Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-01
HENRY CooGAN.
One of the Smoothest Men Who Ever
Cropped His Way in Stocking Feet.

One of the Smoothest Men Who Ever
Cropped His Way in Stocking Feet.
Henry Coogan, alias Harry Nichols, by
which name he is always called, is great
character in his way-the way of the trans
gressor. He is one of the smoothest burg
lars known to the police for years past, and
his experience, if fully written up, would
fill ponderous tome.
Harry confesses to 81 years. His hair is
sandy-not TO say red-and his face beams
with good natured smile and merry
twinkle from eyes which can probably see
in the dark about as well as in the open
glare of day. He is an Irishman, full of
mother. wit, with an excellent intellect and
a good education. He talks of his expert
ence with evident unreserve-and in Ian
guage better Barring slang than one
would hear from half a dozen men in a
days intercourse with ordinary humanity.
In May, 1862, he was convicted of grand
larceny at Sacramento Thieves know
enough TO go to 8 prosperous country TO
operate in ] and got one year in the peni-
Tertiary as an offset to stolen horse.
That was my first step in crime" he de-
clared. II had one year ahead Of me, and
thought 1 had 5000 years. could not
stand the thought of working out my SEN
tence, and took advantage of my fret
chance to light out. When two months
time was left of my sentence l knocked
down guard and broke away
II was cut over year, having good
time, but not always being a good BOY,
when | was recaptured by detectives in
San Francisco aud brought back here to
finish my sentence.
In 6i l was convicted of burglary at
Placerville. That cost me three years.
I'm the latter part of 6S | was mixed up
in a burglary in Sacram ento-Joseph
Friends residence. | earned-so the Court
thought-eight years by that adventure.
II tried TO escape from the Sacramento
Jail, and in the effort got shot in the
lungs and varied assortment of bullets
distributed here and there throughout my
anatomy. But nature was very kind to
me, if no one else has ever been, and | re-
covered. DIR. Simmons, of Sacramento,
said he would give $500 for my bullet rid
died body, as Tonder of human vitality.
The good old doctor thought surely | was
goner, but I'm GEOGRAPHICALLY, if not
otherwise.
In the latter part of &c was sent from
San Francisco tor fifteen years-burglary
again | had entered sailors boarding
house | got mighty little from the tars.
Indeed, l didn't expect much but just
undertook the job to keep myself in prac-
tice-to sort O keep my hand in, as l may
say.
But if the haul was a trihe, the prior
convictions proved to be big thing in the
minds of the Judge and the juries-for |
had three trials of the case-and this feat
ure, taken with some very unreliable evil
delce against me, conspired 20 get me big
dose.
"The trials were before Judge Blake, one
of the finest gentlemen / ever knew.
after had served six years of this sem
tence, through the interference of Judge
Blake l was pardoned. He knew that
much of the evidence against me was
shaky, and the sentence would not have
been so great-I got the full limit-had it
not been for the prior convictions.
Il left the prison in January, 1882, and
went directly into Governor Perkins en-
pIoy as landscape gardener. Alb, there's
another man for you-as fine man ss the
Lord ever made
Il worked for the Governor about q
year and then went on tour
In September, 81, | prsciiced on a hotel
in Napa. l got $40 from the hotel and ten
years from the State. One dollar a year
for my time. Rather modest pay for man
Of my talents. That is ths term | sm en-
gsged upon st the present time. and l shall
get ont on my credits this trip"