BOY BURGLAR'S OUTFIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 21 May 1907, Page 4

BOY BURGLAR'S OUTFIT.

ARMS AXD THEATRICAL DRESS IN HIS UOOXI. London, March 2'.i. An amazing story of the exploits of Frank Taylor, the boy burglar of ltobin Hood lane, who was arrested a week ago charged with shooting at a solicitor, was told yesterday when the boy, who is only 15 years old, wis brought up on remand at the Croydon police Court. Taylor was caught in the solicitor's (Mr Damon's) houe, and when his story of having entered it by mistake was not believed, he fired a shot at Mr Damon from a revolver and attempted to escape. He was raptured after a severe struggle in which he bit Mr Damon's hand severely. Edwin John Barrett fourteen years old was also arrested as one of his accomplices and he made a confession in which he declared that he had ;:.ecom ' panied Taylor on ten expeditions the object of which was robbery. He said that Taylor forced him to accompany hini and stand outside while Taylor entered tiie houses. FIFTEEN ROBBERIES.

The police stated yo-teniay that they had discovered that two other .boys were also members of Taylor's band of juvenile burglars, and that they hd traced fifteen robberies which occurred since Christinas to the band. When they visited Taylor's house they found the following articles in his room:— A pair of handcuffs. Black velvet coat with nifties ami trimmed with lace at the cuffs. Pair of black hoots with spurs. Three sword bayonets. Three air gnns. A breech-loading fowling piece. Several wigs and moustaches. A theatrical make-up box. They also found a quantity of sensational literature, and they learned that the boy had taken lessons in wrestling and in the use of firearms. A solicitor who appeared for Taylor urged that his mind was unhinged by the literature he had been reading, hut the magistrate decided to send him to the Cornwall reformatory ship for three years. They discharged Barrett, believing that he was acting under the influence of Taylor.