Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-05-14
A TALK ON THIEVES.
What a city Police Inspector
Knows about Them
No Boldr than other Men, but Helped
by Tinid Peoples Fears

No Boldor than other Men, but Helped
BY Timid Peoples Fears
'NIauy DeOple have an idea," said In
spector Steers recently, ''that burglars
and otbor ,a,vbreakers, whose line of busi-
ness / attended with personal danger
are built ON different pattern from the
average human being. They are supposed
to be without fear and to carry in their
natures large amount Of terrifying mate
rial, ready to be set off at a moments no
tice. They arc supposed to be rough
gruff and careless of human lie. ms IS
true in some instances, but in the great
majority of cases thieves differ little IN
these respects from the ordinary citizen.
They don't like to work, are lazy ana
their organ Of acquisitiveness is not regu-
lated by cultivated conscience. IL IS
difficult to understand why man with a
wife and family, who moves in good So
ciety has an income large enough to i've
in comparative luxury, and is respected
by everyone, becomes thief. lie mas
everything to make his life happy, and
vet will piye it all up to have a little
more money. Itlooks a good deal ike a
disease which comes over man, and he
cannot help giving up TO its influence
Prisons are full Of just such people.
"Thieves when committing crime al
ways have in mind way to escape if de-
tected. They do not want to be caught or
killed. They will take desperate chan
ces to get away. If a life stands in their
way of escape, they will take it, not as a
matter Of hatred or pleasure, but as a
mart Of their education and trade But
this in every case is only a last resort,
and no tbiefwill add murder to his crime
unless certain he can get away. AS Il
rule they are not to be feared. A show
of nerve will always unbalance them
This applies particularly to the police
man. Even though they know that they
have an advantage over man who wakes
up suddenly in the night and finds a
stranger proving around they will re-
spcct and fear him, if he doesn't show
any sign Of fight. Scared people help
along their business. But policeman IS
on an equal iOting with thief in re-
gard to being wake and armed. If he
is possessed ofAe real genuine nerve, the
case is soon settled, and the thief will us
uallyset $ sase without trouble. Bluff
sense Of fear in an officers heart, and
will make things lively if he finds it. A
quiet determination on the officers part,
that indicates supreme confidence in his
own ability to take his man or men into
custody, as if it was an every day affair,
is what takes the starch out of the bold
est rascals.
Policemen frequently get into tight
places When they get out of them
alive, and think what they have gone
through, | have seen the most stout
hearted of them shake a little. A good
man will never know his danger until it
is over. If he should stop to think when
there are many chances against him, he
would be likely to lose his grit. He
must think and act like a flash. Hunt
ing for thief in dark house is what
will try a man. The recollection of
| places | Ihave been in at times during my
long experience as an officer will bring
on chill of fright. well remember
lively burglar went after many years
ago. An alarm had been given, and |
had him located in the second story of a
high building He was calmly picking
out the most valuable articles to take
away when surprised him. He was a
tall sinewy and slippery fellow, and at
the first sound made he made a leap as
if shot from a cannon. Up the stairs he
flew like streak, and went after him.
He evidently knew the building; | did
not, and hit every obstruction | could
find. He gained the roof when l was
halfway up the stairs leading to the
scuttle, and when got there | could just
see his figure in the darkness going like
the wind. | followed him without hcsi-
tation and when he got to the side of the
house he stood a second and then jumped.
l was going so fast that | went right OIL
the house without knowing where |
would land. 1t seemed in the confusion
as if Iwent down fifty feet, before |
struck anything. Then landed square
on my feet with force that nearly shook
my teeth out. | thought for a moment
that had fallen between two houses
was right on the thief's heels and before
he could take a step l caught HIM l
was sore from that fall and did not put
tender grip on the fellow. He did not
struggle and took him in quietly. Inc
next fSls day r'I'' went around to look at the
i
houses, and found that l had jumped
from one roof to another, distance oi
from fifteen to twenty feet. ] never got
over the shock from that jump. My
ankle was severely sprained, and though
many wears have since passed, the ankle
is still barometrical-indicate' an ap-
preaching storm and is exceedingly pam
full at times in damp weather'-Ss'
York Tribune.
She Thought it was Later.
There w.s no clock in the hotel parlor.