New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-23
NET INDUSTRY.

Young Mr.. Woodruff, who is now the most
distinguished boarder in the Chicago Jail. has
founded q new industry-that OF confession
There have been numerous amateur attempts III
this line heretofore, which have been crowned
with more or less success. Gentlemen residing
in San Francisco or New Orleans, and tenn
porarily down on their luck, have found it con
yenipnt to accuse themselves OF New-l ork
murder. in order to get a free ride across the
continent. In this way the pleasures OF glatu-
itous transportation have been enjoyed ior
season by number Of persons VINO reversed
the ordinary rules Of human conduct, ana iiaue
themselves out to be very much worse IMAM
they really were But Mr. Woodruff has been
the Brst to elevate this pursuit, which up 10
this time has been carried on in desuItory
and baDbazard way, to the dignity OF pro-
fessiop. He has systematized it and developed
il into a science
In this work he has the hearty cooperation
Of the Chicago police. He is literally supphed
with newspapers, and can select from them
with great ease the crimes he will confess and
the stvle as we'll aS the material oil MS con-
fessions. He IS thus enabled to adorn his mar
natives with the very latest details which the
enterprise OF the reporters Is able to furnish
him. giving TO his narratives an abundance OF
nictuesoue incident. and shedding upon them
a bright glow Of contemporaneOuS interest
Meantime he lives upon the fat Of the land
He is well fed. without having - work FOR what
he gets TO eat. lie is provided with ample
writing materials, aud care il taken to see that
the light aud ventilation are such as assist him
in his literary IabOlS. There is every indca-
ton that he likes the business, and means 10
continue in It as long a. possible. lie Is a man
of decided capacity as writer, ana we Should
not be surprised AZ any time to see MN START
q rew magazine. entitled Grimes ! Have
Committed" to be issued monthly, ana all the
contents including the fiction, war afuclcS ana
puzzle department, to be written entirely by
himself. Not being permitted to engage III
any other business and his movements being
A. the present time somewhat cirumScrlbed
Mr.. Woodruff has plenty Of time on his hands
He will receive orders for confessions ut any
time and will furnish them nj such length and
in manner as well as matter, as the purchaser
NAV desire. Persons who have committed
crimes which they would like 10 have Wood
ruff confess can address him at tn" Chicago
Jail" pOste redante."
Mr.. Woodruff confeSScs not only with great
aucncy, but with true journalistic desire to
keep ND with the latest news. The thought
fulness Of the police in furnishing him with the
| pewsuapers has thus made what might have
been laboriors task simply delightful recre-
alton Woodruff had nothing to confess about
Alexander Sullivan until his name had become
prominent in the press lie knew nothihg
alb out Coughlin until COughlins name appeared
in print His confessions included nothing
about No III Clark st until the facts had been
| nubliS she'd When Desmond, name came out
Woodruff found that he knew him. The same
thing was true with regard 10 Melville ana
| Mcdonald. When Woodruff was arrested he
gave his age a. twenty. six, and his looks are
said TO indicate that, by some oversight, he
approached the truth Some Of his recent con-
fessions show. however that he fought in tho
Feuian raid Of 1863, twenty-thre years ag".
shortly after he had been weaned Therefore he
VA, giving points to Fcnian spies. No doubt
! Mr.. Woodruff would confess the Nathan muir
der. and the Rogers murder, and completely IN
the assassination OF President Lincoln, a. well
az the historic assault upon William patterson
| il he ONLY had sufficient encouragement Tor hl'
marvellous talent The fact that he was very
Young at the time any o. these crimes were
committed would not stand in his way. hNl'
IDENTITY Woodruff was terrible fellow, even
when he was still deriving his nonn'hmrh'
from the bottle. II may be that he hcI'cd
the draft riots Of 'G3, although he WAS only
born in that year.
Many Of our criminal mysteries will b" solved
II the Chicago police will only continue to pro
vide him with the newspapers.