The Arizona sentinel., 1888-03-24

''How are professional criminal: made?"
 They are the product of wide variety of c;rcums answered the inspector A great many might be said to be born thieves Their parents were thieves. or of a class that is in some way not entirely reputable. Tbe children, male and female, grow mp under influences of association and early training that give them no chance 10 learn to respect the teach ings of morality or the restrictions of law. But in looking over the list, and taking the number of criminals who have become celebrated in my day, the percentage is very small of such who became so by reason of early training by criminal parents. or even from natural predilection growing ont of relationship of this kind. Even of those who grew up amid surround ings and associations to such parent age there are few who may be said to have made mark in the profession. !"
 '.Isn't it true that in many eases thieves who have families try 10 keep their business a secret from their chil- dren?''
 ''Yes, they do it as long as they can. Many of them intend and mean to, but generally speaking it is impos- sible. The father or mother. which ever is the thief. and sometimes it is bolh. is away great deal. To the inquiring minds of children this may lead to discovery. Then the visits of associates. the chance of an arrest, or any of perhaps a hundred happen ings may expose the facts. At first there is a childish horror. natural re- pugnance. but blood is thicker than water, and sympathy is soon excited. The father or mother does not call in vain for the chiid's regard and even assistance and support against the law and its operations, which speedily take on the appearance of expressions to the young mind. Then, unless speedily removed from these infiu- ences, the force of circumstances, some pressing want or some seemingly excellent opportunity, makes the child a thief, and another recruit is enlisted m the ranks of professional crim- inals."
 Does it ever happen that children are successfully kept in ignorance of the business of their criminal par ents?"
 ''Yes, it does On that score know of more than one case in point. There are criminals who have put their chil- dren in convents or some such institu- tions when very young, and thus have protected them from ever making the dreaded discovery. They are visited there by their parents at long inter- vais, perhaps but always under cir cumstances when the visit is safe and no exposure risked. One of the most notorious women crooks that New York has ever known has a daughter grown who is pious and religious woman, Sister in convent and, I assume, sill ignorant of her mothers manner of life ''
 You have only mentioned thieves who have made their mark; does this all apply to the common run of offend ers?"
 No, I really did not think of them. They are not objects of study. and would not repay il. Of course, in a large city like this, there are many young boys growing up whose parents uIs poor ID can d0 little for them, and for t' nd a variety of other r.asons kt lie control over their olildrea -om fourteen to sixteen y.aa.fs of @ these boys get taste for going to shows and places of amusement and an appetite for excitement ci all kinds. In most cases the first robbery committed by these offenders is for the purpose of getting money to go to the show They are led on step by step, and their associa- lions constantly get worse. They be- come professional thieves. but not of dangerous grade-that is, not dan ccrous in the direction of large hauls. They are the most dangerous to life, and the most apt to do violence in committing crime. They are ready to k ock a man down to Fob him in the S rect, or shoot one to enable them to e cape when discovered plundering a house. But they are easily caugh'. and seldom are long out of prison. II the recent case of the Weeks murder, the capture of the murderer, when there seemed to be little or no chance al first of such a result. shows the weakness of this class of offenders.
 What is there to be said about the higher class thieves who can not be called natural born thievesp'