The times., 1898-10-12
ART OF BURGLAR TRAVIS
Past Master in the Science of
Housebreaking.
LOVER OF FINE PAINTINGS
Always Carried a Brace of HevoIv-
Rich Mansions, But Never Forced
to the Necessity of Using Them.
Bunslins FelIOv-Workmen.

in this city last Saturday, is probably the
last living example of the novel hero of
chivalrous lawbreakers. In his outward
appearance he had near approach to
a gentleman and a scholar. He certain
ly looked and acted like gentleman and
if not versed in the classics of college
curriculums was a man of superior edu-
cation and accompaniment.
He delights in good pictures and knows
the work of the great painters. He
speaks regretfully of the really com
mendable works of art. not mere family
portraits, which he could have stolen. but
did not on account of the risk attending
the disposal of them.
Loved the Fine Arts.
These were some of the new things
which the police learned yesterday con-
cerning William E. Travis. who will be
arraigned today on the charge of looting
the house of Mrs. Juliette c. Summer.
of Hartford. Conn. A policeman from
Hartford arrived here yesterday. and
Travis offered to go back with him. He
was not permitted TO do SO. however.
without the regular process of extradi-
ton.
This is the man who was described by
"Bill" Mason, himself a king of crimi-
nails, as standing at the very top of the
profession OF burglary. For ten years
he has carried on career of systematic
housebreaking, and by cunning and dar-
ing he kept out of the clutches OF the
police.
Avoided Bad Company.
He succeeded in escaping arrest by not
associating with criminals and preserv-
ing the appearance of ultra-respectabiity
He wooed and won an estimable young
woman a year ago, and had been living
in a boarding house in Schermerhorn
Street, Brooklyn. He passed as a COM
merciai traveller. and apparently his fam
lily had no suspicion that he was leading
anything but an honest life. He was a
dutiful son and brother. He supported
his sister and aged mother in this city,
and took care of his wife and her mother
in Brooklyn.
Many of the proceeds of his robberies
were placed on exhibition yesterday at
police headquarters. They were taken
from the two homes which he maintained.
!, They made a glittering store, and many
of them seemed to have been kept minus
marks of identification. for ther artistic
beauty Most of the proceeds of his op
erations went to the melting pot. for pre-
cious metal in ingots tells no tales of
former ownership.
Travis has brought new ideas to the art
of burglary. He told Capt. McClusky yes
terday that he could no doubt tell many
things which would prove entertaining.
but that in his position he did not care TO
talk much.
Although he seemed TO speak with the
greatest frankness, his statements were
general, and by skillful fencing he avoided
reference 10 the crime for which he must
stand trial.
His Quiet and Emphatic Style.
Slow and deliberate of speech is Will
lam E. Travis. He is an athlete, the
largest man brought to police headquar-
ters to be measured by the Bertillon sys-
tenn. vet the voice he uses in conversation
is little above a stage whisper. He
speaks as one whose words have passed
several times in mental review before
being finally uttered.
Suppose, now." suggested Capt. Nc
Clusky, Il am a. home and you happen
10 pay the house visit"
II have always made il a rule said
Travis. In low monotone, voice filter
ed of all feeling. Ito study the effects of
| light and shadow
derstand.
For instance" resumed the prisoner,
'I never get in front of an open door
when there is a window opposite. / al
| ways keep we'll within the shadow, and
keep any person from getting view of
| me. / never get where my back is TO the
| light Now. suppose that you are COM
| ing toward me. I know that you are COM
| ing but you do not know that I am COM
| ing toward you. l say quietly: Don't
make any unnecessary noise. I'll kill you
| if you do. -
There was something very realistic
| about those last words of Mr.. Travis He
| delivered them in the same dreary mono
tone. yet in way that would convince
! any man that the speaker meant what
he said.
Too Many Professional BungIers.
Travis remarked that many unneces-
sary deaths were caused by bungling
| burglars. He said that he always car
| ried two self-cocking revolvers, although
he had never used them in all his ex-
perience. Ordinarily he had such a
| knowledge of the houses he entered that
he could evade anybody, and besides that
most persons are so alarmed by the very
presence of a burglar that they have
| not the courage to resist
There are times when Travis can
hardly realize that his career has been
checked and that he is in custody. He is
exceedingly polite in his language and
| speaks of being now in Capt. McCIus-
ky's care
There were few cheap things in the
| array on two long tables at police
| headquarters. There was some doubt
| as to whether these had been stolen.
| The articles which were undoubtedly the
| prizes of systematic housebreaking,
| were not only expensive, but very artis-
| tic There was solid silver salver of
either early English or Dutch manufac-
| ture, which had value high above the
| price of bullion.
Rare Collections of Wares.
| Many dealer in antiques would give
| a good price for an old-fashioned silver
bowl. which was one of the ornaments
| of the collection. There was an opera
| glass in gold and pearl from the shop
| of a famous Paris optician. There were
old watches of Swiss and English manu-
| facture.
There were jewel cases of unique de-
| sig. gold rings minus their settings and
heavy gold locket bearing the monogram
| &c. E. A" Several or the articles of
! silver have the same initials. There were
| umbrellas with gold heads and walking
| sticks Capt McCluslly estimated that
| this heterogeneous collection was worth
| 200
Numerous pawntickets were found,
| which showed that the man had dispos-
| I'd Of many articles near the home OF his
l.scther near Ninth Avenue and Sixtietn
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