The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-05-02
Five Gents.
Professional Thieves.

Editor Mirror
Week before last noticed the following words
in an article in THE MIRROR: Mark Twain has
said, in substance, that when man begins to
write outside of his own experience, he generally
makes muddle of it;' and after reading the
article by G. NJ. thought it would be a very ap-
propriate expression if applied to him. While the
article in question is well written and is very
plausible to those who do not know what pro-
fessional thief is. to the initiated it is manifestly
'muddle.' L take it for granted that he is
writing about the professional crooks. or at least
intending to, but there is great lack of knowl-
edge of the life of professiona crook permea-
ting the whole article; it may apply to the petty
thieves but they are not considered profession
ais even by judges or lawyers. Perhaps it will be
of interest to the readers of THE MIRROR to
hear what professional thief really is and if you
will permit me will try to give you an unbiased
account unnfuenced by the question of reform
one way or the other. e. NJ. is correct when he
says the criminal drifted into the life he leads,
although have known few men who have been
educated to live the life of a crook. Thieves go
to work systematically, and are very seldom at
the mercy of any one of their partners, for this
reason: thief never has anything to do with a
man until he has proven himself good man (as
they term good man. l. e., one of ability and
one to be trusted.) The cases we read of in the
newspapers where men turn states evidence are
very seldom professional cases; in fact, the re-
verse is much oftener the case. That is, where
two more thieves are brought up for trial, one
generally stands the brunt and exculpates his COM
rades if possible. This is Quxotic, but neverthe-
less true; it is the honor among thieves that we
hear about, and that it exists not of the inner
circle doubts. G. NJ. should not class the boodlers
among whom there is so much squealng-as
professional thieves The class speak of do not
pretend to do anything else but steal, nor do they
enter into any scheme without being thoroughly
acquainted with the man who is to do work with
them Will g. NJ please cite a case where one Of
the class speak of shot partner to insure his
safety? don't think he can, for rule
they don't stop long enough in the neighbOrhOod
to go cunning for one another. nor are they SO
fond of bloodshed as a great many suppose. G..
NJ must not suppose that crooks are the kind Of
people we read about in fve-cent novels. Ac-
cordng to his views professional thievery meet to
plan their jobs in some barn or woodshed or the
'dens of squalor and disease (Which, by the
way. he afterwards calls seemingly smooth and
and pleasant places,) ins tead of the most fash
ionable quarters OF large cities.
AS to the residences of burglars, it is we'll
known fact that they occupy some of the finest
mansions in this country, to say nothing of the
| villas in Canada. Are these men respected? You
will find them in the best society everywhere.
People of to-day do not inquire into your past life
il you have plenty of money, let it be crooked or
square. year after your crime is committed it
is apparently forgotten and you can mix in any
class. G. NJ. had in mind the class of men to be
found in this prison. but will venture to say
that there are not twenty professional thieves
here. He says: Even forgers are not known to
spend happy, green old age among the compan-
ions of their early years and labor" Granted,
too, many are doing bit to-day for being too
is positively nothing to prevent successful re-
formed thief from occupying palace if he has
sufficient dross. The reason retired thieves are
not known is because they have gold; and where
on earth will you find that will admit he
got his start in life by thievery? No successful
thief is known thief. Ward, Fish, Harper
and the balance of that class were business
men unit they got into state prison. There is
where the condition is changed
| Speaking of the class who "feel a relief upon
being discovered;" go to any thief-even to the
class in here-and you will find they Kicking
| themselves for being caught instead of in any
way paing relieved. Petty thieves are sometimes
called professionals but it is a msnomer. They
oftener found at back doors or free-lunch bars
| than anywhere else.
q. NJ. is to be congratulated on his ignorance OF
ways that are wicked. NJ. +. Il.