The evening world., 1888-02-06

&3N6MM0OIHM press this olannishnoss
CAPT. j. sIEBERT. which bands cut
throats, thieves and other villains into a sort
of society with one another among them
selves.
There are too many instances Of a culprit
who has been caught in ZONE criminal act
being ready to ''squeal" and betray his part
ners in the deed in order to escape punish
ment himself to make this proverb nniver-
sally true. But, on the other hand, there are
examples enough Of a rough kind Of fidelity
and friendly effort on the part of q gang to
help one of their number who had been taken
up. So there is some truth in the saying.
I recall an incident of the kind which fell
under my own knowledge, where several
members of q gang had the GOODNESS to ap-
proach me and endeavor 10 get me TO sup
press something which told badly against an
associate who had been arrested by me.
They got nothing by their attempt. But it
showed a trait of bad good.fellowship, which
was founded on friendship, self interest. or
mutual protection, possibly on a mixture of
the three.
The incident to which I refer was rather an
amusing one. 1t was the capture of a
i" sneak thief" or what would be denom-
mated that now. His attempt was made On
the spur Of the moment, he was detected at
1t almost as soon as he had begun, and was
taken within half an hour after he had left
the plnoe. In this case justice was not slow,
and the whole business was brisk. Part of 1t
was almost too brisk to be agreeable.
This briskness was in the chase for the
thief, and that part of It'll was something I
easily remember by reason of what went be-
fore.
/ had been suffering for some time from
my chest, or rather from my left side. When
l finally saw a physician to procure some re-
lief, after making a careful examination and
asking me questions about my feelings, he
told me l was suffering from an affection Of
the heart. 1 knew this was not hereditary,
and the doctor said it Twas not serious at
present except some accidental circumstance
were to make it 80.
This was at the time when New York was
agog over the mysterious Nathan murder,
which wears its mystery up to this very time.
DR.. Swan began talking about the murder,
hazarding certain conjectures, asking about
several features Of the case and the Ike.
They have offered a.reward, haven't
they ?" he asked.
Yes, they promise a reward for the de-
lection of the murderer" 1 replied.
How much is it ?" he inquired.
told him. 1t was some ~thousands-$5, 900,
I believe, but l am not certain of the amount
now, only it was large enough to tempt any
one who knew anything about it to give his
information, and enough to induce o person
to try to discover the assassin if he had any
idea who it was, or had any clue which prom
ised to lead to him.
well" said DR.. Swan, rising, If you
could get the man by running only two
blocks for him, 1 would advise you not to do
it,"
If I could get him by as easy work as
that" I replied, " am pretty sure l would
make the attempt. 1t would be good pay for
running two blocks. Why do you say that
you would advise me not to do such q
thing"
Because, although your condition is not
dangerous as the case stands" he answered,
" If you we're to engage in any. violent phys
ical effort, or to experience anything exciting
or startling that would impress you a great
deal, so as to quicken the action of the heart
violently, you would probably keel over and
be a dead man in a jify. Running would in
duce this excessive action of the heart, and
speaking of the Nathan murderer made me
think of running after him. Hence my re-
mark to you"
"All right, doctor" I said. I don't sup
pose I shall run after the murderer of Mr..
Nathan, so you need not look out for my
funeral Just yet on that account. Thu man
that killed Nathan will not be run down by
chasing him for two blocks, in my opinion
nm RI
that a few days later l ran considerably more
than two blocks as fast rs my legs could
carry me, and this in hot chase of much
smaller game than the murderer of a wealthy
man, make me remember the incident very
well.
/ had never put very much faith in the in.
fallibility of doctors, and my experience
then proved that DR.. Swan was not altogether
correct in his views. / ran for almost a mile
as fast as l could on a hot summer day
through the crowded streets of New York,
5 and although it took about two days for me
to fairly get a grip on my wind again, and
there were sharp twinges of pain in the re-,
gion of my heart, / did not collapse, and my
funeral has not yet taken place, although
this was several years ago.
One lorenzo l was standing in 'front.' OF
the station house on Delaney street. At.
torney street crosses Delaney at this point,
1t was near noon. The day was very warm
and at that hour the heat was getting in al
its work.
At a little distance around the corner was {
furniture store at that time. The Office wa,
q small room of the ground floor and front
ing on the street, with sides consisting o.
small panes Of glass. It was o small room. A
desk stood near the window at the left Of tn,
door, and on the other side of the room was