New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-12
How Thieves May BE Reformed.

How Thieves May BE Reformed.
Nym Crinkle writes, in the New York
World as follows:
1t is the easiest thing in the world to
hunt man down when he is trying to be
honest with his own record against him.
There is case on record of young man in
prominent dry-goods house in this city
who, in a moment of temptation, forged
check on his employers. 1t was peculiarly
painful affair. The lad was well connected,
and when the detectives made the discOv-
cry it almost broke his parents heart.
However, after some trouble, the matter
was compromised. The father paid the
money, and some mitigation of sentence
was effected. With the stain upon him, he
started out to redeem HE character if he
could After wandering about for some
time he obtained situation in New
Orleans, as entry clerk, and at the end of
year saw fair prospect of achieving sue
cess. His employers had confidence in him,
and he had made numerous reputable
acquaintance. One day while on the side.
walk experimenting the shipment of some
goods one of these New York men came
along.
"Halloo you here!"
YES" said this young man with his heart
in his mouth.
What are you doingl"
Trying 10 earn an DO0eSU living.
1t seems incredible, but it s true. The
officer went straight into the store.
One week later the young man was in
New York.
God Knows" he SAID, II tried as hard as
anybody could to be honest, but it's no
usew
OF course detective who had the slight
est notion of his obligation as man to so.
clety, to cay nothing of his duty as an off
aAp H. a., al.
And that reminds me Of another case
which ought to teach even police officers
that discretion and kindness are not without
fruits even in this business.
Every body in the force remembers John.
ny Mas. He was pickpocket AMI be-
lOnged to mob that worked on the west
side. How he got into the company of
these people IL would be hard to tell But
he was an adroit and rather amiable tkief
that scarcely ever caused the force any
trouble. 1t was customary in the days Of
the metropolitan police to lock up all the
pickpockets and gums" when there was to
be great celebration or procession. They
were merely ordered to the central office,
and there kept until the city was restored
to its usual quiet Johnny Mas only need
ed to be told to go to headquarters to re-
port himself there promptly. He was
young man, rather slight in build, and
somewhat taoiturn.
To the surprise of the superintendent, he
came to the office one afternoon and in
quired when all the special men would be
in. He was told he could see them in the
morning. When the morning came he
was there, After the roll was called the
superintendent said: Now, Johnny, the
men are all here if you want to speak to
them"
He got up from the corner in which he
was sitting, and wringing out his cap with
his two hands, proceeded to address them
in taltering and abashed manner:
"Well, you see, I've concluded to square
it, You've been pretty rough on me for
some time, and I've got sister that's got
the heart disease, and she's took it into her
he ad that she'd live bit longer if as how
I'd do the right thing, and l told her I'd
make try of It; and if you men'll gimme
q hand, why don't mind making it 60
dent want to git the collar no more, and
if the gail live bit longer on my account
am willin'"
All the men went up and shook hands
with him, and it was agreed that he
shouldn't have 1.-The collar" unless he broke
through his resolution.
About q ye ar after that. in the dead of a
severe winter, the superin 'endent was com.
ing through Crosby street into Blocker. and
he met Johnny Mas. The fellow was
dres sed in thin bombazine coat. He was
collarless and his feet were out, and he
looked hungry, pinched and wretched.
"Im glad you've kept your word, john
ny; but it's going pretty hard with you,
suppose, to be honest"
"Awful hard, cir" said Johnny; "but 1
told her would, and did"
That's right. Don't you go back on your
word. Stick it out. You'll have better times
by aud by"
Don't you see that bank over therelp
said the young man, pointing to the marble
building in Blocker street. "Well, there
amt money enough in that place to make
me go back. I'd rather go cold and hungry
and not be hunted-so l would"
The next summer one of the hotel pro-
prietors at Long Branch sent up to the su.
perintendent for man to keep an eye on
the thieves that hang around a watering
place. II can get you man. said the
superintendent, thinking of Johnny, "but
I'm bound to tell you he's been thief"
Then don't want him."
Then the superintendent told the story l
have told, only he told it better.
"Send him down." said the landlord. ga
chap that'll do that ought to be helped"
IL was $25 week to Johnny, and it made
a man of him.
Daring that season there wasn't a rob-
berry committed at the Branch. Johnny
himself at the railroad depot, and
when ne saw former pal he warned him
off. "It's no use," he would say, Il don't
want to pipe none o. you boys, and amt
goin' to do it II you stay away. If you
come here it will be awful rough on both of
u.s."
And to their credit it ought to be said
that they always went back.
1t had been in the sentimental or the
moral way, there is one thing should have
lone.
Do You know what that is
i should like to have known that sister
hat had the heart disease.
One other thing: I'd like to give YOU the
lame of that superintendent, but I'd have
20 ask him first, and that's impossible.
Ahead. .t-