The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-01-14
4 REMARKABLE ROBBER.

long catalogue of distinguished high
waymen which includes Claude Duyal,
Flick TUrpin. and Jack Sheppard. In
many respects he was the most remark
able robber the world has ever pro-
duced. His name was Henry Garrett.
He was a native of England, but, like
several other citizens of that country,
he was granted leave TO reside in Aus
tralia for the term of ten years. This
was in 1912. The cause OF his going
abroad to reside was the loss Of a watch
and well-tilled pocket-book by gentle
man who was travelling in private
conveyance. SO far as can be ascer-
tained,-for comparatively little is
known of his early life,-he was not
melted to engage in adventure and
crime by reading ''dime novels In
deed, this class of books, which are pre-
sumed to be so pernicious in their in
tluence, had not been placed on the
market when Mr.. Garrett was q small
boy, which was nearly eighty years ago.
he was great student and most dill
gent reader, though he had no inclina-
ton to peruse trashy books. He was an
excellent linguist a good naturalist, an
expert engineer, and very fair lawyer.
He was fond of science, especially of
comparative anatomy. His favorite
authors were Humboldt, Darwin. Tyn-
dali, Huxley, Spencer, and Mill, His
knowledge of history was remarkable,
and while in prison, as he was several
times, he spent most of his time in
writing biographies, which sold for
more money than the author could make
by engaging in any kind of labor He
was a great favorite with the warden.
surgeon, and chaplain of every prison
in which he was confined His know
ledge of men was excellent, and he was
often consulted about the management
of convicts. He was most entertain
inc companion, and on that account his
society was sought by prison officials.
Mr.. Garrett operated on a small scale
in Australia as soon as his term of penal
| servitude had expired. He was very
desirous of returning to England, and
sought to obtain means to do so. He
had some trouble in doing this. He had
but small capital, and did not wish to
organize gang" as is often done in
this country, and was even averse to
having a partner. Learning that there
was a bank in a small country town, he
concluded that he would draw a sum
from it sufficient to carry him to his ma
tive land and to support him there for
some time. Approaching the building,
he posted a notice on the door that the
bank was closed. He entered, closed
the door, and, pointing a pistol at the
head of the cashier, demanded that he
hand over the contents of the safe. Re
ceivin9 about $4,000, mostly in bank
notes, he locked the door and departed.
With this sum he left for London. He
was followed by detective, who re-
sorted to a rick for the purpose of
catching him. He shadowed a person
some days whom he thought was the
robber he was looking for, but of whose
identity he was not certain. Early one
evening, while walking in the street
where there were many persons, he gave
loud ''coo-ce," a cry made by Aus
tralians when they are in distress. The
unsuspecting Australian, thinking one
of his fellow-colonists was IN trouble,
rushed to his assistance, and fell into
the hands of the detective. He was
taken back to Australia, tried, con-
victed, and sentenced to ten years i'm
prisonment. At the expiration of this
time he concluded that he would 90 to
New Zealand, where fortunes then were
rapidly made.
Mr.. CARROTS first great enterprise in
New Zealand was that of sticking up''
some seventeen miners, who, singly or
in pairs. were going to a town to put
their gold in a safe place. Stepping
out from behind a tree, he babe them
throw up their hands and preserve 81
lence. Tying them to trees with cords
he carried with him, he relieved them
of their valuables, and then passed on
to meet others of the party, whom he
used in the same way. Thinking they
might remain in that condition some
time before anyone came along to re-
lease them. he treated to drink, filled
their pipes, lighted them, and went ON
his way. For this act he was again
imprisoned, and did not regain his lib.
erty till three years age A few weeks
after his release he was arrested in
wholesale store, where he was found
with about fifty skeleton keys in his
possession. He was again tried, con-
victed, and sent to prison. In this place
of confinement he died.
Local papers give some strange ac-
counts of his life and character. They
declare that he always kept his word,
that he never had a confederate, that he
never shed drop of human blood, was
never guilty of cruelty, and he never
robbed or injured woman. He was
so kind, polite, and obliging, and with
| al SO highly intelligent, that persons
meeting him in prison forgot that he
was criminal. His appearance was SO
good, his manners SO refined, and bis
conversation so engaging, that no one
ever suspected that he was leading
life of crime. While travelling, he
passed for gentleman and scholar,
and gained the confidence of the best
people he met. The warden of the last
prison he was in allowed him to walk
outside the wall on his promise to return
at stated time, Take him all in all,
he was robber the world never saw
the like of before and never may again.
-Chicd1O Times