17- and 18-year-olds Who Broke into Minister's Home, Ate Sunday Dinner, Stole Money, Are in Jail, May 9, 1926

wo Bad Boys Land in Jail. . . Broke Into Home Near four Oaks and Stole Sum of Money

Smithfield, May 9—Two roving youths from Norfolk, Robert Smith aged 18, and a Randolph boy 17 years old broke into the home of Rev. and Mrs. Robert Strickland, who live near Four Oaks last Sunday and after partaking of a hearty repast carried away all the money they could find in the house. Rev. Strikland’s family had gone to church and the housebreaking was thought to have taken place about 10 o’clock. One of Mr. Strickland’s granddaughters, who lives a short distance from his home and who was late leaving for church, saw the boys in the yard while the others were away, but she did not think to tell Mr. Strickland util they found that some one had broken into the house.

The boys were apparently looking for money and something to eat. A big part of the Sunday dinner had been disposed of when the family returned and about $20 in cash taken from the house. The Randolph boy had worked for Mr. Strickland and he knew the truk I which he kept his papers. The lock from the trunk had been torn off ad the contents of the trunk rummaged thru. Finding no money there, they broke into the wardrobe in which Mrs. Strickland had kept some church money. That was taken and the money Mr. Strickland had received as telephone central was gone.

As soon as Mr. Strickland returned from church he set out for Four Oaks in search of the youthful thieves and found at the station that they had bought tickets for Fayetteville. They were located and a policeman searched them, finding about $12 in their pockets. They were brought here to jail to-day and were given a hearing in Recorder’s Court Tuesday. No disposition was made of the case, however, because the judge is waiting to pass sentence until he learns whether they can be placed in a reformatory. If they cannot be received there, the case will be tried by superior court. They are being held in jail util a decision is made by the judge.

These boys are said to have left Norfolk three weeks ago. They had beaten their way on the railroad and at Four Oaks they sold a pocket knife to get something to eat.

From the front page of the second section of the Golds

o News, Sunday, May 9, 1926

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