The morning call., 1890-12-15
A LAND PIRATE.
The Dashing Career of Convict
Jimmy Lyons.
How He Hundered the Rich Guests Of East.
srn hotels and Wound Up in the
Penitentiary.

Jimmy Lyons, who gave himself ND re-
Gently to the authorities of Connecticut.
where he was sentenced Tuesday to two
years in the State Prison for robbery COM
mitted in 1868. is one of the best all-round
thieves that the world ever saw.
Beginning his career in Boston about
thirty years ago, he soon realized that in
matters of crime. like Monte Cristo. "the
world was his"
In all parts of Europe, as we'll as Am erica.
he worked with magnificent success. and
now at the age of 4S years, when upon his
ill-gotten savings it was his purpose to settle
down and reform for respectability's sake.
the only charge hanging over him in this
country has risen like specter to send him
to felon's cell and postpone his endowment
of liberty for two years at least.
1t would be impossible to over-estimate
the suave intelligence. the dignified car
riage and social possibilities of this man as
he was in the height of his prosperity, a
score of years ago.
Stylish in dress and prepossessing in ap-
pearance, he did not condescend 10 perpe-
trate small jobs that were as much below his
idea oil business as begging Is below earn
ing. Though not possessed of an extensive
education, he was specifically we'll con-
ditioned, and would pass anywhere for all
that he claimed TO be-a young business man
of money.
1t was in this guise he began his exploits
in the hotel line that were for a long season
undecided and even unsupported, except by
those in authority who were associated with
him, and who urged the daring fellow on,
knowing at all events that all the risk was
his and half the profits theirs.
At Parker's, the fremont, Revere and
other leading hotels of that day Jimmy
lived when in Boston. and when abroad the
best of the land was only good enough for
him.
Especially attractive to women, he soon
acquired social position, and eliminated
a daughter of one of the oldest fam
lilies in the State whose name is recog-
nized everywhere as representing a
million at least. The marriage was
the outcome OF a brief romance
in which the dashing rogue and
a pretty schoolgirl PLAYED the parts But
what CONSERVATION was caused in the social
circles of Boston, S0merville, Cambridge
and Arlington when the truth of Lyons lite
was known is still remembered by the older
residents of those places. A divorce fol-
lowed. and after several years the lady, who
was esteemed by all who knew her, married
again and became the wife of man well
suited for her situation and ambitions in life.
Jimmy Lyons, then finding the country
too hot for him, went abroad, where he has
spent the greater part OF his life since. He
was in criminal matters a shrewd worker
If he were about to plan scheme he would
90 TO a certain hotel. register, spend money
freely and favorably impress himself upon
every attache from the manager down to
the bell-boys. He then, when suspicion was
averted, would size up the guests rooms
and financial condition, and when everything
was ready would pay them visit. Instead
of taking all the valuables there he would
carefully inspect them, and from the lot
choose pair of diamond earrings, a pack
age of bank-notes or any especial thing that
struck his fancy. The rest of the property
would be left undisturbed, and Jimmy
would beat a hasty retreat and perhaps be
on his way elsewhere before a knowledge of
the loss would put all tie cham bermaids
and bellboys in the house under the ban Of
suspicion.
After amassing fortune, which by sew
eral dOwnfalls in court was partially con-
sumed, he disappeared, only to be heard
from in Europe, where he travelled for a
time with great professional success. In
Glasgow, Scotland he was convicted and
given seven years, after serving which he
returned to this country, thinking to avoid
notoriety, ard having no thought that the
Connecticut case was hanging over him.
Boston Globe