Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1903 — YOUTHFUL BURGLARS. [ARTICLE]

YOUTHFUL BURGLARS.

Two n-Year-Qld Fair Oak* Boys Arrested for Breaking Into a Store In That Town. A goodly part of Fair Oaks was down Monday on the case of the state vs. Guy Potter and Orville Strain, a couple of 12-year-old boys who were arrested for breaking into Dr. Proudley’s drug store recently and stealing some cigars and tobacco. It seems there was a dance in Fair Oaks the night the store was robbod, and, as a matter of course, most of the little boys who should have been home and in bed were at the “ball,” as shown by the evidence. Young strain tried to get some of the to boys to go with him and “rob Proudley’s,” and finally young Potter accompanied him. The putty was removed about one of the window glasses and an enterance gained when the Strain boy helped himself to some tobacco and cigars, and, it was claimed, tried to open the money-drawer. The matter leaked out and Proudly had the boys arrested, charged with burglary and petit larceny. They entered a plea of not guilty and were tried before the court Monday afternoon. The state proved its case as to the Strain boy, and he finaliy admitted on the stand, that he did the job but the Potter boy did not enter the store, merely acted as sentry while he was doing the stealing. Out of mercy for the lad, owing to his extreme youth, the state dismissed as to the buaglary charge, and the court found young Strain guilty of petit larceny, and acquitted the Potter boy. The court fined young Strain $1 and costs and sentenced him to 30 days in jail, but suspended the jail sentence during good be havior. Under the burglary charge it would have been incumbert on the court to have sent the boy to the reform school, but every one seemed reluctant to do this. The boy seemed very penitnet and it is hoped that this experience will be a lesson to him that he will never forget. The boy is a son of Merritt Strain of Fair Oaks.