Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-01-01
KNIGHT OF THE ROAD.
Some of the Good Traits Of His
Character Kindness to u
Timid Woman.

| Has ugcu III WoSp liOy, WucIt HIS tN-
ploits and plunderlngs have been
car, led on more successfully
than sewhete. His name to
West Trojans is a household one
when he makes his appearance in the
village after having served time for
some ofiense, and he is feared. AT
police l.eadquari ers, where he is in
carcerated as present on a charge OF
stealing a bicycle from the pastor OF
tn Presbyterian Church in West
Troy recently, he is recorded on the
blutter as being 70 years OF age. Let
tus is Of light complexion, with a
small, fair nuststche, and is a fluent
talker, being sc ptlemanly AID cour-
teous. One would hardly take him
Tor the desperate character that he is.
Over thirty years ago Tom" Lettus
began his thieving career. He had a
mania for robbing his neighbors' hen
coops, and the mania has stuck to
him up to the present time. 1t is
probable that no man in the country
has stolen more wis than Leitus.
His parents wished that "Tom"
Should become y priest, and he was
pre- caring for the priesthood, but his
wild ways ripened beyond all expec-
tation, and this hope was abandoned.
His first crime OF any note was COM
mitted when he was about twenty
years OF age. Colonel Schuyler, an
old gentleman, whose name has not
passed into oblivion, though dead, was
the victim. Colonel Schuyler was
driving up the arsenal ] Dad in his car
riage one afternoon, when suddenly
Lettus stepped from behind tree
and, pointing q pistol at Schuyler,
whom he knew remarked: Colonel,
that's a nice ticker you carry. Just
let me take il for time" Sshu, ler
reluctantly han ded over his hand
some gold watch to the highwayman,
and was about TO turn his horses
head around to drive to town to notify
a constable, when Ltttus again
renal ked Colonel, this road to
the right is about the d---quickest
you can take TO your home =" The
pistol was pointing at Schuvler's
head, and as he took the right-hand
road Il m" called out: Good-by
III call OH you again.''
Probably the most exciting adven-
ture the West Troy police had with
Lettus was during the time Of Captain
Looinis. These had been several
burglaries com nitted in the village,
and, OF course, Lettus was suspected.
| Tom" usually went by himself, and
he seldom had ''pal." Captain
LOOMS, learning that i.ottus had been
seen on Temperance Hill, detailed
three police officers to capture the
burglar at all hazards. As the officers
neared the railroad crossing on the
Schenectady tprnpike road "Tomr
was seen approaching. Just as the
officers nenred the railroad track,
Lettus reached the other side.
Tom was alert to dan
ger at oil times, and before the po-
licemen could draw their weapons,
Lettus drew twp large revolyers and
said: GIVE got the drop on you.
The first one OF you that crosses the
ties is dead man. The bold bur-
glar held them at bay for few min
utes and made his escape. About
that time he lived in a cave in the
woods back Of West Troy, where he
reigned supreme. Whenever the oifi-
GERS made raid on the cave Lettus
was not found inside. AS stated be-
fore, he Was one of the greatest
chicken thieves in existence. The
fowls were taken 10 the cave where he
dinet almost exclusively on roast
chicken.
Tue writer recalls to memory that
one day Lettus was seen standing in
front Of the residence of West Troy
politician who had many fowls. The
politician loved his fowls quite dearly,
approached ''rbm" and informed him
that the breed of fowls he owned
would not make square meal all put
together. g But ii you are after my
fowls" said the owner. Il will 4ive
!! you ~ never I'd trouble me-" Lettus
took the none y snilinsly and prom
ised to keep away, and he has kept
his word up to the present time.
| Another incident is worth chroni-
cling. A timid little woman, well
dressed, who happened to be out after
nightfall, and who had heard much
OF The burglar s exploits, approached
gentlemanly7appearing stranger who
was standing on Broadway, near
Ferry street, and asked if he would
be kind enough to walk with her as
far as her residence, few squares
distant, as she was quite afraid. The
stranger accompanied the lady, and
on the way she remarked several
times that if she should me+t
Lettus at night she would die
of fright. eyes, he is bad man,
they say" replied the stranger, ''bnt
he won't attack us, you may resi- as
sured." As he spoke he tapped a
revolver which he partly drew from
his pocket, and the lady remarked,
"How glad LAM" Upon reaching
her home the lady asked, "Whom
might I thank for this courtesy"
"Tom Lettus, if YOU please, madam"
was the answer. The woman did not
lie or faint, but merely uttered some
thing that sounded like, "Good Lt I'd
can it be ?" and rushed into the house.
There are many other incidents in
his life that ould gil volume. He
robbed the ppstotfce at Newtonville,
and committed more burglaries single
handed than any other burglar
known. Twice he escaped from the
West Troy police station and was not
captured for many months alter
wards. Lestus has served eight
terms in prison and has been shot
several times by police officers in
West Troy. He is the person for
whom ex-Policeman Mccarthy mis-
took Richard Doring, who was shot
and killed by the officer Lettus will
be arraigned before Police Magistrate
Grogan Thursday next Albany
Argus.
A WISE WOMAN.