The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-03
AID FOR "A HEROIC BURGLAR.

Life Saver Barrett to Have the Aervicea
Of n Lawyer.
David Barrett, SAYS the New York Times
who was recently arrested under peculiar
circumstances on a charge of burglary and
was looked mp in the tombs, has attracted
the attention OF Mrs. Ernestine Schafner
whose devotion to the interests Of unfortu.
nate and suffering humanity has earned fol
her the title Of '"Ihe Prisoners Friend .
Barrett has already served two terms in
prison for burglarious ofenses, and he var
wanted BY tho police for an alleged third
attempt Of the same kind. Notwithstand.
ing his reprehensible tendency to break into
other peoples houses, he retains some in
stincts and qualities that are admirable.
Some ten days ago he was down on the
river front enjoying the breeze when he no.
the bathers called out for help and Barrett
saw that lad was in distress. The burg
lar plunged into the river and made dive
for the boy, who had already sunk out OF
sight. He fortunately caught the bathe1
and swan ashore with him. When Barrett
had satisfied himself that the lad was all
right. he went home and hung his clothes
on the roof to dry. As this was the only
clothing he possessed, Barrett remained in
his room until his apparel should become
sufficiently dry to be resumed. Meantime,
the story OF the rescue had gained currency
in the neighborhood and had come to the
ears of a policeman. With the story was
life-saver. The police at once identified
Barrett as the man wanted for the alleged
attempt at burglary and an officer was de-
tailed to arrest him..
This officer went to Barrett's lodgings
and found him there patiently waiting for
his clothes to dry. The latter made no OBJ
lection to the arrest, but naturally asked
that he be allowed to 90 on the roof and
get the only suit of clothing he possessed.
In order to do this he had to borrow shirt
from neighbor. The policeman accom-
panied his prisoner TO the roof, and both
were astonished to find that some thief had
stolen Barrett's only suit of clothes.
He could not let his prisoner go and he felt
some delicacy about taking him to the sta
ton house without sufficient amount of
clothing to meet the demands of ordinary
modesty. Barrett was willing to do any
thing that his captor thought was right un-
der the circumstances. After lengthy
consultation between the captor and the
captive the neighbors we're appealed to,
and, through a combination of sympathy
for the prisoner and fear of the policeman,
some odd bits of clothing were furnished.
Arrayed in these, Barrett was carried off to
the police station.
He was subsequently locked up in the
Tombs on the charge Of attempted burglary,
and it was there that Mrs. Schaffner learned
of the peculiar features of his case. Her
sympathies were Immediately enlisted, and
she questioned Barrett both as to the charge
and as to his ability to defend himself. She
found that he was penniless and she en-
ployed Joseph l. Green, of the Stewart
building to defend him. Mrs. Schaffner
said that she was convinced that Barrett
was guiltless Of the charge against him.
The fact that he had already served two
terms for burglar M not in the least dull
her ardor. She argued that man who
could SO heroically save the life of fell
low creature was not altogether bad, and
that he should at least have the chance for
defending himself from the last charge
made against him. Lawyer Green said
that he was confident of securing Barrett's
discharge, as the only evidence against him
was the alleged identification of Barrett by
policeman on very dark night, the po-
liceman claiming that he had seen Barrett
with his arm in the transom of room.
Barrett is still in the Tombs in his Dor
rowed rags, but both Mrs. Schatfner and
Lawyer Green are happy in the certainty of
seeing him soon discharged.