The age-herald., 1898-10-15
BURGLAR THAT
 IS ARTSTOCRATIC

William D. Travis, professional burglar, has been caught and his handsome home in Brooklyn has been stripped of treasures which the enterprising cracksman had been years in collecting. His wife and mother in-law, who say they know nothing of the mans calling, are much shocked. The neighbors in Sehermerhorn street think that there must be some mistake, for they had seen Travis frequently and had always supposed that he was a commercial traV- eler MT. Travis is professionally known as Dalton. He made 1t a practice to do his work alone, as he feared that those who might be associated with him in business way would cause him to be suspected of be- ing a lawbreaker He is regarded as at the very top of the art of housebreaking. No less authority than Big Bill Ma son. in custody, paid this tribute to him. Mason did not, of course, do such an unprofessional thing as to mention him by name, for he was talking to Captain Me Clusky of the detective bureau at the time.
 Hes the smartest man in the business, said Mason, "because he has never been caught, and the police never even heard Of him. He's a straightforward business per son, who has more respect for himself than to go around associating with thieves and getting caught on account of disreputable associations. If l had done that way and had lived an honest, respectable life out side of business hours l wouldn't be in the fix 1 am now"
 Here was a novelty in police circles-a burglar who had never been caught. All ordinary burglars get into the police drag net several times in the course of their careers. Captain McClusky made a dili- nd among them he found an address in Scher- merhorn street, Brooklyn. It was just as likely that the house was the home of some person whom Mason contemplated visiting in a professional way as the home of the aristocrat of burglars. Captain Me- Clusky assigned Detectives Fogarty and Kerr to find out about it. The man who lived in the house was tall, broad-shoul- dered person. who had the air of a pros- porous contractor.
 Every detective carries a rogues gallery in his brain, or at least is popularly sup posed to. Neither of Captain McCluskys s men remembered ever seeing anyboy who looked like Mr. Travis. They watched him closely and followed him unobtrusiveiy wherever he went They could not discover that his conduct was in any way different from that of any other citizen who sod goods to the country trade and rested when in New York
 Mr. Travis again started out lon the road" in the language of the travelling salesman The detectives went with him. They accompanied him to the Grand Gen. tral station last Tuesday morning. -dr. Travis bought ticket for New Haven. Conn.,. and the detectives found that they, too. had business in the City of Films. So these three "commercial travellers" all in various lines and lays" started out to- gether.
 The detectives saw their man alight at the New Haven station, and they followed at a respectful distance. MT. IraVis oia not go into any of the stores. He cohIheo his attention to the part of the city where the homes of the wealthy were situated: The detectives fearing that he had noticed the espionage, returned to the New Haven station and awiated his return
 There were certainly two no more op- trusive men than the detectives, but from the hour they arrived in New Haven they were regarded with suspicion. They haa been seen wandering about the prlncipai streets, apparently with no business, anu certainly with no visible means of support
 Although the men were strangers in New Haven, the authorities shreWdly sus- pected that they belonged to the police or New York or some other or the larger cil-
 
 the station when a policeman approached them and told them that they must leave New Haven at once. The detectives made no explanation and took the next tram for New York.
 They kept up a watch at the Grand Gen. tral station, where they were in less dan ger of being misunderstood, and waited Tor MT. Travis to return. They saw him come out of the train shed on Saturday morn- ing He walked briskly and carried a va lisa heavily
 You are wanted at police headquarters, MT. Travis said Fogarty.
 MT. Travis was indignant and reached LOT the pocket which is devoted to carrying firearms. The detectives pinioned him. He kicked and struggled, but the men from police headquarters were too strong for him. They took from him two very good revolvers and then persuaded him that Tor an orderly Brooklynite he was making too much of a scene They had no trouble aft CT that in getting him to the station.
 Travis was searched and was found to have in his pockets some finely finished bur- glar tools. The valise which the burglar carried contained three dozen silver table spoons, several dozen sugar spoons, 'lzx napkin rings and two watches. The police estimated the value of the booty to be $20O.
 After the arrest of Travis the police took possession of his house. His mother-ln- law and his wife seemed greatly shec@ when they heard of the affair. Mrs. Trav- is looked at the detectives in dazed way and then tainted. She is almost prostrated over the turn affairs have taken. She says that she had always supposed that her husband was a commercial traveller and entirely honest. Her mother surrendered to the police handsome diamond ring which her son-in-law had given to her only a few days before ais arrest.
 Then a thorough search of the house was made. There was a trunk filled with choice samples of silverware. Among the boxes in store room was found mis- cellaneous property of doubtful value One o- the most significant finds made by the detectives was a crucible, which had been used for melting gold and silver. Near it was a pair of scales used for weighing precious metals.
 Travis spoke of his arrest with the great- est coolness. He said that he did not have fair show to get away, and that he never expected to be captured alive. He was very modest when told of the reputa ton