BOY BRIGANDS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1166, 17 April 1884, Page 3

BOY BRIGANDS IN THE UNITED STATES.

A race of boy brigands is gradually being formed in the United States through the effect on the youthful imagination of melodramatic novels with burglars and highwaymen for their heroes. The miscreants brought into activity by the ten-cent tales of criminal life distinctly known as ' dime novels ' are themselves known as ' dime-novel brigands,' and three members of this desperate class who were recently brought before the Police Magistrate of Haarlem were shown to have formed themselves into a band, which, after establishing in a mountainous district, was to carry off and hold to ransom beautiful maidens and wealthy tourists. Before making for the hills the youthful banditti plundered the hotel in which they had passed the night; more, it would seem, on principls than with a mere view to profit, for their booty consisted only of 36 keys, which they had taken from the bedroom doors. It appeared from a ledger found in their possession that they had begun business with a capital of 200 dollars, ' made at New York.' But most of this sum had been spent before they reached the mountians ; and an entry made the second day after their arrival on the scene of their intended exploits showed that already 'things looked blue.' On the third day the juvenile robbers found it neoessary to pawn their solitary pistol; and the only aot of highway robbery they succeeded in committing was the theft of some food left on the highway by several workmen. It was for this they were j.rosecuted. But the magistrate let them off with a reprimand ; and the police, with good-natured contempt, raised a subscription for the purpose of paying their expenses back to New York.