Evening star., 1896-01-04
A DIsCONCERTED BURGLAR.
He Tells One of the DisaEreeable E1
periences In His Career.

He Tells One of the DisaEreeable Ex-
periences In His Career.
Last summer Star reporter paid visit
to state penitentiary. and. by the kindness
of the warden. he was permitted to have an
extended talk with the wickedest man in
the prison. This man had been a burglar
and tough. had killed several men in fights
and Is now serving ten-year sentence for
manslaughter. He was communicative and
his talk was certainly interesting, for he
liked to tell over the stories of his expert
ence. and he put into his narration a good
deal more life than he had ever put into his
victims
Tell me-" said the visitor, after an hours
talk. what you consider your champion ex-
perience in the burgling business
There's one that always makes me think
what a fool man can be over even a little
thing" laughed the burglar. who. by the
way. was quite well educated. ''One of those
superstitious notions that have their infiu-
ence over the best of us. There was In a
city was devoting my talents to at the
time man of fifty or thereabouts, who mad
plenty of loose money and jewelry, and who
occupied suite of rooms in q fiat. He was
bachelor. and hadn't many friends visit
ing him. and. after studying his case for a
short time, concluded there was something
in him for me-
Il located the fire escape and other things
necessary in my business, and one night,
about three hours before daylight, l was in
his sleeping room making financial observa-
tions. He was stretched out in bed and
wasn't paying much attention to him. for
there were other more valuable considera-
tions around. As long as he remained quiet
l was willing not to disturb him. Well, Just
as l was about to gather in a lot of jewelry
and fat pocket book there came ran on
his door, and a hurried call for him to come
as some one was sick across the hall.
lrn
wake and find me there, so, in order to avoid
that. 1 made a quick jump for the bed. grab
bed pillow. and proceeded to smother him
into silence.
1.-The call and knock at the door were re-
peated only once, and then whoever it was
hurried to the next suite and began pound
ing there and calling. This time some one
responded, and in few minutes the halls
were still. So was my friend under the pill
low, for had added a clutch on his throat,
and had his wind shut off for as m ach as ten
minutes. Quite enough to make a inan
quiet" and the burglar smiled pleasantly.
thought I'd take a look at my man before
departing with his valuables. though 1
never could understand why should have
done So as that Is really disagreeable part
Of the profession and seldom done, but
felt curious and wanted to crafty my curl
osity. held my lantern to his face, expect
Ing to see 1t blue enough after the smother
ing, but, instead of that, 1t was dead white.
That scared me little, and took hold of
the man and tried to move him
He was stiff and cold as ice, and like lead
That ended 1t with me. L knew enough
about physiology to know that the man had
been dead ten hours, at least, before
touched him, and the thought of my trying
to smother dead man gave me such a
nervous shock that I could hardly keep
from yelling with fright. and on the instant
I dropped everything except my lantern and
bolted out of the window and down the fire
escape, as If the very devil himself were
after me. Tve regretted 1t many times
since. concluded the burglar. with a laugh,
but we all have our Weaknesses. I nrc,
slune' and The Star reporter quite agreed
with the burglar