The herald., 1896-10-18

in professional way nowadays, as she
has enough to support herself finely
But the possession of wealth has never
been an agency sufficiently strong to di-
vert her from her chosen path. The po-
lice say that she cannot resist the temp
tation to steal; that the craft was born
in her and that its destinations are
stronger than her will. There is no
doubt that on several occasions she has
made efforts to reform. Two years ago
she went so far as to actually interest
herself and her money in philanthropic
society for the reformation of discharged
prisoners, and she wrote for various pub
lications some able articles on the SUBJ
ject. Two months after the publication
of her last article she was arrested in
st. Louis, charged with stealing $500
diamond ornament.
When she married Ned Lyons thirty
years ago he was the leading cracks
| man Of the day. He was looked up 20
by such experts as Jimmie Hope, Max
Shinburn and Charley Bullard. Lyons
determined to meet the responsibilities
of matrimony by doing something gi-
gantic, so he had conference with the
three worthless above named and the
plot was hatched to rob the Ocean bank,
then located at Fulton and Greenwich
streets. The gang had plenty of money
and they hired the basement under the
bank and did a general exchange busi-
| ness Behind the partition where the
private office was supposed to be in the
rear of the. basement they worked
night and day cutting into the ceiling
Immediately under the vaults of the
bank. One Sunday they were ready for
| the final task of lifting out the stone
| flooring of the vaults. This was done
and the four men stood in the midst of
countless thousands. In bonds ami
stocks there were between $3,oOO,0OO and
| $4,000,000, but the cracksmen ignored it.
| They were after money only and they
! got something over 81 900, 600 in cash.
! With his share Lyons purchased fine
| country home on Long Island. and it
| was his wish that Sophie should lead a
| respectable life and enjoy herself as the
wife of rich man should. For while
| everything went along smoothly. Sophie
| had beautiful jewels. plenty of servanAs,
fine clothes, carriage and numberless
| luxuries. One day she went to New
York to do some shopping and the fas-
! cination of the old life came back to her.
1t was irresistible. She was buying
some lace and had several hundred dol.
lars in her pocket to pay for it, and for
! all of her wants, but she could not choke
| the temptation to steal Perhaps her
hand had lost its cunning, for she was
| caught red-han6ed with a roll of stolen
lace and was convicted Lyons spent
great sums of money to save his wife
| from tHe peHlteilIlary ana Sne only got
| six months on the Island
Time after time this same thing hap
pened. Her husband stole hundreds of
thousands and generally managed 20
keep out of prison, and although he
begged her to stay at home and take
care of the babies. she kept at her trade
Finally Lyons was sent up and Sophie
formed an alliance with a crook named
Hamilton Brock and called Handbook.
Lyons said he would kill Hambrocl,
| when he got out, and true to his word he
| started to hunt him. up the day of his
| release. Handbook was ready for him
and got in the first shot. which pierced
Lyons jaw. Fearing for his life, Ham
| brock heard that Lyons was to rob a
store in Connecticut. and warned the
| owners. Lyons was shot through the
lungs and almost died. For this piece
| of perfidy Sophie threw Handbook over
but Lyons would never have anythinr
more to do with her. Lyons is still alive
q physical wreck and penniless. He
spends most Of his time In Jersey City