Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-18
STAR.
THE PROFESSIONAL BURGLAR,
A TRUE STORY


| populations upon society as " profession, y
and are fully as proud of their skilful hanii-
| work as If, In its pursuit, they were the orna-
ments and not the blOtches upon the body
| polite. Among others who make, in this way,
| u trade of crime, the professional burglar
the gentleman who ingeniously enters private
houses at night, empties your pockets and
your plate-chests, your secretary and your
! stTong-box, and noiselessly retreats before
morning-is one of the most celebrated and
most provoking. He never murders psople to
| silence their cutcrieS-he would be shocked
at such an imputation; he never condeScends
to pick pocket-he would scorn such pro-
| fessional abasement. He prides himself upon
being able to enter your house without alarm
IEg even cat-upon searching il from top to
bottom without awaking yoursclf-uron eat
ing supper in your pantry, helping himself
| 10 your valuables, and leaving behind him
| note addressed to you, expressive Of his
thanks, while he walks off with all the non
chalance and Impunity which tell so well
and read so romantically in the " History
| of Newgate' or the Highwaynan's Own
Book"
We came in direct contact once with an en-
inent gentleman OF this profe ssioD; and in lieu
! of a better intimacy with his trade, especially
| as the circumstances were characteristic and
| peculiar, we shall relate what occurred pre-
| cisely as it occurred, assuring the reader of
| its exact variability, IO matter how difficult
| 1t may seem Of credence,
We were seated in our editorial sanctum
| five stories high) one summers afternoon,
medltating some smart paragraph on the state
OF our country, or some profound leader on
the agitating condition of the world, when the
shadow of tall, stout. athletic person. fell
upon the doorway. The substance followed it
very closely and very quietly. Perceiying that
we were alone, he carefully closed the door
after him, locked it, ani placed the KEY in his
pocket. We looked up, We confess with some
emotion, placed our hand In our bGspm, where
we had light revolver in custody, threw
ourself back in the chair, and tried to await
with consummate dignity, but no little ankle
ty, the result.
The visitor was a superbIy built man. lie
was very model of a Her,ulca. His broad
chest, his powerful arms, his great hands. his
solid tout ensemble, were the indiccs Of euor-
nous, active, and massive physical strength
His face was handsome too. III; hair was
dark brown, glossy: and full of natural curls
His eyes were hazel, deep set, brilliant and
penetrating. His mouth was small and his
lips the picture of resOlute determination
We had time TO note all these things mi
nutely, as he cooly approached Us bowed,
helped himself to chair, and seated himself
on the opposite side of our table After he
had eyed Us sagaciously for a moment, and
We had essaycd TO return the compliment, he
said:
I'VE are alone. 1 think?''
We simply nodded assent
= You are unarmed, L see p
We could hot hep INDUCING in sneer at
this remark, rs we'll as a suppressed smile, but
we did not conceive 1t pruaent to make ary
verbal response.
"Ah, well, no matter" he continued, ap-
pretending the state Of affair - glance
- l am twice your size; have the key Of
your room in my pocket. There is no one
within call, for looked in every room rs
came up. selected their dinner hour for the
purpose"
We did shudder, for he spoke the truth,
every word of it. We could near our heart
beat audibly against our waistcOat, ss ii striV-
ing To convince Us OF our danger. But what
could We do? Nothing. Tho wretch wac
large enough TO eat Us. So we tried To look
death in the face like philosopher, aud pc
ruse his countenance by way OF q moribund
amusement.
have powerful reasons for wishing you
dead, SAID our visitor. Moreover, IN a
desperate man, and accustomed TO scenes OF
violence. d" Now, sir, 3" said ne, rising grace
fully to his feet, (and even at this dreadful
moment we could not help admiring has sym
metrlcal proportions, and We think now that
he rathor laid himself out for nelO-dramatic
etect3 what Is there To prevent ne IRON
crushing You here beneath my feet, at once,
and so putting an emu to one who has 50 grieV-
ously injured Inc ,"
We drew Clr revolver from our bosom, but
In n instant our hand was grasped and held
as If In vice, and tke little instrument was
flying harmlessly across the apartment The
fellow was one VI amazing strength, certainly.
How he kept 81 cool under the circumstances
We could not tell, and We have never yet been
able to conjecture. 1t was the calmness of
despair, perhaps
Our visitor laughed satiricalIy, as he threw
up our arm, with a mOcking curl of his hand
some lip, ard re-seated himself, commanding
US by look TO follow his example.
NO" be continued, looking US steadily in
the face, "ny business is no. murder. That
is not in my line. If had come here for that
purpose, should hardly have waited so long
10 accomplish 1t. l am burglar, sir, by pro-
fessiOn, not an assassin
We began to breathe freely. There was
nothing III our Salctum, except our life, that |
we could conscientiOusly value at more than |
sixpence.
my name, sir, is Tinicum,'' proceeded our
Vlslter, blandly, " and, as / said before, i an |
professed thief
That's candid, at any rate, Mr. Tinieum,'
sald we, trying to speak bravely, in order TO
make believe, now that there was no danger,
that we were brimful of courage.
=" am burglar, sir, by profession, but ne-
ther pickpocket nor highwayman. So your
also, is safe. am well known, sir,
To most of the police"
But don't you think, SIR" said we, % that
We could just as conveniently listen to your
interesting observations if the door was
Open-Only little Open--to admit some fresh
air-a very little fresA air 1t seems so ex-
ceediBgly cloSe!"
1" L have no intention to carry of your key"
replied the imperturbabe Mr.. Tinicum "Bu,,
have something to say to which 1 On de-
you shall listen. You'll excuse me
if | seem rather impertinent in my way Of
doing business, but | don't choose to be in
terrupted." i
- Go on, Mr.. Tinicum, " said we, and We
threw Ourself back in our chair, resignedly to
listen.
Very well. My name is Tinicum. I am,
| repeat, burglar by profession. The police
know it. But we have a mutnal interest in
not recognising each other. They supply me
with help. l supply them with victims. We
both profit by the exchange, and society gets
rid of novices in crime who never would benefit
themselves, and colld not be expected TO