These cases do not constitute a tenth part of the advertised escapes of a single quarter; and those that are never brought to public notice—who knows their number?
Early Crime.—Few persons are aware of the extent of juvenile crime in our principal cities. A large majority of these offences are overlooked until they become so serious in their consequences to private interest as to command attention. And even then, the prosecution of the offence is generally waived if compensation is made, or if the delinquent is sent away upon a voyage, or to a distant part of the country.
We have grouped together a few items out of many scores which a single quarter furnishes, from which our readers can make their own inferences. They confirm us in the conviction long entertained, that we need a place of punishment for those who are too old in iniquity to be safe inmates of Refuge or Reformatory, and too young to endure the severity of rigid penitentiary discipline—a juvenile separate prison.
A gang of boys, none over fourteen, were arrested, a few days since, in Cincinnati, for stealing. They were detected in the act of taking goods from store doors. They stated that they belonged to a gang of boys employed in this business by a man who gave them 75 cents for every article they would bring him, and that they used the money in visiting the theatres and in refreshments. An officer took one of them to the National Theatre, where he pointed out two more of the gang, who were taken into custody. On visiting the premises of the man whom they charged with receiving the goods, they found some of them concealed under the floor. There was also another place of deposit disclosed in another section of the city. The boys, who were all of Irish parentage, exhibited the utmost indifference and shamelessness, and the parents of two of them did not feel interest enough to attend the hearing!
The Boston papers give us an account of a similar band of boys who had clubbed together for thieving purposes, in Medford, a few miles from that city. They were discovered in an outbuilding which had not been used for some time. Various articles, such as portemonnaies, wallets, passbooks, pencils, &c., were found in their possession, and identified as having been stolen the day before. A book was found among them, containing the names of the members of the organization, about half a dozen in number, as far as recorded. Following the names was the word “Rules,” in large letters. The only rule which appears, was the following:
“1. The boys must steal as much as they can, and present it to the chief.”
The book also contained a number of passwords, and a list of the articles stolen, above enumerated, and the date. The boys belonging to this young thieves’ association are from ten to fourteen years of age.
At Cleveland, Ohio, a party of juvenile vagrants, some twelve in number, recently organized themselves into a society for the purpose of robbery, dock-thieving, &c. They took possession of a large cave in the side-hill on the west side of the river. They chose their captain and were progressing very smoothly when the officer pounced upon them. They were all sleeping in bunks, with the exception of the guard, who took to his heels on the approach of the officer. Two or three others made their escape. The following boys, the oldest of whom is not over fourteen, were arrested:—John Fitzgerald, Thomas Doland, Michael Dunn, William Mulcoge, Patrick M‘Donald, William Donald, William Shay and James Mahon. Their names are given as indicative of a nativity not otherwise to be particularly specified.
One of the boys is only six years old. He said his parents, in a fit of drunkenness, kicked him out of doors. The other boys said that they had no home or friends. They could only live by stealing, and on advice of one of their number, who had read Mike Martin and other yellow covered books of that sort, a band of robbers was formed, and the cave taken possession of. The boys were sent to the State Reform Farm, there to remain until discharged by law. [Of this school we have given a full account in a former number, and would be glad to hear of its more recent success.]