Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-05-04
STORY OF MOLLIE MATCHES
A Poor Orphan Boy Who Rose to
Be q Famous PtckDOcket.

be m PtckpOCket.
Kansas City Times: Il see Mollie
Matches has done his stretch and is out
again." remarked a communicative, re.
formed thief to a Times reporter this
morning. John Larney, OF John Dolan
for he has worn both names 80 long in
private life that he doesn't know which
one he owns, said the formerly hard
man, lis now between SO and So years
old-nearer the former figure. He began
life as a street boy in New York at the
age OF ) years, both of his parents having
died on the passage from Ireland. The
infant proved adequate to the task of
taking care of himself. 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
a fresh, tair complexion, at the age of 16
IN woman's attire he readily passed as a
girl, and with a basket of matches in
tested the crowded ferry boats. He had
a partner with him and as Larney SO.
llcited customers among the passengers
his deft fingers clung to pocketboOks,
jewelry, anything, IN fact. valuable and
easily carried. His stealings were passed
over 10 his companion, who did no work
on his W account. In his earlier oper-
ations he was frequently caught, but his
youth and virtuous appearance and stall
wart lies secured "A release or a light pun-
ishment. In general he was very sue
~cessful, as men upon discovering the loss
OF a pocketbook or watch were slow to
suspect an innocent poor girl who had
matches for sale. AS Larney grew his
field Of operations widened and his ambi.
ton scared. Before he was 35 years
of age he had served eleven
years III penitentiaries and reformatories,
had amassed an honest fortune of $40. 600.
consisting principally of real estate in
Toronto. Can, and Cleveland, o., and
diamonds. In the matter Of gems he was
the equal Ct an expert lapidary in dis
elimination, and il was his modest boast
that he never stole a paste diamond in
his life. Nor did he waste any time on
silver watches, and when he did steal one
through error he made haste 10 return it
to the owners pocket.
During the wal a new opening for bis
talents presented itself, and between
Sumter and Appomattox he had enlisted
in numberless regiments and Jumped
81 900 worth Of bountics. he always
lived high, and when at leisure or travel
ing on business spent money like . mer-
chant prince. His clothes were Of the
finest, and from his cape chinchilla over
coat to the silk OF his underwear there
was nothing low priced or vulgar about
him.
"Larney was a great actor and fire.
quently, although pocket picking was
his Legitimate business, he would for ex.
erCise try another branch. At bunco
steering, being a charming talker and of
gentlemanly appearance, he was almost
the equal of Hungry joe" but always
felt as if the industry was low down.
Sometimes he doctored his eyes with red
pepper and putting ON blue goggles and
otherwise Disgusting himself would go to
a wholesale jewelrv store and call for
loose diamonds. These it is customary
to display on loose velvet on the counter
or show case, and having an excuse in
his defective vision when a number of
unset sparks were before him he would
examine them at a very close range and
convey II or two of the most valuable
to his mouth with his tongue.
AT the Centennial Matches stole him.
self into comparative opulence. He re-
allied IA bushel of watches, but the
market WAS glutted and he did not get as
a fair return for his time AS he felt he
ought. He complained also upon his re-
turn home that he had 10 square the de-
tectives with 20 per cent. instead Of the
1.-THE of his earnings This
was probably a libel, and the outgrowth
Of gall and bitterness.
For six years prior 70 his last convic-
ton Larney lived in Cleveland and adj
himself rs leading q life of hon
esq and Integrity, and did no stealing
a radius Of 200 miles His last
robbery in Galesburg was committed
in July, 1881.
The great SORROW OF Larncy's life was
lack OF education" concluded the ex-
thief. "Ic could write his two names,
John Larney' and John Dolan,' but
nothing else. He could not read AZ all
lie often mourned over his Disadvantages
and felt sure that he could have par
the world in the forgery line If he
had only been given proper educational
facility when young.
He was surely a thoroughbred and
the best known among crooks of any
man in the country. | am sorry that he
is going to descend into the saloon bust.
ness, as the papers say he is, and it must
rattle his pride considerably to do il. |
omitted to say to you that Larney still
thirteen years time TO three penal
institutions from which he has escaped"