Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1909 — A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER. [ARTICLE]

A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER.

Seventeen-Year-Old Lad Steals Employer’s Money and Watch. Ben Crouch, a 17-year-old lad from old Kaintuck, took the liberty, on the fourth, of course, (or Saturday) during his employer, George Maines’ absence, of helping himself to S2O in cash, a'gold watch, pair of shoes and a coat. George was working in a field some little distance away, and Crouch turning loose the team he was working, went to the house and took the twenty dollars from a pair of trousers hanging on the wall. Packing a small telescope with his own clothes and a few of Maines’ he came to town and proceeded to celebrate five dollars worth. He was captured without trouble at the 11:04 p. m. train as he was trying to escape, by marshal Parks and nightwatch Thomas, and taken to jail, where he spent the night. Sunday morning George came to town and made arrangements for his release, taking him back to the farm to sweat out the five. The clothes he had disposed of to some of his Arkansas friends near the depot. This was the boy's first offense and both George and the officers thought a good lecture was better than to prosecute him.