The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-06-27
OREGON, FRIDAY. JUNE. 27. 1890.
ATHleF's sTRArAcsM.
How Jim Crow. a Washington Sotoriety,
Turned an Honest Penny.

In dilapidated little hovel near the
river front dwelis a character we'll
known TO certain strata of Washing
toms society. rs Jim Grow. Jim is "a
thief, aud will. as he states. steal any-
thing from chicken to a locomotive.
In this city, where his light-iingered
habits have become well-known 10 the
police he confines himself - under
protest. however-to chickens. and the
lloor of his hut is covered with feathers
several inches thick. Feathers being
a marketable commodity. as well as
distinguishing marks by which irate
ehieken-faneiers can sometimes identi-
fy their fowls. Jim picks his birds be-
fore selling aud carpets his residence
with their feathers until sufficient
quantity is obtained to make it worth
while TO sell them.
Jim's former grazing grounds were
in Baltimore county, Nd. where his
ostensible business was that OF huck-
ster; hut his natural love of refined as
sociations and architectural beauty, as
well ne too close an acquaintance with
the minions of law in Baltimore eoun-
". led him 10 select TIN. capital as his
future home. Aud then. too. Jim hay
ing grown old in iniquity. is growing
old in years and finds more pleasure i'm
gathering around him appreciative
listeners. and telling them the stories
of his former eseapades, than of re-
enactiug them. He tells with great
humor aud expression how, when a
young and an enterprising huckster.
desirous of making rs fine an appear
anee before the public as possible. he
exchanged the rickety and battered
wheels of his cart for the more preten-
tiouS ones of neighbor's vehicle while
that unfortunate man was taking
drink in a country tavern. He also
dealt in cattle-other peoples cattle
which he sold to the slaughter-houSes
in Baltimore.
Once when fortune had been frown-
ing upon his efforts and his pockets
were empty, he conceived aud carried
out the bold scheme of visiting the
yards of'one of the slaughter-houses,
stealing therefrom n fine black bull
with a white star on his forehead: COW
ering the white mark with handful of
tar, aud selling the animal to its right
ful owner. who did not discover the
theft until he had cut the bull up into
steaks
One of Jim's best efforts was planned
while sujnurning one Summer i'm the
Baltimore county Jail. His term was
nearing its end. and he was revolving
in his fertile brain what 10 do with his
liberty after obtaining it. He had 50
secreted in his cell which he wished to
invest at the highest possible rate of
interest. His ingenuity did not fail
him. and he determined To escape and
take with him two of his fellow-prison-
4 sH =
tu work and after much labor dis
placed enough bricks from the wall of
his cell To permit of egress. He then
permitted the two men he had selected
To discover his plot They. of course.
insisted upon accompanying him. aud
after much hesitation. and only upon
their threatening TO turn iuformers. he
consented. and proceeded TO enlarge
the hole in the wall in order that one
of the men-a large. fat fellow-could
creep through. On the night fixed the
three prisoners, with soft and cat-like
tread. stole through the prison walls.
aud soon breathed the sweet air of
freedom. They made for the woods
and there Jim outlined to them his
plan of operations. He gave them
money enough to go to Havre lie Grace
telling them TO meet him at a certain
point near that station two days later
which two days he would spend in en-
deavoring to repIenish their treasury
in a manner which he declined to ex-
plain.
The men agreed. and after seeing
them safely oil Jim went To friend's
house aud waited for the reward which
lie knew would be offered for the APP
prehension of himself aud his compan-
ions. The next day posters were stuck
Up every where Offering $500 reward for
the capture of the escaped prisoners.
Jim thereupon sent n note to the Sheriff
and made an appointment with him.
When the Sheriff came he delivered
himself up and offered TO tell where his
companions we're if the Sheriff would
share the reward with him and give a
solemn assurance that his term would
not be heightened. This arrangements
was agreed TO. and Jim sent the officers
to Havre de Grace with directions how
and where to find the two men, and
then returned to Jail, served out his
term. and left with $3.50 and a thoE
ough contempt for the guilelessness o.
the chumps he left behind HdSting
ton Post.