Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-18
Small Diridends ON Crime.

The income of n thieving life is 30
small and precarious compared with the
pains taken 10 secure 1t, that one won
ders that thieves do not abandon the
occupation In encouragement. One of
them recently arrested In New York,
described in minute detail TO reporter
the whole process Of his stealing -, 900
werth of diamonds from Fifth avenue
boarding house, and the balance which
it left him. He was stopping Mt "A dis
reputable" downtown hotel when he
saw the rooms advertised. and made up
his mind to go and see what stroke of
business he could accomplish there.
With piece Of thin wire he arched his
nose and widencd his nostrils; he bulged
out his cheeks; deepened the sockets
OF his eyes with burnt cork; reddened
his complexion with yermillion;
painted wrinkles on his forehead, and
added a iull, tight-fitting beard and a
wig with bald crown. When his
toilet was complete he looked like II
Wall street broker, or an American
statesman. Putting on handsome,
well-made suit OF clothes, and buying n
pair of kid gloves and a walking cane,
he hired a cab for 1.-THE round trip" at
three dollars, and drove TO the house.
Being left alone in the parlor he sat
down and strummed the anvil
Chorus on the piano, apologizing TO
the landlady Oh entering for doing it.
He told her lac was wealthy English
man. just over, who would require four
rooms, and finally agreed with her for n
suite at S35 ii week. The lunch bell
rang and she asked him 10 stay to lunch,
which he accepted, saying that he would
first wash in his new room. After a
visit from pretty housemaid, who was
sect 10 show him the way 10 the dining
room but whom he dismissed, saying he
was not ready, and when everything
was quiet again, he proceeded TO busi-
ness.
Locking the outside door of his room
he rolled the bed away from another
door leading into the adjoining room
The door was fastened with hook only,
which was easily broken. Opening the
door he found himself in another bed
room, but saw nothing but sealskin
sacque which he could carry away.
Then going TO the bureau drawers and
opening them he found two morocco
cases, from which he took the diamonds,
putting the jewels into his pocket. went
back into his bedroom, from which he
emerged and made his way down stairs.
informing the butler that he had decided
not to stay to lunch. Reaching his ho-
tel, he threw off his disguise and went
out TO negotiate his plunder.
lie offered them TO a man in Chatham
street for $500. but was Obliged to take
$3.50, about one-tenth OF their value.
But for the necessity Of getting rid of
them he could have done much better
than this. Half Of the money he gave to
" II young lady friend" who soon after
ward deserted him and ran away TO
Chicago; the other half he lost at a
gambling house. A few hours alter the
theft, therefore, he had absolutely moth
ing left TO show for all his ingenuity,
labor and pains, but goes to State prison
for a term OF years instead.
He was formerly London physician,
and n man of pleasing address and
marked intelligence. But none of these
served tc command very large dividends
on the capital lac invested in crime
Detroit Free Press.