The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-02-19
ATHIEF,s sTRATAcEM.
How Jim Crow, Washington Notoriety,
Turned an Honest Penny.

In dilapidated little hovel near the
river front dwells a character we'll
known to certain strata of Washing
toms society. as Jim Crow. Jim is
thief, and will, as he states, steal any
thing from chicken to a locomotive.
In this city, where his light-fingered
habits have become well-known to the
police he confines himself = under
protest, however-to chickens, and the
floor of his hut is covered with feathers
several inches thick. Feathers being
marketable commodity, as well as
distinguishing marks by which irate
chicken-fanciers can sometimes identi-
fly their fowls, Jim picks his birds be-
fore selling, and carpets his residence
with their feathers until sufficient
quantity is obtained to make it worth
while to sell them.
Jim's former grazing grounds were
in Baltimore county, Md, where his
ostensible business was that of a huck-
ster; but his natural love of refined as
sociations and architectural beauty, as
well as too close an acquaintance with
the minions of law in Baltimore coun-
ty, led him to select the capital as his
future home. And then, too. Jim hav-
ing grown old in iniquity, is growing
old in years, and finds more pleasure in
gathering around him appreciative
listeners, and telling them the stories
of his former escapades, than of re-
enacting them. He tells with great
humor and expression how, when a
young and an enterprising huckster.
desirous of making as fine an appear
ance before the public as possible, he
exchanged the rickety and battered
wheels of his cart for the more preten-
tious ones of neighbor's vehicle while
that unfortunate man was taking a
drink in country tavern. He also
dealt in cattle-other peoples cattle
which he sold to the slaughter-houses
in Baltimore.
Once when fortune had been frown-
ing upon his efforts and his pockets
were empty, he conceived and carried
out the bold scheme of visiting the
yards of one of the slaughter-houses,
stealing therefrom a fine black bull
with white star on his forehead; COW
ering the white mark with handful of
tar, and selling the animal to its right
full owner, who did not discover the
theft until he had cut the bull up into
steaks.
One of Jim's best efforts was planned
while sojeurning one Summer in the
Baltimore county Jail. His term was
nearing its end, and he was revolving
in his fertile brain what to do with his
liberty after obtaining it. He had $5
secreted in his cell, which he wished to
invest at the highest possible rate of
interest. His ingenuity did not fail
him, and he determined to escape and
take with him two of his fellow-prison-
ers. With this object in view he went
to work, and after much labor dis
placed enough bricks from the wall of
his cell to permit of egress. He then
permitted the two men he had selected
to discover his plot. They, of course,
insisted upon accompanying him, and
after much hesitation, and only upon
their threatening to turn informers, he
consented, and proceeded to enlarge
the hole in the wall in order that one
of the men-a large, fat fellow-could
creep through. On the night fixed the
three prisoners, with soft and cat-like
tread stole through the prison walls,
and soon breathed the sweet air of
freedom. They made for the woods,
and there Jim outlined to them his
plan of operations. He gave them
iuOucy cHUuS IL W ~ W I1dNIo uC OIdCe,
telling them to meet him at certain
point near that station two days later,
which two days he would spend in en-
deavoring to replenish their treasury
in a manner which he declined to ex-
plain.
The men agreed, and after seeing
them safely off Jim went to a friends
house and waited for the reward which
he knew would be offered for the ap-
prehension of himself and his compan-
ions. The next day posters were stuck
up everywhere offering $500 reward for
the capture of the escaped prisoners.
Jim thereupon sent a note to the Sheriff
and made an appointment with him.
When the Sheriff came he delivered
himself up and offered to tell where his
companions were if the Sheriff would
share the reward with him and give
solemn assurance that his term would
not be heightened. This arrangement
was agreed to, and Jim sent the officers
to HaVre de Grace with directions how
and where to find the two men, and
then returned to jail, served out his
term, and left with $3.50 and thor
ough contempt for the guilelessness of
the chumps he left behind. Washdneg-
ton Post.