The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-04-27

series OF forgeries secured from tho
Bank OF England over Sl.00O.oOo. and
In various other forgerles committed
In America. Europe aud South America
they realized about 100000 more.
They were finally arrested and SEN
fenced TO life imprisonment In Eng
land. and were parJoned after twenty
years All their ill-gotten wealth was
gone and the health OF three Of them
was shattered. -Four bright. educated
men. either one Of whom could have
made a success In almost any legiti-
mate business. got on the wrong road,
and continued until too late. All are
now alive and following a proper life
Colonel James Buchanan Cross. +.
Spencer Pettis. George Wade wilkes.
George Englcs. alias Dutch George
Charlie Becker alias The Duichman;
Joseph b. Chapman. alias little Joe.
all American professional iorgers ac-
eumulaied large fortunes In their time
but squandered them and died poor
or are now In prison Charles o.
Brockway became rich through coun-
terfeiting. but 81 now an old man. SEN
fenced To a long term In the New
Jersey state prison with no hope OF
OUTLYING his sentence Max Shin
burne. alias Baron Shindel." the
greatest OF all the expert bank burglars.
left America twenty-seyen years ago
with fortune OF over a million. which
he squandered. About three years ago
he returned 10 the United States. and
again commenced robblng banks. We
brought about his arrest for the Amer
lean Bankers Association Ne was
convicted and sentenced to imprison-
ment. When his time expires he will
be taken TO New Hampshire for a bank
robbery committed thirty years ago.
for which he was convicted and es-
capped from state prison. Shinburne
In his way Is something OF a mechanic.
and had he pusued honest methods
probably would have made fortune
as an inventor.
What was known as the Dunlap and
Scott band OF bank burglars. while
they were operating. undoubtedly stole
In money. government bonds and other
securities nearly two millions OF dol
lars. winding up with the Northampton
bank burglary. from which they Sc
cured nearly 100000 in money and Sc
curities. All we're finally arrested and
several are dead Bob Scott died In
prison. Dunlap Is residing In the
west In fair health. after serving sew
enteen years In prison. and Is now In
honest employment. II running a ma
tlonal bank may be termed as such.
OF all the professional criminals |
ever knew there are only two who
kept their ill-gotten wealth. One re-
sides In New York. ana Is an extensive
fence buying stolen postage stamps
diamonds and other stolen property
that cannot easily be Identified. He
Is now an old man. whose end cannot
be To- OF. and yet although wealthy
and without family. Is as ayaricious rs
ever. Another. who resides In Boston.
quit stealing a number Of years ago.
aud has lived an honest lie since. lie
has taken care Of his money and il
fairly we'll OF
Stock gambler. grain commission
sharks and real estate robbers often
grow rich. Beyond their depth crime
Is a failure as a Wealth producer.
Is there honor among criminals
Speaking generally. | would say very
little. especially while following their
criminal profession. But when they
have decided to reform. and are striy-
Ing TO make honest men OF themselves.
then whatever honor they possess
shows itself. You can count on the
fingers OF one hand all the professional
thieves TO whom the term Honor
among thieves" would properly apply
have known one or two who have
stood all the tests. These men became
honest as soon as the opportunity OF.
fered itself They never should have
been thieves. but when young men one
cause or another led them astray.
Among what is known as the old-tme
hank burglars who operated In