The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-05-30
A Strange Profession.

In hotel in small town in north
western county Of Ohio to-dayis board
ing man who has a strange profess
sion. He will not remain for more
than few days. He will be arrested !;
splendid burglars kit will be found
in his possession, and he will be hur-
ried off and placed in the county jail.
The little town will go wild over the
capture of notorious and desperate
burglar the newspapers at the coun-
ty seat will tell the story under three
sheet poster-type, and everybody will
believe that bloodthirsty night ma
rauder has been captured by jay de-
tectives after all the city sleuths have
failed. But that will be a mistake,
though many will go down to their
graves believing q desperate with all
sorts Of crime on his list was captured
before their eyes.
This desperate man of midnight
crimes in the little hotel and town is
there to be arrested. That's his bust
ness. He makes living for himself
and wife and daughter by being arrest
ed. It is his profession, perhaps, the
strangest one of the thousands by
which men make dollars honestly.
He will be greatly surprised and in
dignant when the local officer arrests
him on warrant sworn out by visit
ing detective, will make show of re-
sistance, ask for an extra good guard
for protection and go off to jail with
meekness that is most commendable.
The sheriff, prosecuting attorney and
detective alone knows the true story,
and in the county Jail he will be treat
ed like any felon. In this particular
case, which cannot now be made pub
lie, he is to worm his way into the
confidence of a man who is under ar
rest for startling crime, and, if pos
sible, secure from him admissions that
will convict the suspect, whose trial,
soon to begin, will attract the atten-
tion Of northwestern Ohio. But there
is no objection Of giving the name and
some of the incidents in the life of t. is
man with the strange trade.
He is Thomas South in private life,
and makes his living by hiring out to
be arrested. He is known to every
private detective and detective agency
Of any prominence in the central,
west and south, and has been in jails
all over that section, charged with all
sorts of crime. South resides in
southeastern Indiana. He is at pies
ent in delicate health, and is doing
his last, perhaps very last bits Of
work. Exposure, confinement in foul
prisons and the excitement of his life
have resulted in severe pulmonary
disease, and he has reached point
where he feels he must retire. He
began his singular business in Louis
vile, KY, just at the close OF the
war, in the secret service: and for the
purpose of justice became a member
Of some of the worst bands of cut
throat thieves, which at that time ter
rorized that city and vicinity: He
would become acquainted with the
plots and plans and divulge them to
the authorities. Disliking this call
ing he perceived the idea of becoming
prison confcssor, and, explaining his
ideas to number of detectives, was
given orders to secure confessions.
His fame widcncd and other detcc-
tivcs heard of and employed him,
though for obvious reasons he was
kept in the background as much as
possible, and his methods made pub
lie as little as the case permitted.
In the years that have elapsed since
he adopted his peculiar vocation,
South has been arrested in a dozen
States, and in as many counties in each
State.