The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-02-23
MY BURGLAR FRIENDS.

eide, when Lnere are uO fiCgAhio VI AAuh
dar when railroad trains refuse to smash,
oHd burglars and thieves insist on re-
naming inactive, No reporter Is re-
nnired to furnish just certain amount
6f matter each day, but most reporters
are ambitious to furnish all they can;
and so when these dull times come the
Journalist takes longer tramps, writes or
matters which would be overlooked In
good times" and does his best to keep
M the show of local news.
Yeal ago. when | was member or
the local staff of New Orleans daily,
wa had a bad summer of 1T. Accidents
were hardly known; few new buildings
were going up, and we had TO draw
out on things to make even half
show.
We finally started the interviewing
business. One of the boys gave the eX-
perience of a gambler, another the au-
yentnre of a river pilot, and in time we
had worked up everybody but the burg
lars. 1t was left to me to hunt up some
one who could enlighten me on the mys-
teries of midnight visits in search OF
Sswap" and "sugar." believed | could
find a man, or half dozen of them.
had in my minds eye saloon near the
river where a suspicious crowd was
ALWAYS cOngTegated, and L knew, lhaG
two fellows known as Big sam ana
awful Dave" had just come out OF
State Prison and were hanging around
the place.
Were | to enter the saloon, day or night,
innuire for one of those worthless, order
the drinks. and then frankly tell him
who was and that | wanted him TO give
me the foundation for general artlcle;
whv, of course, he had to do IL. 80 ar
gued, and when the time came around
that such a sketch would "help out, L
made my arrangements.
| went down to the saloon on Friday
afternoon, and | had the luck to find
both men in. After beating around the
subject for a spell came directly to the
point. Ibid not ask them to crlminate
themselves in any way, but to furnish
me an insight into their mode OF put
ting M" and executing Jobs.
.WeU, now, you've got us" replied
Dave. Eve couldn't begin to tell you.
II all depends on what you mean to do.
You might 90 into a house by the hall
door one time, by the window another,
and next time you might not go in at all.
We 90 accOrdin' to circumstances. Clr-
cumstancps often knock all plans on the
head ..,. -
subject, and did not much care what
they said. az | calculated to put my i'm
apinatiOn at work and give in some al
ventures which would be considered
call" even bv old professionals. |
learned from the men what articles con
stituted a burglars kit what they
cost. and some other facts OF interest,
and thought | had secured about all
needed information, when Dave detained
me.
I'VE can give you some big things in
this line if you will go to little trOu-
BILE. We know where there's 'cracky
living low Just now, who can talk to you
all night, and he'll give you some
almighty good points"
I replied that would go to consider
able trouble to interview the man. and
asked how the meeting could be brought
abOut.
Easiest thing in the world" he, con-
tinued. Come back here at ten O'Clock
tonight and We'll go with you. Mind,
now. if you go to blow on us to the de-
tectives you'll get yourself into muss!
| was an innocent ass, eighteen years
old. and, though living in the city sew
eral years. had not sense enough to
warn me that the company of such men
after night was dangerous. 1t did not
strike me then as it did afterward that
the men.were too willing to Oblige me
in a matter of no interest to them, and
agreed to return to the saloon at ten
o'clock.
was free of duty after nine o'clock
that night, there being no meetings,
lectures or outside business on diary.
mentioned the fact of my engagement
to the city editor, and he warned me
that l had better break it. The men
might have some designs against me,
or might lead me into trouble. He said
so much that l gave up the idea, and
slipped my revolver from my pocket to
the table drawer.
Having an hour to while away before
bed time, 1 set out for the theater. l
was not four blocks from the Office, when
| ran against the two cOnvicts. They
recognized me i'll moment, and insisted
that should descend into basement
saloon and take glass or a cigar. They
anxiously inquired if | intended to keep
the appointment, and appeared dis
appointed when l informed them that
other engagements prevented.
1T was only a step-Only two or three
blocks" remarked Dave, 1--WE are both
hard fellows, but we wouldn't never
think of harming you. We were just
doing it to Oblige."
The two talked so much that forgot
the words of the city editor, and at
length resolved to accompany them. |
proposed to use only an hours time, but
they said this was enough only to hear
Cracks" story, but to examine his exit"
of burglar and safe-blOwing tools.
Blessed fool that was, to think that two
burglars were to take me to the hiding
place of another, and give me all their
secrets, knowing that might "blOW"
on them in half an hour after! But |
thought only of the item. Already L
could see long column headed: Burg
lars and safe-blOwers. How they work
startling revelations" etc., and
cared only for the item.
We went to the saloon where l had
met them in the afternoon, and Dave
went out and left me talking with his
companion. 1t was almost eleven o'clock
before he came back, and then, after
making many excuses he stated that
everything was all right and that we
should proceed at once.
was inclined to hang back now, as
the hour was so late, but had not the
moral courage to back square out, and
passed up the street with them. l do
not know how far we walked. We passed
up one street, down another, turn here
and there, and finally got lost. We got
into a quarter of the city where had
never been more than to ride through
in a carriage. / thought it odd that we
should look for 'cracksman" in the
aristocratic quarter of the city, but the
man Eanf nIVinp me with questions in