The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-22
THE STORY OF MoLLIE MATCHES.
A Poor Orphan Boy Who Rose to be
Famous Pickpocket


From the Kansas CITY Times
81 see Mollie Matches has done his stretch
and is out again" remarked eommunica-
tive, reformed thief to Times reporter
last evening. John Larney, or John
Doan, for he has worn both names SO long
in private life that he doesn't know which
one he owns said the formerly hard man.
lis now between 50 and SIS years old
nearer the former figure. He began life as
street boy in New York at the age Of
years, boz his parents having died on the
passage from Ireland. The iufant proved
adequate to the task of taking care Of him
self, and early evinced the possession
of traits destined to make him
famous. 1t was in New York that he
gained the name of 'Mollie Matches,' being
slender and, with fresh, fair complexion,
at the age Of 16 in woman's attire he read
lily passed as a girl, and with basket Of
matches infested the crowded ferry boats.
He had a partner with him, and as Larney
solicited customers among the passengers
his deft fingers chung to pocketbooks, jew
elry, anything in fact that was i'll sight
valuable and easily carried. His stealings
were passed over to his companion, who
did no work on his own account In his
earlier operations he was frequently
caught, but his youth and virtuous appear
ance ani stalwart lies secured release or a
light punishment In general he was very
successful, as men upon discovering
the loss of pocketbook or
watch were slow to suspect
an innocent poor girl who
hid matches for sale. AS Larney grew his
field of operations widened and his ambi-
ton scared. Before he was thirty-fve
years of age he had served eleven years in
tae penitentiaries and reformatories, had
amassed an honest fortune of $4,000 con-
n
Canada, and Cleveland. o., and diamonds
In the mat er of gems he was the equal of
an expert lapidarYi discrimination, and it
was his modest boast that he never stole
p ste diamond in hi lite. Nor did he waste
any time on silver watches, and when ne
did steal one through error he made haste
to return it to the owners pocket
During the war new opening for his
talents presented itself. aud be ween sum
ter ard Apoom ,t5ox he mad enlisted n
numberless regiments and jumped 81 900
worth Of bounties. He Away lived high,
and when at lei ure or travelling on buSI-
ess, spent money like a merchant prince.
His clothes were Of the finest, aud from his
cape chinchilla overc9at to the silk of his
underwear there was nothing low-priced or
vulgar about him.
"Larney was d great actor, and fire.
que tly, although locLet-p ck,ng as his
legitimate business, he would for exercise
try another branch. At bu1co steering,
being charming talker and of gentlenanly
appearance, he was alnos. the equal of
Hungry Joe" but ALWAYS felt as ii the in
dustrv was low down. Sometimes he doc
tored his eyes wit red pepper AMI putting
on blue goggles. and other~is Disgusting
himself, would 90 to a wholesale jewelry
store end call for loose diamonds. The g it
is customary to display on velvet on the
counter or show case, AID having al excuse
in his def 'ctlve vision when a number Of
unset spark were before him, be would
examine them at a very close range and
convey one or two of the most valuable to
his mouth with his tongue.
AT the cen ennia Matches stole himself
into comparative opulence. He realized a
bushel of gold watches, but the market was
glutted and he did not get as fair return
for his time as ne felt hs ught. He COM
planned also upon his return nome that be
hal to square the detectives with 20 per
cent. instead Of the customary 1.-THE of his
earnings This was probably libel, aid
the outgrow til of gall and bitterness.
For six years prior to his last conviction
Larney lived in Cleveland and advertl,ed
himself as leading life of honesty and in-
te gritty, and did no stealing within radius
OF 200 miles. His last robbery at Galesburg
was committed early in July, 1881.
The great sorrow Of Larney's life was
DIS lack OF euucalOn,' Concluded the ex-
thief. He could write his two names,
John Larney' and 'John Dolah,' but moth
ing else. He could not read at all. He
often mour ed over his arly disadvantages
and felt sure tina he could have paralyzad
the world in the forgery line if he had
only been given proper educational facility
when young.
He was surely a thoroughbred, and the
beet known among crooks of any man in
NV 1 j. hot -rNft.
to descend into the saloon business, as the
papers say be is, aud it must rattle his
pride considerably TO do it. / omitted TO
say to you that Lar1ey still owes thirteen
years time to three penal institutions from
which he has escaped"