Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-11-12
SCIENCE OF
Inc Renowned "sleepy Burke" Tells
How He Conducts Busiuess

Inc Renowned "Sleepy Burke" Tells
now he Conducts Business.
An industrious Chicago footpad, who
was recently unfortunate enough to be
arrested. has been interviewed by one
OF the Chicago papers. He SAYS:
When hold up a man. | can always
tell II he is a fool or "A wise man. If
he is a coward, he gets wild. He does
not try to get away. He is only scared
VIII. lie is not responsible for what
he does. But | have started after his
money, and | will get it. When | have
held up Il nervous. heart-diseaSed man.
have merely III up to him and bid
nm good evening" shook hands with
MN to avoid his falling down. and DO
lltely told him what | wanted. | have
often found this method successful.
sometimes. however, | had to pipe
them Chit them over the head with a
piece of lead pipe). "AS n general rule.
the hold-up men who take the first
chance that comes along are desperate
men dead broke. They want beer
money, and will take what they can
get. You better give them what they
want, or it will cost you twice as much
for doctors bills and torn clothes. The
brave man is the one who yields up
when he finds that another man has the
drop on him. As to robbing a house, n
good prowler must judge his man.
When the nan of the house wakes up
and says. Who is that:' if the man has
got Il gun and looks like he is going 10
use it, ii has got to be Il case of the hest
man. But if he looks like he is scared
to death. the prowler gives him a lee
ture. \ man who is scared won't both
ed a prOwlPr much. | have often been
asked If | did not think ii is cOwardly
to rob a house. No. | call 1t Il brave
act to put your head into a window o.
a dark room. not knowing whether it is
going to be blown off or not the next
second" Commenting on this, John u.
Shea, Chicago inspector of police. says:
This "A Sleepy Burke, is a squealer
and a sneak thief. and there are many
boys who look upon him as a hero. As
TO what a man should do when held up
by highwaymen. conditions differ. If
a mar is armed. is a good shot. and is
not taken entirely una wares, he should
make a fight. Footpads don't aim to
select armed men. They generally try
10 surprise Il man. and the average mai
is attacked usually by two or more foot
pads. They are looking for him: he is
off his guard. Thieves are wary of a
man who seems to be suspicious of dan
ger. Any man whose business calls
him into districts infested by foOtpads
should go armed. If not armed. he
must take his chances. Walk on the
outer edge Of the sidewalk in dangerous
localities. and if specially ticklish. take
the middle of the street. If Il man OF
men approach from behind. the possible
victim should step aside and wait for
them to pass. If they refuse to do this
he should draw his gun, warn them
and, if necessary. shoot. and shoot tC
kill. But this is not often necessary
Good thieves will not attack hat kind
of a mar But in case you are surpris
ed. and two or more men manage 10 gel
their hands on you. surrender and keel
ms cool as possible. Laugh and tel
them to help themselves. Your gun i:
of no use in such an emergency"