Putnam patriot., 1921-04-08
TWO BOY BURGLARS
 CONFESS BREAK
After Drinking Cider Enter Renick Store For Jakey
 and Money
duplicate Two Other Boys Who Have
 Disappeared

Two youths, one Is and the other l17. were arraigned in the city court, Monday morning, and confessed tc breaking into the store of Sam Ren- ick, Pomfret street, as told in last weeks Patriot, and stealing sixty nine bottles of Jamaica ginger, twen- ty-four boxes of cigarettes, eight ci- gars and SIP in money. The 17-year old boy, Adore Benoit, whom the police give a bad record, was bound over to the superior court and taken to jsil in default of bonds of $500. The younger lad was placed in charge of the probation olIicer for six months as his record was good up to this time. The two boys implicate two others whom they say went with them. The police have the names, but the lads have left the. city.
 The younger of the two defendants told the following story. He said that he came down town, Thursday evening, and met his friends. Some of them were going to the pictures. but he did not have any money. He went into pool room on Livery street and "hung around" About half past nine the other boys came in and some one mentioned cider. A man said he could get some cider if the boys could raise the money. Witness borrowed fifty cents from the proprietor and a fund was made up and the cider pro cured.
 When the jug arrived all went out behind the building and drank the ci- der. Later some one suggested that they get some more money to buy an- other jug. The quartet went to a bowling alley where an attempt was made to borrow some more funds. Be- ing unsuccessful, one of the quartet proposed visit to Renick's store.
 While one of the lads stood on the corner, three went around behind the store. Two went into the store and took the property alleged. Witness said that five bottles of soda and some cookies were also taken. The soda was used to mix the jakey with. Then the boys went to Foresters' hall and played cards for the pennies and at late hour left for their homes.
 Renick said that most of the money taken was composed of old coins and silver dollars that he had collected. When he opened the store the first he noticed was that someone had rung up $9.45 on the cash register. It being the first day of April Renick said he thought someone was trying to April foor' him. Then he discovered that the ginger and the money was gone and realized that he had been the vic tim of a thief.
 It was stated by Captain Bulger that the Benoit boy had bad record. That he had been in trouble before, had been under suspicion and had been warned several times that he was travelling the wrong road. As to the other boy. he never had heard any thing against him. Probation Officer P. A. Gardner also said that the younger boy had a good record and that he thought he had been in1uenc- ed by the other. boys.
 Judge Geissler told the boys of the seriousness of their offence, carrying maximum penalty of four years in states prison. He said he thought there was distinction in the two cas- es and would give the younger boy a chance by continuing his case to see if he would profit by it. The older boy, he said, he would leave for the su- perior court to deal with.