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Domestic News December 14, 1875

Alexandria Gazette

Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia

What is this article about?

Boys are using slingshots to kill pigeons and break windows in vacant houses, churches, and stores, including a past incident at Witmer's dry goods store. Nine pigeons owned by one gentleman have been killed, and police are urged to arrest boys possessing slingshots.

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OCR Quality

95% Excellent

Full Text

Sling Shots.—The boys are having a fine time just now with their sling shots. So perfect have they become that a pigeon can be killed on the roof of a house a hundred yards off, or shot in their boxes. Nine belonging to one gentleman have been killed, one by one, the last one being shot yesterday, by a youngster who will end his days pulling hemp. A favorite amusement seems to be in breaking windows of vacant houses and churches, gas lamps, &c. When those cannot be found lighted windows in the night answer their purpose. A few years since one of the large plate glass windows in Witmer's dry goods store was broken. Nobody knew how, but it is easily explained now, and it is to be hoped that our vigilant police will take this matter in hand, and arrest all boys found with sling shots in their possession. The boy who would want only destroy property in this way would disgrace the chain gang.

What sub-type of article is it?

Crime

What keywords are associated?

Slingshots Boys Mischief Pigeon Killing Window Breaking Property Damage Vandalism Police Arrest

Domestic News Details

Outcome

nine pigeons killed; windows broken in vacant houses, churches, gas lamps, and witmer's dry goods store; police urged to arrest boys with slingshots.

Event Details

Boys are proficient with slingshots, killing pigeons including nine owned by one gentleman, the last yesterday; they break windows in vacant houses, churches, gas lamps, and lighted windows at night; a few years ago, a plate glass window in Witmer's store was broken.

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