Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-02-01
A, NOTABLE cRAcKsMAN.
Ono Loaf from tho Memoirs OF Billy Por-
ter, Bank Burglar. ...

The Anglo-Saxon race produces all
the eminent burglars. The daring of
American burglars and of their brethren
In the allied profession of train-robbing
has worldwide fame. Englishmen,
in their slow, conservative way, show
but little less ability, though perhaps
less brilliancy. Whenever on the CONT
nent mail bags are stolen, banks or great
jewelers. robbed, Englishmen do the
work. The famous robbery of French
mails which took place about year ago
was a joint effort Of Englishmen and
Americans.
In many cases these artists are Anglo
Americans. Every now and then a
theft, usually successful, is made of
postal packages passing between the
diamond merchants of Hatton garden,
London, and the diamond cuttcrs Of
Amsterdam. Dutchmen are the losers
by the theft, and some Dutchmen doubt
less profit by 1t, but Englishmen carry
out the effective part OF the work. The
conclusion to be drawn from all this is
that only members Of the great, world
enveloping, Anglo-Saxon race possess
the resourceful courage required in this
method of gaining wealth.
Probably the most perfect type Of the
modern burglar is Billy Porter, who has
been engaged in bank-robbing in every
part Of this country. He has several
other names of course. His American
record is too we'll known to need repeat
ing. He made very interesting ap-
pearance in London some time ago,
however, about which people may not
have read SO much. Billy and an &C
complice entered the premises Of q rich
jeweler at Munich, and carefully se-
cured all the stones and jewels of un-
usual size and value. What they took
was worth $4,000 marks at the lowest
estimate. Entrance to the jewellers
premises was effected in the most in
gentous manner, and the thoughtful
burglars left ropes, displaced flooring,
etc. just as they used them, SO as to
provide an invaluable object-lesson for
any Of tho German youth who might
wish to emulate obem. Then they
calmly travelled back to England in first
class carriages and berths The English
detectives succeeded in tracing them
and found Porter living with his wife,
baby and mother-in-law in a nice house
in quiet suburb of London. They
found the booty there, too. Porter and
his accomplice were accordingly taken
to the Bow street police court and their
extradition to Germany demanded.
Porter>is a typical gentlemanly bur
glar Of meloerama, only little less
fiashy. He came into court dressed in q
black cutaway coat, trousers of dark ma
terial patent-lesther boots and dark
red scarf. His chin was shaven, and he
wore 3 carefuliy-trimmed mustache. He
carried silk hat in his right hand and
pair Of gloves In his left. Although
he'was repeatedly remanded from week
TO week, and passed the intervals in
prison, he always came into court with
the hat and gloves. He is short, rosy
faced and Of medium height, and he
looked like an everyday middle-clasa
Englishman.
He answered questions in quiet, un.
concerned manner, never growing angry
or excited. When tho various imple
ments Of burglary were held up to view
he smiled sweetly.
| The case ended In Porter's discharge
because he was a British subject, aht
the British Government does not extra
dite its own subjects for burglary
Porter was born in Canada The jew
eler got his stock back, which was luck,
for HMM. Y. Evening Sun.
/