Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-14
A FIGHT WITH FATE.
Owen McNally, the Noted Sneak
Thief, Tells the Story of His Life.
FORCED BY THE WORLD TO STEAL.
No One Would Give Him Work Because
He Had Been q Convict.
HUNGER CAUSED HIS RETURN TO CRIME

Owen McNally, who bears the reputa-
ton of being the slickest sneak-thief in the
country, claims that he is the victim of
circumstances, and that the world did not
let him be honest when he would. McNally
is now in Jail awaiting trial for number
of robberies in Pittsburg and Allegheny,
and the officials have no doubt of being able
to convict upon several charges.
McNally has served a term of eight years
in the Riverside Penitentiary, having been
sent there for a jewelry robbery. through
the efforts of Superintendent Of Police
O'Mara. McNally was released about two
years ago, and the day after he left the
penitentiary Mr.. O'Mara called upon him,
warned him against committing any depre-
dations in Pittsburg and advised him to live
an honest life. Mentally took the advice in
good part, and would often call upon Super
intendent O'Mara and Inspector McAleese
and chat with them. He is an intelligent
young fellow and a good conversationalist.
About eight months ago, however, Mentally
dropped out of sight, and the police did not
know he had returned to the city until con-
fronted with evidences of his handiwork.
McNally told the story of his relapse into
crime to Detective Fitzgerald yesterday.
He was deeply moved while telling his
story, and seemed to feel that the world was
against him. He said:
HE WANTED TO BE HONEST.
"When came out of the penitentlary
had fully determined to lead an honest lie.
was young and healthy and was willing
to turn my hand to anything. The day
after my release started out to hunt for
work. I have no trade, but thought I
could get job of some kind where an ac-
tive young fellow would be useful,
Wherever went was asked what had
worked at before, and as 1 had been in the
the penitentiarv for eight years, from the
time l was 10 years old, / had no answer
to make. When 1 told men the truth, and
said had been in the penitentiary, but was
trying to live honestly, they said at once
that they had no vacancies, or, as in several
instances, ordered me out OF their places of
business.
81 tried for a long time to get job on a
railroad. 1 went to Mr.. 4. c. Beatty four
times, and begged him to use his influence
to get me on the road, but without success
Finally heard that man named Milli-
gan, at Canton, o., wanted help, and 1
wrote to him for job. He told me to come
on, and being without money. 1 beat my
way there, riding two days in a boxcar.
When 1 reached Canton, without a cent, I
found that Milligan had been taken seri-
ously ill, and was unable to attend to bust
ness, and there was, therefore, no work or
me to do. 1 STAYED in Canton several days
trying to obtain work, but without success,
and being regarded as q suspicious charac-
ter by the officials, being without any
visible means Of support, was ordered to
leave town.
THE POWER OF HUNGER.
'I got on freight train and succeeded in
reaching Steubenville, where 1 landed hun
cry and desperate. I hadn't q cent, and |
had given up all hope of obtaining work. |
Then committed my first theft since left |
the penltentiary and stole two dozen silk |
handk kerchiefs. These L sold for 40 cents, |
and with part of the money bought some |
whisky. That was the first drink of an in
toxicant had taken for over nine years.
Then returned to Pittsburg and stole for a
living. can't remember all the places
robbed or what took, because was drink
ing all the time. 1 was drunk from the
time 1 got int Pittsburg until was ar
rested"
One peculiar feature of the case was that
about the first place Mentally robbed after
his return to Pittsburg was the residence of
E. c. Beatty, the man he had importuned
so often for employment. When arrested
McNally was wearing some of the clothing
stolen from Beatty's house.
Among the places robbed were the resi-
dences of E. w. ellison, DR.. Wylie, DIR.
Mr.. Fletcher and number of
other houses in Pittsburg and Allegheny.
The property stolen amounts to several
dollars. McNally is giving the
police assistance in recovering the stolen
goods, but owing to the fact that he was
drinking at the time. he cannot remember
how he disposed of all of it.