Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-08-14
An Artistic Burglar.

|
considered as one of the fine arts, and the
aesthetic side of certain other breaches of
the decalogue has been abundantly illus
trated in modern fiction; butit was reserv-
ed for a man whose true name is shrouded
| in unmerited obscurity to show what
field burglary presents for the display of a
refined order of genius. Tne story de-
| serves repeating as story, and will be
recognized by many under the slight dis
guise of altered names
Some ten or twelve years ago, in town
Just so far from Boston that it likes to con-
slider itself suburban, and one we will call
G., there came to live man who PROV
ed himself a most exemplary citizen,
and whom we will call Mr.. Herrick He
was a mechanic and worked daily at his
trade in large factory, with steady and
conscientious industry. He was perfectly
upright in his dealings, had no vices, and
went regularly to church. He had the
confidence of his employers, the respect
of his fellow-workmen, and, by virtue of
a countenance fresh in color and singular
ly guileless and engaging in expression,
and a certain homely but ready courtesy,
the warm regard of all the female popu-
lation, high and low. Like most merito-
rious men he was modest, and allowed ac-
cident to discover the fact that besides his
skill in his proper handicraft he had
kind Of general mechanical cleverness,
especially about locks, KEYS and fasten-
ings of all kinds-which last he himself
attributed to his having worked for awhile
with a locksmith in his earlier youth
The result was that people whose fasten-
| ings, whether of doors, windows trunks
desks or safes, were out of order, fell into
the habit Of employing Mr.. Herrick to
mend them, and he did itpromptly, cheap
ly and extremely well, in all these respects
favorably Distinguishing himself from the
| ordinary lock-tinker. And then he was
such pleasant, trustworthy fellow to have
| about. Shopkeepers showed him with a
wink the secrets of their safes, and old
ladies living in lonely mansions admitted
him to their most sacred cupboards, or
brought forth by their brass handles and
set before him their old fashioned writing
desks. And as he deity Clipped and
fitted, they conversed with him about
the sickness in the neighborhood the
interest in the church, and even their
beloved "old times" in which he took an
uncommon interest, and felt all the safer
| about the quaint treasures which they
| guarded so nervOusly after their secrets
were shared with this respectable man.
But of this man, the community where
he lived and so deservedly throve, was in
some respects unworthy. It was a com.
munity outwardly Puritanical, not to say
austere, and its influential people were
chiefly of strict order, both of faith and
practice, but certain small vices abound
ed. Among these was a peculiarly mys-
terlous order of petty thieving. Things
vanished out Of the most private places,
leaving no trace of disturbance among the
\,
which knew them no more. Not only did
the Opera-glass disappear from the hall
table and the prize pitcher from the side
bOard-but the locket and the gold-set
miniature fors sock the secret drawer, the
antique pOrringer left the top shelf of the
china-clOset, and the single trinket was
missing from among the treasures of the
carefully locked and seemingly inviolate
casket. Not week, hardly day passed,
but some event of this kind occurred with
in the precincts of c., and there were
certain houses where the visitation was so
often repeated that they became marked,
and honest Hibernia considered it as
much as her character was worth to
take service in them. The criminal, or
criminals, enjoying glorious impunity,
the crime naturally spread and prospered,
and at last assumed proportions of actual
-
berries were traced to c. that suspicion
fell heavily upon two men-a father and
son of previously irreprOachable life
who shared the duties and responsibilities
of the local office. Nothing was ever
proved, or even formally alleged against
them, but political influence was brought
to the aid of private prejudice, and they
were both removed and virtually dis
graced. The next victim was an ex-
pressman who drove a brisk trade
between C and the metropolis, and
occupied that proud position in the affec-
tiOns and interests Ofthe community which
a Jealous common carrier in a suburban
town often attains. By and by it began
to be whispered that packages intrusted
to him, especially if they remained in the
! express over night, were sometimes tam
pered with. Wedding gifts received by
the bride-elect with a beautiful blush, and
opened with eager fingers, were found to
| consist Of neat box, morocco case and
a layer of tissue paper, \ fashionable
young lady came to @. on visit. Her
| immense trunk took an independent de
| tour, as trunks occasionally do. The ex-
| pressman traced and captured and duly
| deposited it with its owner-straps and
| faStenngs all right-but when it was
! opened its contents were found to have
! been subjected TO thorough review and
most discriminating selection. The heavy
! silk and the fresh gloves were gone True
| lace had been unerringly distinguished
| from false and cashmere from Paisley.
The expressman protested innocence,
paid his legal forfeit, and remained under
| a cloud.
This state of things had lasted for about
! three years, when there appeared in G.
| one autumn evening two strangers. who
! professed business of importance with
/ Mr.. Herrick. They called at his lodging
and were directed to the manufactory
/ where, as was his industrious wont, he
was working somewhat over hours. A
/ something unusual and significant in the
/ bearing Of these men attracted to them a
/ following of the idle, and a dozen off
! cious fellows stood ready to point out the
! tall factory and the fourth-story back
/ room where, bending under single gas
! light Mr.. Herrick was found at work,
and where the strangers produced a war
rant, and arrested him for completely in a
| late famous but far-distant robbery. A
strenuous part of the officers instructions
/ had reference to securing Mr. Herrick's
papers, and they accordingly left him I'M
/ der volunteer guard of his dumbfounded
/ fellow-citizens, while they returned to his
! lodging for this purpose. Mr.. Herrick had
/ accepted his arrest with exquisite calm
! OpSS-carpfI11lu mt Quay his tools an1