The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-07
"A FAMOUS CRACKsMAN.
A Press Interview with ROLAND, tire
Chicago Burglar.

The Harrisburg Patriot publishes an inter-
view with ROLAND, the noted burglar, ar
rested in Chicago some time since and taken
east to answer for crimes committed in Vari
Gus places, notably the robbing of Pennsyl-
vania bank. He was detained in Harrisburg
on his transit. and there the interviewer
caught him, and describes his personal APP
pearance as follows:
The prisoner is probably FIVE feet five or
six inches in height, sparely built, has a
broad white forehead, hair thick, glossy and
dark, wears a thick mustache; face clear,
and of classic appearance; nose aquiline;
mouth rather small, the lips indicating self
will and firmness; has, apparently, full set
of natural white teeth. He wore no shirt
collar but on his bosom was fastened mag
nifcent diamond stud, and a small gold ring
on one of the fingers of the left hand. His
clothing was of dark cloth, fashionably
made.
Reporter-You appear to have been liber-
ally educated, of good address and respecta-
bic family. Why de you follow an occupa-
ton so dangerous and unlawful?
Rolland-It is a morbid desire for excite
ment and adventure. | have had adventure
enough, Heaven knows, but have never inn
brued my hands in blood. On the contrary,
when LOB" was planned or carried out
have invariably instructed the men who
were connected with me to take the conse-
quences if they took the life of any one
in carrying out plans or finishing" up
''jObs" Why, sir, if | had been so dis
posed could have silenced Mr.. Messersmith
effectually on more than one occasion, taken
all the money desired and fled long before
the fact would haye been announced. | had
no desire to injure him. He treated me
with the utmost kindness and respect, and
could not, under any circumstances, have
harmed hair on his head. Some men in
the procession are bloodthirsty and villain
Gus. have no desire to be So for / contend
that / have as much feeling as the
next man for my fellow creatures.
| admit, sir, that my occupation
is unlawful and dangerously uncer-
tain But take your men in public places
nowadays. They rob the people of
thousands of dollars-nay of millions-and
back out gracefully. Their friends come to
their rescue, make a big ado and finally
worm them out of the meshes of the law.
by hook or crook Now take from the
vaults of bank, where there is an abund-
ance of wealth. Besides the modification
at the loss of money the public at large will
ready told you, l give literally of my i'll
gotten gains. Charity, you know, covers
multitude of sins.
Abiding to cases of conscience troubles,
ROLAND said:
| believe in religions that it is sacred,
holy thing. l am no hypocrite, eitherl
Why, sir, when / was at Chambersburg
engineering this job, there was great stir
of religion there, from the fact that Moody
and Sankey were carrying out the wsrk of
evangelism in Philadelphia, and its infiu-
ence was apparent all over the country.
My wife and l were frequently pressed to
attend church and the prayer meetings at
Chambersburg. l said to her, Go, if you
like, with your lady friends; can not wear
a cloak of religion to serve the devil in"
Religion is too sacred a thing to trifie with.
may have some glaring faults, but |
contend that / have also some redeeming
traits.
Reporter-Are you an American by birth?
Rolland-No; l was born in Marseilles,
France, in 1874; am in my 33d year. have
travelled great deal of my time hence the
love of adventure and excitement is inhe-
rent in my nature. l have visited all the
points of interest in Europe, travelled
through the Holy Land, Egypt Palestine
and up the Nile; have been in Australia
and over the length and breadth of the
United States in search of adventure. l was
tenderly raised, and received liberal edu-
cation before / left my native land.