The morning call., 1894-01-23
A LIFE OF CRIME.
Is What Henry LuCkhardt
Has Preferred.
The Son of a Prominent Family Now
in Prison on Charges of
Burglary.

When a member lof the "Sinbad" Com
pany was booked at the City Prison last Tues
day by Detectives Bee ana Harper under
the name Of Harry Wilcox on two charges OF
burglary it was known TO the police that Will
cox was an assumed name. Yesterday his real
name and his past career were brought Il
light and it turns out that he is one of the most
daring criminals for his age that the police
have on their records. He is Harry Luckhardt,
son of c. A. Luckhardt, senior member of The
firm OF c. A. LuckharGt & Co.
He is now % years of age but from his boy
hood bis thevlng propensities have caused his
parents not only the keenest suff ring. but the
loss OF thousands Of dollars In endeavorug Ia
shield him from punishment for his crimes.
His father was the first victim OF his craving
to steal. Numerous petty thefts were commit
ted at the family residence and at lis fathers
place of business. but no one suspected the boy
of being the criminal. Finally the aid OF the
police was invoked and The father. was con-
fronted with indisputable evidence Of his sons
guilt. The matter was, OF course, pushed up
aud an effort was made TO reform lie boy. He
was sent TO Germany, where he studied chem
lStTy and dsSaying for two or three years with
marked success.
When he returned home 1t was hoped that be
would become a respectable and useful citizen,
put mat nope was soon dashed TO the ground.
| He began ag in TO steal money aud valuable
1-weiry from his parents, aud his conduct
nearly broke his mothers heart. Although
opportunity they did everything they could TO
shield him, and through their efforts the fact
that he was confirmed thief was kept a pro-
found secret until about two years ago.
At that time the police were notified OF the
fact that a number of particularly bold lar
cenies OF diamonds were being committed, and
from the m0dus OpeTandi they knew they lad a
clever swlnder 10 deal with. Ii would visit a
Jewelrystore. and alter stating that he and his
mother, who was an invalid had just arrived
from Chicago aud were staying al the Palace
Hotel, he would ask TO see diamond ring,
necket OF some other piece OF valuable jew
slry, which he wished 10 present to his mother.
He usually had no difficulty in persuading The
storekeeper 10 send clerk 10 the hotel with
the iewelry. When the clerk arrived at the
no Ell he was shown 10 the young mans ToOm
who would explain TO him that as his mother
was confined TO her bed in the next room he
would take the jewelry TO her. That was the
last the clerk saw Of him or tue jewelTy.
The police finally Succee ded in arreSting the
swlndler, who proved 10 be young Luckhardt
HIS family, however, came 10 his rescue, and
made good the amount of his stealngs. The
swindled merchants accordingly refused TO
prosecute him, and he escaped the peniientiary.
Luckhardt then went East and led a Bohe-
milan sort OF life. He had some sort of ability
as d song-and-danee artist aud Joined the
''Sin bad" Company in Chicago under the
assumed name of Harry Wilcox, and came with
the company 10 this city. he started In as a
burglar and The police have TWO sure cases
against him. He will not escape punishment
this time, as his family has decided not to inter-
fere. His mother Is completely Frustrated aud
her medical attendants say that her condition
is very critical
Besides the two charges of burglary preferred
agains; him, the police have another charge in
reserve. Yesterday morning Mrs. j.. A. Sor-
bier, who lives at The ST. Nicholas Hotel, called
al the office OF the property CLERK for the con-
tents OF trunk which had been stolen by Luck
hardt. Her room was entered about a month
ago and the stolen property was found IN Lnck-
bardts room when he was arrested. Two days
after the burglary young man called 10 see
her. lie SAID his name was Harry WILCOX, that
his father was a detective and he believed he
had clew TO the burglar. He would be glad
10 give her the benefit of his services for a
monetary consideration. She told him the
whole story and introduced him TO some OF the
other guests at the hotel, which enabled HIM 10
take mental inventory of the contents OF their
rooms. IL was her description of the young
man, whom SHE afterward Identified In the City
Prison, that materially helped Bee and Harper
iii laying their hands upon him.