Omaha daily bee., 1886-10-17
FREEDOMS BREATH OF FIRE.
An Incident of the Great ConfagratiOn in
Chicago Fifteen Years Ago,
The Thieving Operations of William
Constant-His Arrest, ImprisoD-
ment and Liberty-A Dishon-
ored Name.
Lntttten for tlle omaha sunaar Bel

Inc Ilteentn anniversary OF the great
Chicago fire recalled to my mind the
vivid scenes of that eventful night
Whatever desoatlon and rum ii brought
to others, it was hailed with delight by
one man at least, whom it released from
felon's CELL
William Constant was young man
who had been raised in little Wisconsin
village, and whom | knew intimately
well as we had been school boys together.
Young Constant came to Chicago and
obtained employment: with the well.
known hardware firm of Hibbard &
Spencer. He rose rapidly from one posi-.
tion to another, and finally became one of
the stock keepers. 1t was in this position
that he betrayed the confidence of his
employers and became a thief He de-
termined to, steal a complete stock of
hardware for a country store and 60 INTO
business for himself The manner in
which he carried out this plan was rather
ingenious. He had a harness made to fit
over his shoulders, and concealed under
his overcoat. This harness was so ar
ranged that he could carry at least sew
entv-tive or one hundred pounds of stolen
SOOuS, Nllnoul IllaiIlSt VI uCucCllOu'
Having in his possession key to the
store, he generally managed to conceal
himself until all others had gone. He
then harnessed himself up and quickly
loaded himself with stolen hardware,
which he had carefully selected during
the day. Leaving the store, having
locked the door, he carried his plunder
to stable where he packed it IN boxes
and barrels, ready for shipment. Day
after day he carried out this programme
until he had accumulated fine stock
worth over $4,000 at wholesale prices.
Resigning his position, he came to Ne
braska and selected Weeping Water as
the place to open his establishment.
Constant built a neat little store,
and furnished it with handsome and
costly fixtures. His stolen goods were
then shipped to him from Chicago, and
he soon opened his store in fine style and
commenced to do a profitable business.
Everything seemed to 60 well with him,
and he thought his future was certainly
bright. So far he had not at all been
disturbed by any thought that he would
be detected III his wholesale theft SO
confident was he of this that he finally
proposed marriage TO handsome young
lady, 10 whom he had been paying atten-
ton for some little time. HIS proposition
was accepted, and the happy day was
fixed.
One September morning, however, the
little town of Weeping Water was
thrown into intense excitement by the
announcement that William Constant,
the prosperous and enterprising hard
ware merchant, was under arrest for
grand larceny in having stolen from HIb-
hu r1 a Snannar al 1nonst his anfira Gtnny Of
goods. A Chicago detective had arrived
in town the night before, and had at once
taken him into custody. The stealings of
Constant mad gradually been detected by
the new tock-keeper III HIbbard & Spen-
GERS establishment, and the case being
placed in the HANDS of detective agency
every detail of the systematic robbery
was soon learned.
Constant was taken back to Chicago
and lodged in jail under the old court.
house. Hibbarf Il Spencer recovered
their goods and employed Clarkson &
Van Seaih:a;.dciis lawyers, 10 assist in the
prosecution of tlIe case. As / was a clerk
and student ia their Office l had consid
cradle to do with the matter. Of course
1 was greatly surprised at the turn affairs
mad taken in the career of my old school
mate. ] called 10 see him one day in the
Jail, and had long talk with him, He
concealed nothing, and had no hesitaney
in talking aboutthe case. At intervals he
broke down and shed tears, but they
were not tears OF repentance for his
crime. They were tears caused by his
unfortunate situation and the thought
that he was booked for the penitentiary
His chief regret was that his plundering
scheme had failed and that he had been
foiled in his attempt to wed a beautiful
and eonfding girl. He seemed to have
lost all sense OF honor and appeared to be
devoid OF conscience, although he did in,
innate that If he could possibly get out
of the serape he would thereafter lead
straight life. told him. that he could
hope for no assistance from me, and that
in all probability he would have to go 10
Joliet. When left him heI appeared to
be completely broken down.
But within few days William Con,
stant was free man. The great fire
swept up from the southwest, taking
everything in its path, and when it struck
the dome of the courthouse, looked out
from an alley window of No Sc Dearborn
street and wondered what would become