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Jake Ackerman's "Debut" Newspaper Articles in Memphis under the Bogus Name of "Michael and/or Frank Burke" in 1863 (the police did not learn his true name until 1866) - he was 11 or 12 years old in 1863 - but he'd begun a "career" as a thief at age 3 in Scranton, PA where his family was from (after his father immigrated from Germany, Bavaria, in 1846 but later relocated to Little Rock, AR about 1859 if not shortly before - his father died in or about 1871 in PA - Jake's other family members lived in Chattanooga, TN later - after about 1877, give or take a year or two - his mother was Sarah Kramer, also from Germany, who married Louis Ackerman in Scranton, PA in 1850)
May 28, 1863 - May 29, 1863 - "Juvenile Grand Larceny in Memphis – A Bank Entered by a Boy and Robbed of $5,400”
One of the most daring robberies which has been committed in this city for several years took place Thursday [28th] afternoon. It was the robbery of an exchange office, the names of the owners of which are we omit for various reasons. The chief of the Police, Mr. Winters, was apprised of the facts of the robbery, and yesterday [29th] he and his detectives Morrison, Johnson, Winters and Mahoney, set about hunting up the perpetrators of the deed. The only information they could obtain from the persons who lost the money was that four or five boys were seen about the outside of the exchange office a short time before they missed the money. Detective Johnson soon made up his mind where the thief was, and accordingly after a tedious search found a boy by the name of Thomas, who admitted the facts in the case and implicated Marcus Dunn, Daniel Grady, David Driscol and Frank Lavalle. He said the boys including himself, saw a large pile of money lying on a table in an exchange office, and all agreed it would require but little effort to get it provided the man in the office would step out for a minute. Just at that time he walked into a back room. As soon as he was out of sight, Thomas Porter [aka "Sub"], a boy not more than ten years of age [Tom was actually about 14], jumped over the counter and took all the money which was within his reach, $20 in silver and $5,380 in green backs. He, as soon as he got outside the room, divided the money, and each boy went on his way rejoicing. Chief Winters, who by the way is one of the best officers we ever knew, and the detective, whose names are given above, after capturing Thomas Porter went in search of the boy whose name he had already given, and before six o'clock yesterday afternoon all of the boys were safely lodged in the stationhouse and [most?--about $4100] of the money recovered. The officers who ferreted out the little [thieves?] should receive the warmest thanks [of the bankers?] of this city. . . [remainder illegible]
Note: While this article suggests that the boys were captured "almost immediately," that is not true. They were "at large" for some three weeks before they were actually captured. This sort of writing in the newspapers indicates the "propaganda" they spread around then to give the impression to the public that the police and the military authorities were "more in control of things" in Memphis than they actually were.
Memphis Bulletin, May 30, 1863.
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August 12, 1863 - "The Young Thief--William Burk.” (aka Jake Ackerman by a false name, many of which he used during his lifetime)
William Burk, the boy who robbed a store on Front Row of sundry articles of clothing, and who was arrested by Detective Policeman Morrison, and committed to the city prison, will be tried by the Provost Marshal tomorrow. This is the third offense of a similar kind which the young thief has been convicted of, and there is no law in force that covers his case; the city authorities have turned him over to the military authorities, who will dispose of his case.
Memphis Bulletin, August 12, 1863.
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August 16, 1863 - "Juvenile Thieves."
Last Friday [14th] Messers. Echerly & Co. were robbed of about sixty five dollars in money. The thieves subtracted it from the drawer by some unknown means just before the store was closed. The Chief of Police was put in possession of the facts, and immediately set his detectives, Johnson, Morrison and Winters to work. These officers kept a sharp lookout for the robbers. From circumstances with which they succeeded in making themselves acquainted, they were led to suppose that the thieves were three boys of less than twelve summers. Acting upon the circumstantial evidence in their possession, the boys were arrested, and on examination a portion of the money was found in their possession. The balance of the stolen cash they had evidently spent for boots, shoes, clothing, etc. Their names are Thomas Dunn, Michael Burk and Pat McCarthy. These same boys, some months since, robbed a broker's office [namely the Gayoso Savings Institution at Madison and Main St.] of some four or five thousand dollars, and afterward, the same young scamps robbed a soldier of several dollars and his watch while he was sleeping. What is to be done? Shall these young thieves run at large, committing their depredations and growing more hardened in vice every day? They are too young to be amenable to the law. No jury would convict boys of scarce ten summers, and yet they are already old in crime.
Memphis Bulletin, August 16, 1863.
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One of the most daring robberies which has been committed in this city for several years took place Thursday [28th] afternoon. It was the robbery of an exchange office, the names of the owners of which are we omit for various reasons. The chief of the Police, Mr. Winters, was apprised of the facts of the robbery, and yesterday [29th] he and his detectives Morrison, Johnson, Winters and Mahoney, set about hunting up the perpetrators of the deed. The only information they could obtain from the persons who lost the money was that four or five boys were seen about the outside of the exchange office a short time before they missed the money. Detective Johnson soon made up his mind where the thief was, and accordingly after a tedious search found a boy by the name of Thomas, who admitted the facts in the case and implicated Marcus Dunn, Daniel Grady, David Driscol and Frank Lavalle. He said the boys including himself, saw a large pile of money lying on a table in an exchange office, and all agreed it would require but little effort to get it provided the man in the office would step out for a minute. Just at that time he walked into a back room. As soon as he was out of sight, Thomas Porter [aka "Sub"], a boy not more than ten years of age [Tom was actually about 14], jumped over the counter and took all the money which was within his reach, $20 in silver and $5,380 in green backs. He, as soon as he got outside the room, divided the money, and each boy went on his way rejoicing. Chief Winters, who by the way is one of the best officers we ever knew, and the detective, whose names are given above, after capturing Thomas Porter went in search of the boy whose name he had already given, and before six o'clock yesterday afternoon all of the boys were safely lodged in the stationhouse and [most?--about $4100] of the money recovered. The officers who ferreted out the little [thieves?] should receive the warmest thanks [of the bankers?] of this city. . . [remainder illegible]
Note: While this article suggests that the boys were captured "almost immediately," that is not true. They were "at large" for some three weeks before they were actually captured. This sort of writing in the newspapers indicates the "propaganda" they spread around then to give the impression to the public that the police and the military authorities were "more in control of things" in Memphis than they actually were.
Memphis Bulletin, May 30, 1863.
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August 12, 1863 - "The Young Thief--William Burk.” (aka Jake Ackerman by a false name, many of which he used during his lifetime)
William Burk, the boy who robbed a store on Front Row of sundry articles of clothing, and who was arrested by Detective Policeman Morrison, and committed to the city prison, will be tried by the Provost Marshal tomorrow. This is the third offense of a similar kind which the young thief has been convicted of, and there is no law in force that covers his case; the city authorities have turned him over to the military authorities, who will dispose of his case.
Memphis Bulletin, August 12, 1863.
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August 16, 1863 - "Juvenile Thieves."
Last Friday [14th] Messers. Echerly & Co. were robbed of about sixty five dollars in money. The thieves subtracted it from the drawer by some unknown means just before the store was closed. The Chief of Police was put in possession of the facts, and immediately set his detectives, Johnson, Morrison and Winters to work. These officers kept a sharp lookout for the robbers. From circumstances with which they succeeded in making themselves acquainted, they were led to suppose that the thieves were three boys of less than twelve summers. Acting upon the circumstantial evidence in their possession, the boys were arrested, and on examination a portion of the money was found in their possession. The balance of the stolen cash they had evidently spent for boots, shoes, clothing, etc. Their names are Thomas Dunn, Michael Burk and Pat McCarthy. These same boys, some months since, robbed a broker's office [namely the Gayoso Savings Institution at Madison and Main St.] of some four or five thousand dollars, and afterward, the same young scamps robbed a soldier of several dollars and his watch while he was sleeping. What is to be done? Shall these young thieves run at large, committing their depredations and growing more hardened in vice every day? They are too young to be amenable to the law. No jury would convict boys of scarce ten summers, and yet they are already old in crime.
Memphis Bulletin, August 16, 1863.
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Public Ledger (Memphis, TN), March 16, 1868, Image 3 - Death of Tom Porter, "King of the Mackerels," shot and killed by Memphis Police at age 19