A Penny War on Second Avenue: Newsboys Arrested After a Boycott

Henry Gleason and Henry Collins, two newsboys, were arrested yesterday, charged by Mr. and Mrs. V. C. Williams with stealing papers from their stand at the corner of Cherry and Second streets. The arrests were the result of a series of petty annoyances owing to a difference between the newsboys and Williams over handling the weekly edition of the World. Williams sold it at wholesale for 5 cents, while the boys sold it on the streets for 10 cents.

The boys were brought before Acting Judge Rinehart, who released them on their own recognizance until 9 o'clock this morning, when Collins's case will be heard. Gleason's case will be heard at the same hour tomorrow.

The newsboys allege that their enmity to Williams was caused by his raising the price of the World on them to 6 cents and refusing to take back unsold copies. They then bought a large quantity direct from New York at 4 cents each, in lots of 100 every week, for which they had to pay $4. The boys claim that to head them off Williams will sell the World at retail for 5 cents a paper and continues to do so to injure their sales. The boys, however, were dumb on the subject of the new price with Williams and preferred leaving the matter alone until decided by the judge.

Mr. Williams, when seen in the evening, said it was a clear case of theft and nothing else. He called the boycott absurd and said he had been subjected to indignities from the boys.