The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-26

one reason why don't want to give my
name 70 the world along with this story.
Thus begins the tale told 20 a New York
Press man by reformed burglar.
Ny mother died when l was nothing but
kid. About the time my mother died my
father went into the regular army. He got
my uncle. his brother. who lived in St.
Louis, 70 agree TO keep me and send ne 20
school didn't like school and ran away,
When my uncle found out about It. he told
me how wrong l had done. and TO make
what he said clear he thrashed me with a
strap.
1t wasn't very long before ran away
from my uucle's house and began 70 hang
out with some other boys Of about my own
age We blacked boots n little and sold
few papers and stole little. Then my IN
Gle bad the police find me and took me back
home He hided me again, and l was sorer
and madden than ever. And l began 20
hate the police. By and by got on a rail
road train aud went east. / was headed for
Washington II wasn't hard to beat my
way on the trains All had TO do was 20
say was a soldiers orphan. / sometimes
said my father was alive. but hurt bad and
In hospital at Washington. My mother had
died, and | wanted to get to my father
There were always soldiers on the trains in
those days, and they would pass the hat for
me sometimes.
After awhile I got 10 Washington, then TO
New York and then to Boston. Then l re-
turned to New York. where was arrested
and sent 70 Randall's island, but my uncle,
who had been trying to get track Of me,
learned the facts, sent on and managed TO
get me out. He got a man 70 take me back
TO St. Louis, but l gave him the Slip at Gin
cinnati. l went back to St. Louis after
awhile Of my own accord and began tosteal
with the boys again. One day the chap we
were robbing set up great yell, and the
coppers got after u. was pinched. They
sent me to the St Louis house Of refuge for
that, and | staid in II months
While was in the refuge picked up "A
lot Of fresh lodges from older hands. espe-
oially about picking pockets. Ny hands
were Timber then, and could pick a kick"
tpocket) about as slick as the next one.
had a partner and we used 20 work on the
trains between st. Louis and Chicago and
Cincinnati We always dressed well and
tried TO look as near As possible like sons
OF rich men, and we never got pinched
once all the time we were working these
trains
As / grew older / got 70 be more and
more an expert and finally Travelled with
regular mob. II takes three-neyer more
than four-to make mp mob, and they
work very systematically. The man who
picks the pockets is a dip OF n tool or "a
graft lie works from behind if he can. If
not, from the side. There should be two
stalls-men who get in the way Of the man
70 be robbed or attract his attention. Then
there is the drag OF wire, TO whom the dip
passes the swag
In 1860, when was about 10. ] got Into
serious trouble. II was agreed by two or
three Of US. who were in a mob. that il
would be a good idea TO see if we couldn't
do some swag work-burglsry. We robbed
q grocer and got $50. which had to be di-
vided among three. We all got pinched TO-
side Of a week. The heaviest penalty for
burglary in Missouri Is 90 years On con
viction for this my first offense as a bur
glar was sentenced to IS years in the JET
ferson City penitentiary, but I needn't say
that didn't serve il out. You see, / wasn't
Of age when convicted, and shortly after
went up the road my lawyer raised that
point and demanded my release on the
ground that the court had no right 10 send
minor 70 Jefferson City. / was pardoned
after had been la g months.
When left St Louis, went 10 Washing
ton. didn't stay there long, though, nor
anywhere else. went as far west as Den
yer aud as far east as Boston. I was ar
rested over and over again here. there and
everywhere. got no very long sentences.
but was under lock and key as suspi-
eious person, as a professional thief and on
some specific charge OF other much more
than half the time. Every year got to be
. better pickpocket Every year / knew
more Of the thieves and their meets-places