Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-26
IN A DEN OE THIEVES.

What is this glazed window, and what
is this mysterious going in and out of
men who hardly look up? 1t is what
the Bible calls den OF thieves. They
would not admit it. The place could
not be proved to be such, for the keep
er and the patrons are the acutest men
in the city. No sign OF stolen goods, no
public talk of misdemeanors; but at this
table two or three men are whispering
and at yonder table two or three more
men are whispering. Before them is Il
glass OF beer or a stronger intOXiCant,
but they will not drink to unconscious
ness. They will take just enough to ex-
cite their courage and bring them to the
point OF the reckless, but they want
their hand steady and their eye
clear, They are talking over last
night - their narrow escape AT the
basement door, how nearly they fell
from the window-ledge, how the bullet
grazed their hair. What is that ban
daged hand? 1t was the cut OF win
dow glass while the burglar was feeling
his way to the inside fastening. How
did that man lose his eye? Three wears
ago it was destroyed by the premature
flash ot gunpowder in store lock 9th
ers are planning Tor tonight. They
have fonnd out the hour the last mem
Der of family retircs. They are in
collusiOn with servant, who is to leave
back window unlocked. They know
at what hour the wealthy man goes
home inebriated from his club room,
and have planned from what alley TO
come out with the slung-shot. Nothing
visible; but in this den of thieves how
many false keys, ugly pocket
knives, brass knuckles and rcvolvcrs?
There are few vulgar pictures on
the wall and the inevitable bar. Rum
these people must have to rest them
after exciting marauding. Rum they
must have before they start for new
expedition of arson or larceny or muir
der Not ordinary rum. 1t has been
poisoned four times-first by the manu-
facturer, then by the wholesale dealer,
then by the retailer, then by the saloon
keeper. Having been poisoned four
times, it is just right now to tit one for
any cruelty or desperation. These men
have calculated to the last quarter of Il
glass lust how much is enough To quail
fv them for their work. They are pro-
fessional criminals. There are about
300 Ci them in New York. They are
as thoroughly drilled in the schools oi
crime for their bad work a. for good
work the New York Medical College
turns out doctors, or Columbia Law
College trains lawyers, or Princeton
trains clergymen. They have been ap-
prentices and journeymen in crime, but
have now set up ior themselves.
These are the men who want to look
! at your directory, and, while their ac-
completes 90 in 10 employ your. time,
slip into Your store safe. These are the
forgers who get one of your cancelled
checks and one of your bank checks.
practicing on writing Your name till the
bank is a. thoroughly deceived as when,
in 1870, Il counterfeit check ri Cornelius
Vanderbilt, indorsed by Henry Keep,
for $4,000, was promptly paid by Il city
bauk. These are the pickpockets, about
four hundred of them, who ride beside
YOU in stages, helping YOU pass the
change, and stand beside you when YOU
are shopping helping you examine the
! goods, and weep beside You at funerals,
and sometimes bow their head beside
vot, in churches.