The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-13

THE LONG AND SHORT MAN" AT WORK.
some respect for tho "stick up man"
('stick up" is tho new Chicagoeso for
"hold up'), who is now regarded as per
manent fixture. Tho daring citizen goes
about armed to tho teeth the discreet citi.
zen stays indoors after dark, and the pious
citizcn prays twice daily to DO delivered
from footpads and burglars
The Chicago newspapers treat tho chi.
demic Of crime ms n sort of natural phc.
nomenon and devote their energies to the
collection of interesting statistics regard.
Ing the growth Of highway robbery. The
esteemed Times Herald recently demon.
stratcd that the common, everyday thieves
of Chicago steal half n million dollars
year. From January, 1903, to December,
1895, they stolo miscellaneous property
worth 81 703 5G3 This year thoy EXPECT ia
rake in 5000, 900.
Further pursuing their Investigations,
tho Chicago papers have discovered u young
rascal called Sleepy Burk, who was cdu.
Gated In reform school and hns run the
whole gamut of crime He has posed rs n
horrible example with such success that he
now regards himself as quito o hero an
opinion evidently shared by considerable
portion OF the public. Him the papers have
interviewed and written up with great rs
siduity as person whose views Of life are
important and interesting He has told
the story OF his lifo half dozen times Ia
as many different newspapers, and in n re.
cent number of The Times Herald he tells
"How 1t Feels to Hold Up Man"
In this essay Sleepy" takes high moral
ground, ne witness: "Whcn went to stick
up man, 1t never occurred to mo that
had to crolSo him. thought that if he
should get killed it would be his own fault.
He represents ono of tho people of the
state and Is responsible for its action. If
the state abused me. felt that WAS go.
Ing to abuse the stntc. An eye for an eye.
and tooth for n tooth. If they got hold
of me, they would demand the same.
They are allowed to rob me- Why should
not rob them? Being rich and powerful
does not give man license to rob me.
This is what I think, and so go Mt him
just the same rs though / had ms much
right to rob him rs the alderman has TO rob
the city.
II have the same right to rob you as the
warden or tho contractor at Joliet has To
rob me. If kicked Mt Joliet, / was beat.
en-. IL fought, would get killed. This
is what the state of Illinois taught mo.
The contractor and warden were always
trying to do me, so | had to DO looking
out to prevent it. For every move they
made tried to invent Il scheme TO avoid
it. Do you wonder that | came out with a
head full of larceny? As old Captniu
Brndbcrry Of tho Missouri penitentiary
would say when he was lnshing the men:
Don't blame me, boys, The state is push
ing inc, and have to push you
so II was with me. | went mt a man
Just rs though had a license in my pocket
II he resisted. had n right to beat him
II Inc fought he killed himself, because |
felt l had right To rob him. If he would
sooner give up his life than his money
that was no fault of mine -
The Times Herald is fair enough to prirt
both sides. On the same page with Slecnv
Burk's article on how to rob appears nm
article by John ID. Shen, inspector OF no
lice, on What 10 DO When Held In. "
ne inspector gives good advice TO the be-
lated Chicagoan rs follows:
Any man whose business calls him in
to districts infested by footpads sbould on
armed. If not armed, he must take his
chlIlccs. When i'll such IA district. he
should never let stranger come within
reach OF him. IL IL man or men approach
from behind, the possible victim should
step to one side and wait for them To pass.
II they refuse to do this, he should draw
his gun. warn them, and il necessary shoot
and shoot TO kill. But this final resource
is not often necessary. Good thieves will
NOT attack that kind of man They br
come afraid and suspicious of him Walk
on The outer edge of the sidewalk in dan.
grrouS localities, and il specially risky take
the middle OF the street.
In ease you are surprised and two or
more men manage To get their hands or
you, surrender and keep as cool as possible.
Laugh and tell them =, help themselves.
Your gun is OF no use in such an cncr