The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-10

for highway robbery year. He's just back from
prison. He'd murder you for Ave cents" is the re
Ply IN an Indifferent Tone and you devouty believe
You hear laughter and conversation in basement
liquor shop. IT'S one of the worst resorts in the
precinct. says the detective. '.You will find the
place full Of young thieves The proprietor himself
| for passing counterfeit money. Look around you
when you 20 in and you'll FUN"
AS we push open the screen doors and the detec-
tive's form is revealed the inmates suddenly cease
their laughter. and all sit motionless silent.
every eye liked upon the newcomers Some have
been playing cards some drinking and some lolling
over the barrels and stools The proprietor with :
nervous smile and trembling haste greets the ofacer
with great tenderness and Invites us to drink. We
venture upon beer AS the only safe beverage such
throws down halfdollar, and the saloon keeper IL
30 nervous that he gives IN change four quarters
aughingly corrects him. The other occapsnts ' az
the place have not spoken word. and the visit has
evidently caused CONSERVATION.
"What Is the matter therey you ask of the officer
who is still enjoying the joke
why. there is not man in that place who did
fun"
THE DETECTIVE MoRALIzEs
Thus "conscience does make wards of us ALL you
say to yourself the officer moralizes -"iov
You see how they spot and how we throw a dam
per on their spirits wherever we go. Don't you
suppose. II they were honest men, they'd go right
ohabout their business or their amusemerts? They
wouldn't be disturbed by the presence of all the
police officers in New York What fools they are to
lead alife OF continual fear They must be always
the watch and then they don't keep out OF our
clutches. but wind up in prison later. I've
read somewhere pass one-third OF lives in
sleep. Perhaps honest men do; but it's my opinion
that this mob average about one-thrd of their lives
in prison. Why. leaving morals out of the question
and looking at the thing from merely selfish point
OF view it doesn't pay to lead the life they do They
are not great criminals-men with brains-able to
plan great swindling scheme or crack bank. The
Tenth avenue gang merely loafers and highway.
men. burglars and sneak thieves. They the riff
PaH nf Tho 1.a~<l
what they get. because they can't rake in much at
time They could make more money than they do
or the question the nervous strain and continual
fear OF detection in which they live
"Do you suppose they are aware that they could
do better ut honest workY'
80, Most OF them know it and deliberately choose
"What proportion Of these fellows can be chased
with professional criminals-I mean those who
sher van os CSSs SY
OF crime very long before he becomes well known
to us that it becomes too hot for him in this pre-
emigrate at this stage. Many Of these that you
see around you, make pretenoe Of working
few days. and when they are caught in some
crooked job the first thing they claim is that they
make . pretence of WORKING but loaf around and
watch chance to rob some stranger the street
There are few who really work during the day
time and ct night go with the gang and assist in
sturdy looking yoans fellow on coraer Werts in
time
'Do many of them develop high toned criminals
bank burglars great confidence men-the kid
gloved aristocrats of the professionY'
brutality and rufianism. Such men Dutch Har-
mon are exceptional with them. If they were all as
dangerous and smart as he there's no knowing what
we would do.
The officer had prophesied that after dark, II we
walked again over this ground. great deal moro
life would be visible. We found it so. Whisky
shops and slums that during the day had been quiet
and almost deserted were now crowded and noisy.
themselves in Daylight were now at their usual
haunts. Many OF them sleep all day and come out
of their boxes at night like rats the ocer explained.
IF you were alone and passed through here at
night those fellows would rob you. You might
shout until you were hoarse-none OF the people in
officer happened to be near You would be at their
mercy" Thus said the guardian of the law
approached crowd Of young fellows who were sky-
larking with some girls and did not Us. We
were down near the river in bad place.
''Let me try" said ]. impulsively. walking few
house q number, a stranger might when the
crowd saw me pass alone they stopped their play
and evidently thought victim had fallen into their
high fence skirtns the Sidewalk and no houses ex-
the place Of laughter very suddenly as walked by.
Two Of the gang walked quickly into the street.
see them in the darkness and could hear several
more coming behind me. By this time I had
reached the shadow Of the fence-the very spot for
q highway robbery . murder and tho two who
had got ahead Of me evidently waiting for me.
Just began to half repent my foolhardiness and
ns ou Of the u my So
We walked together into the darkness, but saw
nothing Of the two rufaans who had gone ahead.
and whom turned and went back the corner
where the crowd had been was deserted.
''was 1 rightr' asked the detective. laconicarly.
"You were." emphatically retoined.