Louisiana capitolian., 1881-11-19
. uupeY..R WHO CARRIED HIS
TOOLS IN A WOODEN LEO.
Ieadyllle coli Democrat

the same time ILLUSTRATED the Keen
ingenuity of the burglal1 in keeping
dark everything that would tend 70
convict him, occurred at tile county
jail a few daysago, when one OF the
'scross readers" was brought In Tor
board. The character that furnished
the amusement was q well-known
crook by the name OF Mike Govern,
and to whom has been given the sob
riouet of "Limp Leg He acquired
this title from the fact tia. when at
one time he was engaged in q legitl-
mate occupation he was q victim in q
railway accident, and his injuries
necessitated amputation at the knee.
Mechanism furnished o substitute for
n foot and calf, and he started out to
be gambler. The indemnity that
he obtained from the railroad cOmpa-
ny was deposited in tlie treasury OF
Dame "Chance, nand no was compeli-
cd to do something for q living Ills
crippled limb hindered linn seriously
and os for doing hard work OF getting
down to the honest and honorable oc-
cupation OF a laborer, he had no
thought of such thihg. 1t was
easier TO steal than to labor, and his
"game" limb was fort and oulwark
against the vag. law. Consequently
he had every natural advantage Tor
shining light as q loafer, anu
be stood ON the stree5 corners un-
molested. His associates were OF q
bad character, and finally "Limp Leg.
was arrested for completely in bur-
glary. This was in Chicago; he was
confined in the Jail and upon convlc-
tion was sent to the penltentlary,
where he served short term. Hav-
ing served his term he again 'joined
the gang" and but forthe fact that
he had wooden limb he would have
been expelled from the city or com
PEELED to sit and pound 'macadams''
continually. He naturally drifted to
the West after he had established his
identity as q burglar. having been
repeatedly arrested upon suspicion,
and few weeks ago, when the bur
glars were doing sslch extensive work
here, he was again taken in. "Limp
Legs" familiarity with fhe business.
and his knowledge Of how to slip
through the wheels of justice with a
scratch, made him naturally defiant,
and when Captain Flood led him be-
fore the court for examination ne
laughed and scOffed 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 thesounty Jail,
1t isn't often that the prisoners squeal
on one of their kind, but the joke on
this occasion was so extremely funny
that they gave it away after their
fellow prisoner had been discharged
There was little evidence before thu
Grand Jury, and upon the Warrant
was marked "not q true bill" Th'
doors were opened to "Limp Leg
and the Jailer, Reese Tucker, tolt
him that he might go. At this juno.
ture Sam. Tate whispered something
into the ear of Jailer Tucker Tn
iailer indulged in a bland smile, ant
turning to the fellow, who had linger
ed for q moment, said:
'Limpy,' let's see your tool ches
before you so, will you9"
"What do You mean ?" reptile,
"Limp Leg" "feiguing tile most pro
found Ignorance Of what the jailer re
ferred to.
80 you needn't be afraid, the Gran
Jury has said that you could 60, an
we want to see where you carry you
burglars TOOLS"
Burglars tools" exclaimed "LimI
Leg" as u shade of color passed acros
his features, #
eyes, the set you carry in you
wooden leg" continued the jailer
while the burglar began to retreat to
ward the door, seeing that his racke
had been given away. BY this tim
the prisoners were convulsed wit
laughter, and Sam Tate was bubblin
over with merriment.