The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-03-28
THE CLANK OF THE CHAIN.
A Pardoned Convict Attempts Burg
larry to Avoid Starvation.
How an Honest Man Became a Noted
Criminal.
New York Herald. 1srh.l

man was in sight The time and place were
certainly not propitious for the committing
of burglary, and none but foolhardy
criminal would attempt one under such cir
cumstances. So reasoned Officer Kennedy,
of the Church street police, as he wonder
ingly watched stability dressed middle
aged man suspiciously trying the doors of
the business houses within the shadow of
Trinity church. The man tugged at the
knobs, placed his shoulder to the doors,
looked through the key holes and examined
the windows and gratings in desperate eff
forts to effect an entrance.
He did not seem to care particularly
whether he was noticed or not; indeed, he
looked round once, and seeing a policeman
watching him, renewed his efforts with even
greater vigOr than before.
This is the oldest burglar / ever saw"
muttered the officer, crossing over to the
strange man.
"Hello, do you belong here?"
mo, DON'T" was the gruff and emphatic
answer.
Then l arrest you on the charge of at
tempted burglary" said the mystifed Off
Ger, placing his hand on the mans shoulder.
You struck it right that time," said the
man nonchalantly. 81 was attempting bur-
glary. and you caught me in the act"
The seeming satisfaction with which the
words were uttered only increased the
polceman's establishment, and he hurried
his prisoner to the Tombs police court as if
anxious to get so strange a customer off his
hands.
When the prisoner was arraigned at the
bar there were present on the bench Judge
Kilbreth, Alderman Morris and DR.. Elisha
Harris. Officer Kennedy took the stand
and swore that he caught the prisoner,
Christian Hanson, attempting to feloniously
enter the premises Nos. Ill, 113 and lis
Broadway, at Is minutes past 10 o'clock in
the morning
The prisoner stood upright and listened
in silence to the charge. In appearance he
was about so years of age, over SIX feet in
height and proportionally built. His cheeks
were pale and sunken, showing unmistakable
evidence of physical suffering His eyes
were bright and his cOuntenance was one of
intelligence. His clothing consisted of
torn and ragged coat, a pantaloons with
large holes in the knees, dilapidated hat
and shoes well nigh solelesS
ASTONISHING THE COURT.
Hanson said the magistrate, "you are
charged with attempted burglary; what have
you to say?"
Il am guilty" quickly responded the
prisoner, in a strong Danish accent. II did
IL so that / would be sent to state prison"
"And why do you want to 60 to state
prison, Christian asked the judge in as
constituent.
The man hung his head and seemed for
moment disinclined to answer but encOur-
aged by kindly word, looked up and said
with an earnestness that was deeply impress
sive:
Judge. have only just come from CO.
lumbus, Ohio, where l served ten years in
state prison for burglary. was pardoned
out by Governor Hayes, now president of
the United States. My original sentence
was for twenty years. My life is wasted and
I am a wreck. God knows intended when
/ came out of prison to live an honest life.
| was pardoned out on the 5th of last month.
| went to Cincinnati and tried to get work,
but failed. From there 1 went to Pittsburg
and met with no better success. Then L
tramped it all the way 10 New York, where
had friends, trying to get work from farm
ers on the way, sleeping where / got an OPP
portunity and eating whenever a charitable
person gave me crust. My friends here
who knew me before l was a criminal refuse
to recognize me. / can't get work; / have
lived in the gutter and been kicked about.
Isiread to kill myself, and so with the hor-
rors of prison life still before me / am
obliged to go back. There is nothing else
for me to do"
The sympathies of all who heard the earn
est words of the broken down man were
deeply touched by the recital. After some
further questions the judge ordered him to
step aside until after the adjournment of the
court, when his case would be disposed of.
While the prisoner was thus waiting
Herald reporter questioned him as to the
leading incidents of his eventful life. He
gave them freely, concealiRg nothing except
the names of his associates.
81 was born" said he Gin Copenhagen,
Denmark, in 1884 My parents were poor,
but respectable people, and they gave me
good academic education. Hearing of the
advantages of the new world l came to
America in 1868, Landing in New York. Two
days afterward | enlisted in company X,
Seventh volunteers, and went to war. l
served in several engagements al was un-
der Generals Grants and Meade. was wound
ed in the shoulder before Richmond. After
the war went to Cincinnati and obtained
employment as laborer on railroad. Up
to this time was an honest man. Losing
my employment / began to frequent the
Buckeye" saloon in Cincinnati, where /
fell in with gang of burglars. Being out
of work L listened to their proposals to join
their number. They had plenty of money
and got me to drinking, and / became one
them. Our first job was the robbing of the
First National bank of Cincinnati at the
corner of Walnut and Fourth streets. We
got 100000 in United States bonds and
$1,000 in greenbacks.
well, you want to know how the job
was done, eh2 We hired basement adj
joining the bank, giving it out that we
wanted it for a saloon On the tenth day
afterward we had everything in readiness.
nd on the night of February 3, 1866, we
cut hole through the wall into the base
ment of the bank building and then dug
our way through the ceiling to where the
safe was. At this point the bank Waterman
came upon us. but 1 and another of the
gang quickly bound and gagged him. We
then blew open the safe. The conclusion
stopped the clock. 1t was half-past 3 am"
"What tools did you use in drilling the
holes2" asked the reporter.
"Good cracksmen don't use TOOLS" an
swered the burglar. I'll show you how TO
blow open any safe in New York without
any tools. Just take me to safe"