Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
A THIEF BY TRADE.
DesIsned for Priest bat Graduated Ms
Confirmed Felon.

DesIsned for a Priest bat Graduated ns a
Confirmed Felon.
OF the many oily-tongued rascals and
thieves who have been run to cover In
this city, says the Kansas City Times,
Philip Watt, who was arrested for COM
plicityin the Leavenworth robbery, IS
the king. He is a man about thirty
years of age, weighs one hundred and
sixty pounds, and stands six feet and an
inch in his stocking feet. He hasa good
head, crowned by growth OF sandy
hair. and from beneath his dark eye
brows look out as foxy a pair OF gray eyes
as ever person looked upon.
A reporter paid visit to the county
iail. and epsconced in cell No. on the
left hand tier this man was found.
"Do YOU want to be interviewed 2"
"Well, I don't mind, but I tell you,
to begin with, that I won't tell you any
thing that will in the least possible man
ner criminate me. What do you want to
know2" -. >,
81 would like history of your life, "
answered the scribe.
"Well, get out your note book and 1
| will commence.
The man then, with as few words as
possible, gave the following account OF
his life:
"I was born in San Antonio, Texas,
in 1845. and lived there until 1 was
nearly four years old. My father then
removed to Fort Laramie, and l lived In
that place until he had served his time
ont in the regular army. At ten years
of age my father'an mother moved to
Leavenworth, where my younger days
were passed. It had been ny father g
wish that I should become a Catholic
priest, and my early education all tended
| toward that thing. In Leavenworth l
attended st. Mary's College, and was
under special charge of the bishop OF
that place. At fifteen years of age l vas
sent to the Jesuit college in st. Louis to
complete my education. While there !
came to the conclusion that was not cut
out for a priest, and jumped the instltu-
tion. ,
con coming back to Leavenworth, !
made the acquaintance of number OF
bad characters, and when once on the
road down hill person goes fast, and IN
a short time was the leader of the gang.
T have been arrested scores OF times,
and have seen the inside of nearly every
iail in the West. The first time I was
sent to the penitentiary was for obtain
| ing S4O0 from the American Express
COMPANY. I was caught, but handed
the sswag to pal, and while serving
nv time in the jail had the use OF the
money. Twas sixteen months In Jail at
INDEPENDENCE, and was at last sentenced
for three wears. After serving eighteen
months was pardoned out, through the
exertions of my counsel, the Hon. Henry
P. White. was good for time after
nv release, but the detectives would not
LET me alone, and kept bounding mefrom
one place to another. At last / made up
INV mind to go back to the old business,
and at Omaha I conidenced q jeweler
named Hubberman out of 500 worth OF
iewelry. I was arrested onsuspicion the
same night, but, as usual, got away with
the sswag.' Was sent up tor three
wears, but, ss in the case in Missouri,
was pardoned out after having served
half my sentence.
Money and political influence had
good deal to do with my getting out. On
the books it was registered as executive
clemency,' but tell you money will dc
most ANYTHING. With it will make the
Missouri river run up stream. or get out
of any prison in America. think this
is the worst apology for a jail that !
ever was in, and have been In most al
of them. I have often thought OF being
better man, but have never been given
a chance. The detectives do more to en-
courage crime than to suppress it. II
man was thousand miles away, IN any
honest business, and one of them should
ZEE him they would give him away IN
minute. have never had any induce
ments held ont to me to be a better
man. The world is all against me, and
I might as well be crooked as straight
When I die it will be some satisfaction
to some, that leave the world asqueezed
lemon. Public opinion is against me-
aud it is law higher and mightier thar
any Jury I have ever been brought be-
FORE"
"You are suspected of having had
hand in the Wyandotte bank robbery.
eyes, know it. A couple OF green
horns we're down here this morning anc
measured my feet and size. l was sure
they were Kansas 'grays. I" =,
"You can tell Kansas official, thenF
"Oh, yes. Most all of them are o.
my stripe, and will steal whenever they
get chance. Tom Speers, now, Is
gentleman, and always treated me like
human bsing."
"You are sure You we're not in Wyan
dotte on the night of the robbery2
The man looked at the reporter a6ou
fifteen seconds, and then said, wlthou
appearing to have heard the question {:
II wonder how much they would
give me to get back that 1,5OO. 1 gues
It would go long way toward getting
me out of this scrape."
"Do you think you will get out o
this2" 80
eyes, 1 do. I am innocent, and, lik
Micawber, am waiting for something t.
turn up to my advantage.
"Do you think if you got out OF thu
scrape you can do better"
"No, I cannot, and shant try. Whe!
get out shall 60 back to the old bus1
ness, and keep at it until 1 am gray.
An Unfortunate Masquerade.