Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-05-02
A THIEF'S STORY
How a Crying Baby Kept Him From
Robbinx a County Treasurer.

Mr.. Richard Church of Belvidere,
Allegany County, well-known in west
ern New York, recently visited Au-
burn Prison, to look after the construc-
tion of a steam engine which was being
built for him In the prison shops. He
was allowed to converse with the con-
vlcts at work on the engine.
How do you do, Mr.. Church," said
one of the prisoners, who had paused
to wipe his face on the sleeve Of his
striped jacket.
You have the advantage of me-"
said the visitor. t'I don't recognize
you--certaInly not in that uniform"
"Well, know you," said the con-
vict, smiling. ''Do you remember one
dark night two years ago this summer,
when you were riding alone through
the woods just this side of Angelica?
You were driving your mare Kate,
when she suddenly shIed and almost
turned over your carriage. You said,
'WhoaI Kate; that's something new
for you to do. Behave yourseltp"
"Yes. i remember that incident. 1t
was the first time Kate ever was
frightened. and it surprised me-"
"Well, I'll tell you what startled
her. had just stepped behind large
brush heap by the roadside to get out
of your sight. The mare saw me. i
was on my way to rob the Treasurer of
Allegany county. L knew he was 60
ing to deposit the county money In a
few days, and that he kept 1t in q box
under his bed"
Did you get its" asked Mr..
Church.
mo, but came very near to getting
= 4 ,~N a,,tx baI
reached the door of the bedroom where
he and his wife and baby were sleeping,
and was about to enter, when the baby
cried and awoke its mother. 1 waited
a long time. but guess the kid had
the collie. Finally 1 made my sneak
and gave 1t up for that night. 1 went
back to the big brush heap and hid in
1t all day without mouthful to eat. /
didn't want 10 be seen anywhere around
| that neighbornood, because L once stole
| horses there, and some of the people
knew me-"
Did you try it again?" asked Mr..
| Church.
Yes, on the following night-but
| with the same experience. The treas
| urer was walking the floor with the
baby. Next day he took the money to
the bank and deposited it,"
$50 you were once an Allegany
| County horseth EFF" said Mr.. Church,
as the convict was about TO res ume his
| work.
'Yes, there was a gang of US. but
| it's broken up now. Do you know
where that big swamp is about four
miles from Angelicar"
"Yes. do. 1t was almost impass-
| able.''
1 ssyy..,- -,,, the middle or that s,Uapop
l<.s-r stable which we built. AL the
/ hofses we stole IN that section were
taken there. You remember that some
years ago that a great many horses
were stolen and were never found.
They were taken-most of them-over
| into Potter County. Pa, and some to
| Philadelphia, and were sold, but their
owners wouldn't have known them.
| We used to fatten them up when they
| were lean and starve them when they
| were fat, and we clipped them and used
| a great many old fakes to disguise
them. After a few months, when the
searches were given up, we ran them
| off TO Market
"Why was it that you never took
| any of our horsesp' asked Mr.. Church.
"Our family always kept large num-
Der of fine animals, and seldom locked
4 the DarnS. -
1--WE knew better than to rob people
whom we knew would spend twice the
value of a stolen horse to catch the
thief. We robbed poor farmers-the
poorer the better. We never stole from
a man that we knew would make a
thorough search. A professional thief
runs as few risks as possible, but some
times he makes bold strikes, when
boldness will deceive as completely as
darkness. He understands human Ma
ture. He never enters sleeping room
until that hour, between and A. NJ
when sleep is always soundest.
81 have known a good many crooks
IN my day, and the old saying that
there Is honor among thieves is ID
lie. If thief is arrested he will al.
most invariably squeal on his partners
If promised immunity from punish
ment. If 1t were not for that wouldn't
be in these stripes to-day. What is my
manner Now you're asking me too
much. / am here under bogus name
that's the truth. l once lived IN
Allegany County, and have respectable
well-to-do relatives living there now"
| and the convict walked away to dis
tant part Of the shop.