Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-22
BEHIND THE BARS.
stray Leaves From the Diary OF a Noted
Burglar.

From the Cincinnct Commercial,
There Is confined in the village bastile
of the pretty suburb of Loveland az in
dividual who has probably gained con-
siderable celebrity among men of his
profession. He is burglar, man fully
six iect high, weighing in the neighbor
hood Of 1870 pounds, of fine physique,
with square-set jaws, high forehead, and
nervous, rowing eyes, that seem to take in
all the surroundings at a glance. His
movements have the quiet, springy mo-
ton of an athlete.
Through little kindnesses we gained
this crooks confidence to such degree
that he related to us, in his quiet way,
many incidents connected with his life 5
history, only requesting not to men
ton real names in case his confession ap-
peared in print. However let the unfor-
tunate man talk for himself: Yes, sir;
have only been out of quod a few days
and to think should be coliared in this
little village by "hat." feel like cow
hiding myself. Wouldn't the "mob'
laugh at me, who was considered so ety.
on the ''cross," and to think I let the flat
take me in, tools and all "a jimmy, pair
Of outsiders, etc). No, sir; won't give
you my right "monaker." 1 have had
half a dozen names in my time.
Here | am Charley johnson. But, al
though crook my good fathers name
shall never be dishonored by me. He,
poor soul, thinks am square bloke,
and he shall never know the difference,
no, not even when l croak, Father is a
man of responsibility and position, and
it would break his old heart to know that
his only son was a craftsman. The
old man lives in Kentucky, and has
plenty of this worlds gear, have not
been home for twelve years. | am 60
ing on 81 years OF age, was born in Per
ry County, ILL.,, in January, l847. 1
never did any thing crooked until I was
81 years of age. am u carriage black
smith by trade; have nearly worked in
all the shops in Cincinnati, and am con-
sidered good workman. I make all
my own tools used in my professional bus
mess. Many of the burglar tools used
are made in the penitentiary and SNUG
gled out. 1 trace the hegining of my
career of crime to the reading of such
pernicious books as Claude Duyal, Dick
Turpin, Jack Sheppard and the like.
Why, the first trick took Vas lifting a
Beadle dime novel from a book store.
Then l commenced by jumping board
bills, hnlly got to working the board
ing house l had jumped, I'LL the time
hammering away in the day time at my
trade. | was first collared, January, 1869,
Tor robbing the money-draWer of a
saloon-petlt larceny-get twenty DAYS.
The cops next pulled me on grand lar
ceny. easing a boarding house of money
box containing fifty dollars; got clear on
this. next went through a residence
up in Warren County, Went in at win
dow with my arm over my face; was rec
ognlzed, arrested and got the stretches at
Columbus. After my time was up I
worked some eighteen months at nv
trade in Cincinnati aud other cities, and
was square bloke all that time, and,
wished to God had continued; but to
be taken in now by country flat Oh,
what will the ''gang" say?
About the period I am speaking of
times got very hard and could not make
living at my trade. got throughly
disguised, and meeting an old pard, Tom
Harris, we went to the CITY of c.,
where some blokes had set up ajob. We
went through the building, dwelling
house, getting silverware and two fine
overcoats; but as usual the swag gave us
away, and the cops visited our boarding
house and found the stuff in our trunks.
This job gave us five years each IN Col
umbus, and to think, only got out the
other day from serving these five stretch
es, and here am to quod again. If it
was not for those confounded tools, I
don't mind the Mayors sentence of $50
and costs, but don't want to 20 up the
road again. If I was only clear of this
job, would be square bloke from this
time. Just think, only 30 years of age,
and s years Of that time spent in prison
My God, its fearful, ain t it, sir. This
squealing about ill treatment of the men
and mismanagment of the affairs Of the
Ohio Pententiary is all bosh. Why, sir,
no man that obeys the rules is punished.
During my time was several times put
in the dungeon, but it was Just and right;
had disobeyed the rules.
The men who squeal are those who ex-
pect to do as they please. Of course your