The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-30
THE BOTHERED BURGLAR.
He Tells the Reporter About a Disagree
able Time He Had When In Business

He Tells the Reporter About a Disagree
able Time He Had when In Business
From the Washington Star.
Last summer a Star reporter paid
visit to a state penitentiary, and, by
the kindness of the warden, he was
permitted to have an extended talk
with the wickedest man in the prison.
The man had been a burglar and
tough, had killed several men in fights,
and Is now serving 10-year sentence
for manslaughter. He was communica-
tive, and his talk was certainly inter-
esting, for he liked to tell over the sto-
ries of his experience, 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 experience in the burgling
business"
There is one that always makes me
even a little thing" laughed the bur-
glar, who, by the way, was quite well
educated. lone of those superstitious
notions that have their influence over
the best of us. There was in city l
was devoting my talents to at the time
a man of so or whereabouts, who had
plenty of loose money and jewelry, and
who occupied a suite of rooms in fiat.
He was a bachelor, and hadn't many
| friends visiting him, and, after study
| ing his case for short time, conclud-
| ed there was something in him for me.
II located the fire escape and other
| things necessary in my business, and
one night, about three hours before
daylight, / was in his sleeping room
making a financial observation. He was
stretched out in bed, and / wasn't pay
| ing much attention to him, for there
| were other more valuable considera-
| tions around. AS long as he remained
quiet was willing not to disturb him.
| Well, Just as l was about to gather a
| lot of jewelry and a fat pocketbook
| there came a rap on his door, and a
| hurried call for him to come as some
| one was sick across the hall. j knew II
would be unpleasant for him to wake
| and find me there, so, in order to avoid
| that, / made a quick jump for the bed
grabbed a pillow, and proceeded tc
smother him into silence.
THE call and knock on the door were
repeated only once, and then whoever
| II was hurried to the next suite and be
gan pounding there and calling. Thi:
| time some one responded, and in few
minutes the halls were still. So wa
my friend under the pillow, for / haC
added a clutch on his throat, and haC
his wind shut off for as much as tel
minutes. Quite enough to make maj
quiet" and the burglar smiled
pleasantly.
when everything was serene again
/ thought I'd take a look at my MAJ
before departing with his valuables
though / never could understand VIII,
1 should have done so. as that is reall.
a disagreeable part of the profession
and seldom done. but felt curious an
wanted to crafty my curiosity. / he'll
my lantern to his face, expecting to Sc
it blue enough after the smotherins
but, instead of that, ii was dead white
That scared me a little. and i too
hold of the man and tried to move hin
HE was stiff and cold as ice. an
like lead. That ended ii with me.
knew enough about physiology to kno'
that the man had been dead 10 hours
/ at least. before | touched him, and IN
thought of my trying to smother a dea
| man gave me such nervous shoe
that / could hardy resist yelling fror
fright, and on the instant / droppe
. everything except my lantern and bolt
l ed out of the window and down tn
fire escape. as If the very devil himsel
were after me. I've regretted IL man
| times since" concluded the burglar
with a laugh. but we all have GU
} weaknesses. / presume" and the Sta
reporter quite agreed with the burglar