, 1889-03-31
Mr.. M0FFAT'S man.
Wiley Wells Who Won Wealth in a
W0ndrOus Way.
Securing a Safety of Scads He
Seeks Safety.
Readily RegaIes a Reporter With
Retrospective RecitaIs.

Nnen lHE LEADER S HaWksnaW re-
porter heard of the sensational hold up of
Dave Moffat at Denver he at once, with
out hesitation, evasion, equivocation or
mental reservation decided to join the
hunt after Mr.. Wells, the really clever
robber. Recognizing that the job was a
big one. the reporter enlisted John. the
Cutter, the urbane society editor, to assist
him in killing time and submitting start
ling reports to the effect that there was no
clue to the whereabouts of the accom-
plished Mr.. Wells.
Yesterday the pair were at the depot at
train time and without any effort what
ever selected a blase individual who
alighted from the Denver train with his
luggage, as the famous Moffat extorter.
They approached the man and he mod
estly acknowledged that he was the pa
tentee and sole owner Of the new process.
He was not very enthusiastic about this
particular trick" but talked most inter
estingly of his career and former exploits
in the crook business.
Wells commenced life as an infant.
When a youth he engaged in the sneak
thief industry and became such an expert
hat he could "swipe'' an alderman's
character or a legislators vote without
the knowledge of the owner. He wear
led OF this line on account of the neces-
sity Of mingling with uncouth associates.
Wells next devoted his talent to house
breaking which was renumerative but
laborious. The exertion incident to the
removal of the furniture of a mansion
was weakening. Then thus line had its
disappointments. Imagine the feelings of
an industrious and daring explorer who
put his hand into the deep recesses of a
slumberer's trousers only to find a couple
of poker chips, some dry fine cut and
maybe a pretzel or two. At times the oc-
cupation was really ~fatiguing and wholly
without enjoyment. He is always con-
siderate of his hosts and meyer
awakened a sleeper except to
make a request for matches or to in
quire the location of the water cooler.
Wells best trick in house b~reaking-the
one he usually reserved for crowned heads
or bald hcads-was the removing of gold
filed teeth without disturbing the sleeper.
This act approaches the artistic.
Butch johnson, a Pueblo operator, iu-
duced Wells to become a member of the
Ancient Order of B. B. Bank burst
ing bruisers. The Denver hero found
the new business distasteful at first. He
was compelled to hold lark lanterns in
his teeth, open cellar doors, and once or
twice fell through a skylight on a watch
man, who was sleeping below. He in
variably apologized for intruding. On
one occasion he called a physician to in.
fate with a stomach pump a guard who
had been lattened by the reception OF his
body.
Wells says hat Butch's gang would
never enter a bank when the president
was at home, unless by special appoint
ment, as they had the most profound re-
spect for the heads of financial depart
ments.
Cracking a safe is a fine job if cor
rectly performed" said Wells. as he fell
into musing on etiquette. Some jays
blow doors off with such force as to mar
furniture or upset cuspidors. OF course
this is a decidedly bad taste. A great
many cashiers are chumps. L have at
tempted to do business with fellows who
left safes open when burglars were in town
to save the expense of new hinges. This
disgusts a thoroughbred. What is the
use of serving an apprenticeship at the
business only to find no opportunity to
apply your knowledge2 IN cases of this
kind we always close the doors and pro-
coed in the regulation manner We had
to keep 10 practice. Butch would fire all
of US if we turned in unearned sway,
Wells was arrested once. 1t occurred
in Denver several years ago. The bank
Waterman became offended because he
was not thanked for holding the lantern
while the mechanics worked.
He consulted the chief of police about
the matter the next day, and in a week or
so a posse of officers called or Mr.. Wells
at his hotel and demanded an apology for
the rudeness to the guard. He didn't
like the appearance of the guard and re-
fused. He was placed in limbo, but was
soon rescued by the mayor. John the
Cutter remarked hat the incident demon
strated the truth OF the maxim that
pride and summer goeth before a fall.