The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-01-13
For the somersss HrzAID.
SLIPPERY MIKE,
OR;
SANDY, THE SHARPER
BY r. R.
AUTHOR OF THE BANDIT OF
THE ~ALLEGHENIES-
~ATHANASE THE
AVENGER-
&C.

In no age Of the world has there beer
so many prOfessed students OF the
cause, prevention, aud punishment OF
crime as the present. And in no age,
not even the darkest and bloodiest, has
crime been so rampant, so success
full. or more secure from punishment.
The orthodox style Of modern nav
kish philanthropy is to represent the
criminal as q being Of remarkable
purity in early youth-one whose
impulses were good, and only driven
70 crime BY the force Of circumstan-
ces, oppression in high places, pater-
nal cruelty, or, more popular stli, by
blighted afections-an early wreck
ofhopes, attachments, and principles
Without pausing to discuss the ques
ton whether bligbted affections are
an entire answer to and justification
Of pocket-picking, or to what exien
disappointment may Offset manslaugh
ter, we beg leave to doubt whethe
the criminal in early life is exactl,
a model upon which the rising gen
GRAFTON could safely found itself.
Our limited experience is, tina
children are selfish and almost entire
" devoid Of conscience. 1t IS only th'
careful training and earnest teaching
Of after years that rouses the bette.
feelings and ~elevates the child o
civilization above the beasts tina
perish and the savage.
The man whose career we pro
pose briefly to sketch, who was on
day as well known in Somerset AM
surrounding counties as the coBstabi
or tax collector is now, was a case u
point. A man who loved crime 70
its own sake; who, bad ss be was
was vet not all bad. One who woul'
rather make FIVE dollars by some PEI
ty theft or trickery than twenty b,
auy recognized or regular bushes
or industry. He vas as crest a Grim
inal as Lewis, but Of an entirely dit
ferent kind. One preferred to beat
q band and to perform startling anC
thrilling exploits that would make
noise in the world the other opera
ted alone, and used cunning and ad
dress where the other used force
Neither, as far as we know, ever she'
blood, or were guilty Of any Of tb.
brutal cruelty 50 commonly practice
at this day by the maskers who infes
the country.
Mike had rather a pleasant name
and a good address. Always dressed
well but hot aashily, rather affecting
the STYLE Of o well-to-do mechanic o
country merchant than the diamond
pinned and ringed gentry of the llgbr
fingered school. He wrote a goo
plain business hand, of which he wa
not a little proud, and which wa
rather uncommon at that day in ID
country. His boyhood had advar
tages that the sons Of the wealth
did not always have at that time, anC
We believe, be started in life as a me-
chants clerk, for which he was we
adapted, apart from his want of priT
eiple,
He learned to gamble and becam
the intimate Of gamblers, and, in cons'
auence, lost bis situation. The fac
did not distress him, as be had pre-
determined to devote himself to
mode of life more in %consonanc
with his sporting tastes and unprir
cipled disposition. One of the man.
landlords along the Pike was robbie
of q considerable sum of money
which created an unwonted excite
ment, and ended in the conyictio
and incarceration Of one OF Mike
gambling associates. He was strong
ly suspected, but acted the cbaracte
of a green youth so well that the.
permitted him to go unpublished.
1t was necessary to account for bi
possession Of means. He t~rsvelle.
up and down the road and gambled
Sporting men were plenty, and, a
soon as they learned that Nike ha.
money, they g~raciously consented t
win it. without troubling themsclye
to inquire how he zane by it. Blu
it was not always so easy to win hi
money, even for these old hands
Occasionally the sharp boy came II
on them with a trick that even thei
experience and wstehfulness eonl'
not guard against. These lucky hit
were Of immense benefit TO him, ia
more than the amounts be won. III
took good care that his winning
should be knOwn wherever he wa:
If seen with q large sun of none.
land displaying it on all occasion
was one Of his weaknesses, not III
common to gsmesters), be could read.
ly account for it by saying it wa
part of his winnings.
He became quite vain Of his skill
and boosted Of bis proves, sayini
be was paddy for anything on th
road"
There was n expert over in Ma
rvlsud whom he was anxious to meet
The man had plenty Of money, ant
was not sfraid to risk it. In tbei
language "he was a gentleman a
would back his own opinions" Wait
ing until be could make q good raise
as he thought it would be derogator,
to the dignity Of a sport" not t,
have plenty of money at such a time
~ 1919 nI-l-I-