Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-03-21

the land of his birth. He is known to
have planned and had carried out
some If the most daring robberies in
England. of late years. among thom
that of The Dover mail train.
''Therc arc number of mon and
women. too. occupying similar po-
sition in this country Some of them
possess large wealth and considerable
poll teal influence"
Il suppose thoy rely upon that firm
old rock of tradition. honor among
thievcs?' " said tho reporter, inquir-
ingly. .:-..
''They rely upon their own shrowd-
ness and ability to keep under cover"
was the inspectors rctort, and he con-
tinued: Honor among thieves! My
experience has taught me tha! there is
no such thing. There is not as much
real sticking together and considera-
ton for each others interests
rs there is in the ordinary relations
Of life, business and social. l
have never yet met thief in my life
who would not save himself if posi-
bic from going to State prison by be-
traying his associate into confinement.
In the ordinary course of business
there are many persons arrested here
from all walks of life. There are
men among them whose character and
standing in the community have been
good. And I must admit that if it is
possible for them to shield themselves
by duplicating any one else. they will
do it very much quicker than pro-
fessional thief: 1t is not a moral
difference by any means. and does not
weaken my first proposition about
honor among thieves. They are all
thieves alike for the purposes of this
argument. 1t is simply. assume,
that they can more readily be brought
to believe that they will benefit them
selves by betraying others. The pro-
fessionars different habits of thought.
different cduca,ion and training have
to be considered. He is cautious with
the police. He is schooled TO it, and
even when disposed to try to help
AAAh'OlA ny IOI CACHi 1C
the step very carefully first
"You have had some experience
with both classes presumc?'
Yes. and I say again that the per
SONS who have had u good position in
the community and the respect and con-
fidence of 4 Urge circle have proved
to me time and again that they will
hasten quicker than an ordinary theft
to protect themselves or try to at the
expense of others. l have seen men
of this kind ip this very room cry like
children, with big tears rolling down
their cheeks. begging to be allowed to
tell about others to save their own
miserable carcasscs from the dungeon.
Instances? yes. but without
Names" answered the Inspector to
u tentative q 'estion. There was a
finan cial man brought in here once on
Il matter of pothecation in which
two were concerned. He was u big
fellow and had stood we'll. My ques
tion' were answered. impudently. and
he was of course non-commiltal Isud-
Ochty tuiucu upOI Aiil tilI ColN llllI
what l thought of him in terms that
were none the choicest, and then called
an officer, to whom I said: Lock
that big loafcr up In few hours
he was begging to have me sent for
SO that he could tell al! he knew.
''The comparison is in the case of a
q man arrested for laying down a
forged check for $40. 900 in Dallas.
Tex, and whom we took on the
description Of some India ink marks
on his hand. He was identified. and
certain of conviction, but it was three
days before he could make up his
mind to try and help himself by telling
something about the others in the job.
When he found out that he had to 90
down South anyhow, and take a
chance of long Imprisonment in one
of those stockadc jails, he cut his
TIN oat in the ferry-house and died"
AS the Inspector finished this he
suddenly seemed to recall an engage.
ment. and apologetically bowed the
reporter out.-N Y Sun