The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1921-04-14
NJDGE TRUAX
ORDERS BOY
GANG TO COURT
cuoerior Court Magistrate Re-
fuses to Pass Judgment on
Part of Offenders
PARENTS ARE ALSO CALLED
u.;re Officers Verify Suspicious that
Many Thefts Have Been Work
of Juveniles

Since the first of last week there
has been unfolded to local police Of
f;eers story of organized juvenile
outlaVry that outdoes the old-time
dime novel. Proceeding upon the
theory that for several months a
Youthful "gang" has carried on a
systematic campaign of thievery and
other deviltry in the community, Chief
Of Police Jack Dale and Deputy Sher-
iff C. E. Copeland have step by step
gathered in the fragments of evidence
until there is no longer any doubt
but that their theory is correct.
While not all of the boys agree in
their stories, all admit that there is
gang and that Jennings butcher,
aged Ia, is the "brains" and the lead
er Of the organization. Sometimes
we called ourselves the Black Hand
and sometimes the Bloody Seven, be-
cause originally there were only seven
in the gang, although at times we
have had as many at 23," said young
butcher.
The rumor that the lads were
sworn into the organization by an
oath is not verified by the admissions
Of the boys. They say there was no
oath but that the members were ex-
pected ITO stick to the gang and obey
the leader" Several of the lads say
they were kicked out of the gang be-
cause they would not steal.
The varied stories of the lads indi-
cate that for most part the loot was
turned into headquarters" The of
ficers have found where some of the
stolen articles, such as wrenches and
other auto tools were sold to second
hand dealers, they are of the opinion
that much of it is cached somewhere,
presumably on one of the islands in
the Columbia river which are fire.
quented by the boys. During the last
Two weeks hardly a day has passed
mat the officers have not had some
new confessions from some of the
aoys and have unearthed some more
hidden or buried treasure"
Following an all-day hearing in
justice c. Staser's court Saturday,
butcher, Howard Hembree, Joe Ker-
aell, and Paul McCurdy were held
aoe the chief offenders and were or
aed to appear before Judge Truax
A boys were taken to Prosse1
'anesday. Judge Truax after hear.
ga general statement of the facts
St the boys home and ordered the
ulcers to bring all boys who have
u any way been connected with the
s@s, and their parents to appear be-
i@e him at some date to be fixed lat
Me officers did not begin to make
"a neadway toward unraveling tht
'ase until last Friday when they tool
young Tom Carlson out of school ant
pstsuaded him to make full confes
s'On OF all he knew about the gang
Assordlng to his story he was kicket
vu' of the gang because he failed t,
s.eai enough but was later reinstate,
"neh ne licked another kid"
one OF the gravest offenses admit
y, .so by the boys is the theft of $50
.ne story told by Carlson is that las
sumner ne and his chums wer
"inmlng near the high school build
'ns. Close by the canal workme
ete making concrete blocks. Afte
e men had left for the evening h
ouia a coat lying on the blocks an
t'm It's pockets took $5O-one twer
~ TWO ten and two five-dollar bill
turned the money over to Dutch
& VINO Md it under his porch.
FROM this point Joe Kerchell take
~ 'ne story. butcher took him
~, ome cache and showed him the none,
NJ e ioliowlng day Kerchell and Pa,
e1uray double-crossed the leade
SHu raided the treasury. They div
uuu ", tne money equally between then
Inc twenty went to McCurdy ar
.earlng that attempting to spend
AehneWlck would arouse suspicic
ne ne went to Pasco and ''broke"
ihey say for the most part the none
was spent for nuts, candy and 9th,