The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-31
PRETTY Ike, M|DDlEMAN.
Az Unwritten Bit Of New York Po-
lice History Told in
Chicago.
Devious Ways Of the Crooks Of a
Metropolis and Their
Agents.
Tne Good Onices of Pretty Ike Enlisted
The Honor of q Shady
Character.

The Honor Oh u Snauv
Character.
A group of gentlemen were chatting after
dinner in one of the leading hotels the
other day and the conversation eventually
drifted to the subject of compromising
felonies. After the reciting of anecdotes
bearing upon the subject by several OF the
number, an elderly, we'll preserved gentle
man who had been quietly putting his posi-
prandial cigar, remarked, in the presence OF
q Chicago Times representative:
s.Gentlemen, your conversation about THIS
meter. and especially the relation by the
gentleman on my left of this recovery OF tho
goods stolen from his firm by burglars re-
minds me OF an occurrence OF some years
ago in which q friend of mine YVES lntl-
mately concerned: and it will tend to SHOW
how Systematically the upper graduates OF
the criminal classes pursue their Gaining.
INV friend was at that time treasurer OF
small city i'll New Jersey not far from
New York, lie had retired from business
with a fair-sized fortune, but. beng az m
Hnent;al local politician, and disliklnr to be
Z
the position of city clerk with nominal
salary at the earnest request OF MS per-
sonal and political friends:
..ITpon going to his Office one Monday
morning he found to his utter astonlsh.
ment that it had been burglariously entered
and the entire records or the once, WIN
the exception of few unimportanl papers,
had disappeared. After notifying the
notice he consulted with the city fathers,
and upon investigation it was found tllat
vouchers in his favor were on ME IN tne
Offices of other departments OF the city
which covered all his official pecunlary re-
sponsibility except an insignificant amount
of less than 500. 10 replace me DOCKS OF
the Office would cost but about S0o. for the
treasurer's accounts were not very elabol-
ateIy recorded at that time. He therefore
congratulated himself upon the suspicious
time, for him, selected by the burglars
whereas it might have taken place when TO
adjust his accounts with the city would
have involved an outlay from ms, ms personal
funds of many hundreds of dollars
DESPITE this cheering reflection, ne re-
allied that the loss of all his office books
would proye to be considerable annoyance
and with the hope of avoiding this he in
serted an advertisement in the personal col
umn of the New York Herald ottetlng
reward Of $3.50 for their return. Inc DAY
after his advertisement appeared he re-
ceiyed business-like note from New
York requesting him to cah at certain
number on Wall street in reference to the
matter. In the meantime the chief OF the
local police claimed to have got clue to
the burglars and had several parties shad-
owed: :, A. .uo,.nror ,vor i.
over to New York to interview his cores
pondent. He found him to be smart,
dapper. good looking individual with de-
cidedly business. like air, occupying snug
little 0ffice in ono of the large business
blocks ON Wall street. and, upon revealing
his identity, was invited by the proprietor
to be seated; the latter candldlv announc
his profession as that of middleman to-
the restoration of stolen property.
II fail to recall his full name; his Chris
tian name was Isaac. and he was commons.
known to the police and the criminal classes
BY the cognomen of Pretty Ike
II have been retained BY representative
of the parties interested in your little mat
ter. Mr.. Treasurer said Pretty Ike, "ant
hope to be able to adjust matters to tn
entire satisfaction Of all concerned but t.
avoid uselessly occupying your VALUABLE
time let me assure you that your protteret
reward of $3.50 is not sufficient. My client
instruct me to state that thew will caus
your records to be returned to you with II
twenty four hours after You have compiled
with their terms, which are that you caus
the police to drop the case at once and TO
all. and that you pay a reward of $1,000 TO
the restoration of the records"
!" But" said my friend, I can replace NJ
record books and square my accounts wit
the city for something less than the $25o
"sVery WE'LL" reioined Pretty Ike, the
ne can make no arrangements. The term
Ihaye offered are final, but am authorize
to Give YOU forty-eight hours for reflection
after which, failing to hear from you, fea
the safety of the records cannot be depens
ed upon.' . -, :,
stated that he was as ignorant as my frien
Of the identity of the burglars or the wher
abouts Of the records. Even the partit
who engaged my services to adjust the ma
ter may be quite as ignorant he declares
for there may be other middlemen actin
between them and the possessors of you
"Well, gentlemen, to cut nv tale as shol
az may be. my friend returned home full
determined to dicker no further wit
Pretty Ike nor permit one penny OF h
money to reach that worthy's clients. I
resolved to put up with such annoyance
the loss Of the records might cause, retit b
Office with new books and offer a substanti
reward for the apprehension and convictio
of the burglars. He did not anticipat
however, other important features of Il
case which fully developed.
Before night had fallen the city was fu
of rumors. significant remarks and inn,
endos about the mysterious burglary m
disappearance OF the city treasurer's re-
ords. Whether these whisperings orig
mated with the clients of Pretty Ike or n
friends political opponents was new
known, but doubtless tho former We're
the bottom of the matter. In few hou
people grew holder III discussing the alta
and the lavish style i'll which he lived, b
fondness for champagne. the opera, fa
horses and other costly iuxurles were dllat
upon as contrasted with his moderate sala
from the city, without taking into the CO
alteration his ample private fortune by
political enemies and others as we'll.
''These malicious reports We're not lol
reaching his ears and drove him wild.
was extremely sensitive to the most orc
nary criticism. and anything approachil
reflection upon his probity was more TIL
he could bear. Next day the rumors al
scandalous surmises flew thicker still, al
that night found him completely demon,
lied. The next day he FASTENED to Pref
Ike's Office and intimated his willingness
pay tie $1,000 blood money as demande
Very well, SIR said Pretty Ike. you {
within the limits as to time, but what abe
the police? Are you ready to withdr
them from the case and pledge your VIC
that they shall never resume it!'
This was agreed to. All that now
manned undone on my friends part was
pay over the money. 1t was with sew,
mental struggle that he agreed to do