The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-12
THIEVES AND THEIR WAYS.
a TALK WITH INSPECTOR BYRNEs CON-
CERNING CRIMINALS.
The Beeinpins or = Thief-Hss Motive In
ThievinE-Thieves' Honor-Rich Thieves
WHO stlck to Rusinesa-A Yankee ENlle.

inspector ByrneS was SURPRISED the otner
day In what seemed to be an idle moment HI
does not have many such. In his curiously
decorated eflce. surrounded by pictures and
mementoes OF police life, he is seldom alone an
instant. Interviews with complainants. and
consultations with his aids and lieutenants,
are varied by meetings and contests with
crooks and criminals, each striving to find out
how much the other knows without betraying
his own knowledge. These clients. when under
inquisition. are sometimes present as prison.
ers. and sometimes are merely visitors In re-
sponse TO some detectives invitation in these
words: The Boss wants to see you." With
the close OF day these things do not end. for
many a similar hour is passed by this official
In o room In his own house that has, In O more
luxurious degree, many OF the characteristic
OF the Office at Police Headquarters. And as IL
this were not enough to keep a man on the
verge OF distraction in the multitude OF cases
Tor work aad worry thus presented. there must
be added a great deal Of outside work-up
town, down town, and all over-to enable the
inspector to see ana know for himself the STU
alton In matters OF interest in his department
more thoroughly than can DO done in the re-
ception OF reports. however intelligently made.
from some one else's observation.
The Sun reporter who surprised the lnspec-
tor In seeming idleness spoke to him. and
then. noticing that the answer camo as though
from q mind recalled from q distance, was
struck with the notion that instead OF being ut
rest the detective had been busily engaged. An
effort TO ind out whether or not this was so
met with no success. and this was proof posi-
tive that there was something in 1t. When
there is nothing to tell the inspector says 30.
When there is something, but he doesn't want
to tell 1t. he says nothing.
Every one who is familiar with life In the
woods has seen a mother bird lead away
the attention OF a lot Of boys who have
nearly stumbled upon the hiding place
Of her nest. She falls Tutoring at their
feet. 1t seems the easiest thing pos
sible to stretch out the hand and grasp her.
The hand is stretched out, but the bird hutters
out OF reach. Continuing these tactics until
the nest is left far behind, she gayly takes
wing. and the deluded boys could not find the
place whore they began the chase; aver T. they
o. Il " w sHss somHtffine in this manner that In
sprs' to- f the rep s Q + Th .e'f la II j THO Thought xsH'f he
had q chance to capture the official. and reached
out for him with this questions:
How are professional criminals made p
They are tho product, OF a wide variety OF
circumstances" answered the INSPECTOR, "A
Their parents We're thieves y or Of 4 a class i that's that IS
IN some way no. entirely reputable. The chill
give them no chance to. learn to respect the
teachings Of morality or the restrictions Of law.
n%mb be lo Of eriRi 2HSs 'ss 'l have anS Become eoh1eg ee .ne
brated In my day. the percentage is very small
Of such who became so by reason Of early train
prediction growing ont of relationship of this
kind. Even Of those .who grew up amid sur
nAranfnpa fhpTA are faVy who NAV ha said RI
have made a mark in the profession"
Isn't it true that In many cases thieves who
secret from their childrenf"
Yes, they do it as long as they can. Many
spe shi% i L Is i nn1 mss. to, r but iEs sPPsTsi IL
il + both, i away great deal. 10 the in
discovery. Then the Visits Of a uss, The
Sred 6sppsninSs nay, eIpose the facts. At
nance. but blood is thicker than water. and
sympathy is soon excited. The father or
gard and even assistance and support against
the law and its operations. which speedily take
on the appearance OF expressions to the young
these influences. the force OF circumstances,
some pressing want or some seemingly excel
fessional criminals"
Does It ever happen that children are sue
h0pll IL VI thc uolQc y
their criminal parents2"
Yes, it does. On that score I know Of more
Who have Hns f pat t Ii R0t Children rner IN are een STsmina os
some such Institutions when very young. and
thus nave protected then from ever making
by their parents at long intervals. perhaps. hut
always under circumstance when the visit is
safe and no exposure riskedt one OF the most
pious and religious woman, a Sister in a. con,
vent, and, l assume. still ignorant Of her
mothers manner Of life"
You have only mentioned thieves who have
mao MADE %mt their r. MARI ~ oIs does IBIS lhnis all apply to the
No. l really did not think OF them. They
are not objects of study. and would not repay
many Young boys growing up whose pareats
are poor and can do little for them. and for this
and q variety Of other reasons have little CON
OF age these boys get a taste for going to shows
and places Of amusement and an appetite for
robbery committed by these Offenders is for the
They are led on step by step, and their assoSia.
i stsss G2llt thievess f but n NOT Of a d inns PeSs9 ers aeo-
that is. not dangeraus In the direction Of large
a and' The n most apt apt to en DO M Vi9Isn eef Il comm IL line:
to rob him Ia the street. or shoot one to enable
house. But they are easily caught. and seldom
the weeks murder, the capture OF tne muir
derer. when there seemed to be little or no
chance at first OF such . result shows the weak
ness 81 this class OF offenders"
What is there to be said about the higher
class thieves who cannot DO called natural
born thievesY"
"A great many are persons OF reputable
parentage. who have had advantages of ex-
celient early training. OF general, education.
and OF business experience. They fall through
family trou bles. dlsappointments. or discour-
agements OF sOme kind. Once having commit
ted the overt act that makes them thieves.
their intelligence Is such that their progress In
crime is very rapid. 1t is much greater than
mat OF the ignorant persons who perpetrate =
low. mean. class Of roblerics. In forgery this
IL, particularly noticeable. Some OF, the men
who are known Internationally as the perpe-
good origin and splendidly educated"
How do thieves look upon thor business ?
Does II seem Legitimate 10 then!
We'll. you cannot tell much about that.
You would have to be- II tiliof or live among
Them to get at their ideas in II matter like that.
They speak Of going to work when talking
among themselves in a matter-of-iact way. II
u the same with confidence men and women OF
the town. When they set out to ensnaro peo-
pie and get their money. they, always speak of
1t as going TO work Every time Il thief starts
out to do u Job of thicying, no knows that he
takes some chance of : falling that Is. OF be-
lny HrrSgtpI unN m pri-pnpui In MANI susaa |