Court Frees Boy Who Put One Over Police

Oct. 8 - As a rule, the police station is the last place in the world a thief would visit after the commission of 'a crime,provided ho was not apprehended by the forces of law and order.

But there's an exception to every rule. Take the case of Romeo A. Lamarche, 19, of Third street, who was arraigned: in district court today on two larceny counts and a charge of breaking and entering in the night time, and larceny following his visit early this morning to police headquarters requesting permission to peddle 103 stolen newspapers.

Not knowing that the papers were stolen property, police readily gave permission to the clean-cut smiling youth. He had departed but a short time to take up a position at the corner of Market and Button streets
to meet the mill-crowds, when police were notified of the theft of a large bundle of papers from a cigar store doorway on Central street.

Station officials had little trouble getting the answer after putting two and two together. Lamarche was taken into custody as he was busily selling the stolen papers.

Grilled by angry officers, who just couldn't forget that the youth had put something over on them, the captive is alleged to have admitted not only the theft of newspapers, but the thefts of a top coat from a parked auto in Moody street and cigarettes from lunchcart in Aiken street.

In court later this morning Sergt William F. Murphy recounted the details of the youth's visit to the staion at 5:30 o'clock this morning, of his arrest later, and admission guilt under questioning.

Capt. David Petric testified that the youth admitted stealing the overcoat from a parked auto. Capt. Petric valued the garment at $15 and told the court that no report of the theft had been made to police, He said that the coat, which was purchased at the D.S. O'Brien store In Merrimack street, was taken about two days ago.

Lamarche admitted the larcenies on the witness stand. He said that he entered the lunchcart but did not take 15 packages as alleged by police, but took only "a couple." Questioned by Judge Fisher he asserted that he was an orphan and took the papers to earn enough money to buy food, having been unable to get a job. He said he took the coat when the weather grew cold and his light sweater proved inadequate. Judge Fisher was impressed by the youth's story and continued the case for disposition to allow police to investigate the defendant's assertation that he had a chance of getting a job tomorrow.

Despite hearty expressions of disapproval on the part of Deputy Police Supt. Michael H. Winn, Judge Fisher allowed Lamarch his freedom without bail after he promised to appear in court again on next Tuesday morning.