Some say he had confessed
to stealing the money.
Young Osborne claimed that he hid
much of the money and it had been
| stolen from him by companions who
had been told by him where the hid
| ing place was located. All his pals
denied stealing any of his money.
| Young Osborne caused the police
| trouble last summer when 81 was
stolen from a locker at Ripley park
At the time he confessed to the rob-
berry, according to Dawdy, he told Of
ficers he had thrown the money in a
creek and was turned loose on a prom
| ise of good behavior.
The lads father, Oliver c. Osborne
! is a carpenter at the Santa Fe shops
With his wife Osborne called at the
probate court today. They told officers
the lad went home nights with 10 and
Is cents he turned over to them, ex-
planning he had made the money SELL
ling papers. The lad is being held al
the detention home until Judge
Ralph H Cav decides upon what dis
position to make of him.