Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1881-10-29
"LlMP Leg"
A Noted Burglar Who Carries His
Burglars To Dis in a Wooden Leg.

An episode that was quite anus
ing to a small circle of spectators,
and at the same time illustrated the
keen ingenuity of the burglar in
keeping dark everything that would
tend to convict him, occurred in the
County Jail few days ago, when
one of the "cross readers was
brought in for board. The charac-
ter that furnished the amusement
was we'll known crook by the name
| of Mike Govern, and to whom had
been given the sobriquet of "Limp
Leg" He acquired this title from
the fact that when at one time he
was engaged in legitimate business
he was a victim of railway acci-
dent, and his injuriea necessltated
amputation at the knee. Mechanism
furnished a substitute for foot and
calf, and he started out to be gam
bier. The indemnity that he OBJ
tanned from the railroad company
was deposited in the treasury of
Damea"Chance," and he was COM
PEELED TO do something for living.
His crippled limb hindered him Sc.
riously, and as for getting down to
the honest or honorable of laborer
he had no thought OF such a thing.
1t was easier to steal than to labor,
and his .tgame" leg was fort and
bulwark against the vag law. Con-
seouentlv he had every natural adj
vantage for a shining light as loaf
err, and he stood on street corners
unmolested. His associates were of
a bad character, and finally he was
arrested for completely in burg
larry. This was in Chicago, and he
was canfined IN Jail, and upon con-
viction was sent to the penitentiary,
where he served short term. Hav-
ing served his term he again Joined
the gang, and but for the fact that
he had a wooden limb, he would
have been expelled from the city,
or compelled to sit and pound ma
cadam continually. He naturally
dritted to the West after he had es-
tablished his identity as a burglar,
and after having been arrested re-
peatedly upon suspicion, and few
weeks ago, when the burglars were
doing such extensive business here,
he was again taken in. Limp Legs"
familiarity with the business, and
his knowledge of how to slip through
the wheels of justice without
scratch, made him naturally defiant,
and when Captain Flood led him be-
fore the Court for examination, he
laughed and scotfed at the proceed
ings. Nevertheless he was bound
over to await the action of the grand
Jury, and being unable to furnish a
bond he was placed in the county
Jail. 1t isn't often that the prisoners
soueai on one of their kind, but the
Joke on this occasion was so ex
tremely funny that they gave it
away after their fellow prisoner had
been discharged. There was little
evidence before the grand jury, and
upon the warrant was marked, "Nct
a true BILL" The doors were OPEN
ed to "Lim Leg" and the jailor,
Reese Tucker, told him that he
might go. At this juncture Sam
Tate stepped forward and whispered
something in the ear of jailor Tuck
err. The jailor INDUCED in a bland
smile, and turning to the fellow who
fingered for moment, said:
"Limpy, let's see your tool chest
before you so, Will your
.What do you mean?' replied
Limp Leg, feigning the most pro
found ignorance of what the jailor
referred to.
"Oh, you needen't be afraid, the
grand jury has said that you can go,
and we want to see where you carry
your burglars tools. "
"Burglar's toolsY' exclaimed Limp
Leg, as shade of color passed over
his features.
eyes, the set you carry in your
wooden leg," continued the jailor,
while the burglar began to retreat
toward the door, seeing that his
racket had been given away. BY
this time the prisoners were CON
vulsed with laughter, aud Sam Tate
was bubbllng over with merriment.
"Here, you'd better show us the
trick now, or Well have you rear
rested. II you do we'll give you
Just one hour TO get out of town
with your stock of tools"
A. this "Limp Leg" reseated him
self, aud pulling up his pants leg,
he exhibited the cork addition or
extension.
"If you think you can fluid any
thing wrong with my leg, just look
at 1t for YOURSELF" said "Limp Leg"
as he thrust it out toward the jailor.
"rouch the spring." shouted a
voice from behind the bars.
"rouch the spring, Limpy," re-
peated the jailor to the fellow, who
was now wild with wrath.
Seeing that he was cornered,
Limpy then reached down, and
throwing his thumb nail On need
lie that protruded from the cork leg,
"a small door flew open in obediance
| to his touch. A small hole was re-
-. a h1e finunPS