The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-04
TRICKSPLAYED ON JUSTICE.
EIPERIEN CES OF WILKINS, BURGLAR,
AND SMITHERs, CON MAN.

When wilkins, tho burglar returned 10 prison
no found himself the hero Of the hour. Any
man OF his evil record and more evil reputation,
caught in the very act OF breaking into pr-
yatc apartment at night who nevertheless had
managed TO escape the consequences. twenty
years and receive in it's stead merely SIX months
must be slick to a superlative degree. Even the
officials paid tribute TO his eminence by assign
ing him To a soft snap in tho chops and when
he consulted the doctor about some minor ail-
mcnt that functonary made no ado Of sending
him TO the hospital for few days.
Both Smithers, the con. man. and Jake. the
hospital steward. were insistcnt with inquiries
concerning the newcomers good luck, while
the old Colonel. cngrossed though he generally
was with his own misfortunes, awaited the mar
ration eagerly.
wilkins was too good 10 resist long,
30. having fortified himself az ainst the fatigues
Of talking by borrowing plug from Smithers
and a knife from the Colonel, both Of which he
forgot to return he began follows:
you have all heerd or read" he said. how
was caught dead TO rights in the apartments
Of a swell amedMcTague or Montague--t's much
the same. l reckon-in the city had reason TO
know that he was out Of town. and that his Wallet
was off drinking. and il bad been a puddin' to
sneak up the fire escape and break window
light in a blanket but il seemed that the ianitor
had seen my shadow and pulled the alarm. and
so while was examining the contents of a little
round safe, highly Monumental too, that stood
in a corner Of the smoking room, felt cold steel
at my temple and on my wrists to onct The
detective took il for granted that hadn't had
time to look elsewhere and hence had prigged
nothing more; so when got 10 the station they
didn't search me at all carefully. But as matter
Of fact as | was passing through the bedroom
! took rapid survey of the burrey drawers. and
in the bottom Of a silk Handkerchief case. found -
what dyou suppose? A little hivory mineatoor
of as pretty young woman ever did stunts
as n living statoor, all set about with diamonds
Now. I just thrust this in tho small pocket of
my britches belt and went about my business:
and it SO happened that not only the detectives
didn't discover the thing, but that in the excite
ment clean forgot had it, You needn't laugh.
Jake Dyou suppose I'd hev' stayed in the
cooler for two weeks, without cent for extrys,
and not hev sent out and hooked IT, If il had ever
come to my mind?
well. you know I was aTaigncd promptly.
The papers made fuss over the case. getting
off lot Of lalygag about the protection of the
hearthstun' and the necessity Of an example,
so the District Attorney didn't wait until the wit
nesses were all dead missing before taking
il up wasn't feeling very good over such dis
elimination, and so when were walking over
to court, and the officer says to me, I suppose
you're going TO t'row yourself on the mussy of
the court more because ugly than for
any reason. srowled back. You keep your sup
posins to YOURSELF I'm going to fight the thing
for all its worth
And so, too, when the case called, and
the clerk asked me what had to say to the in
dictmcnt turned to the Judge, old poppy
guy, pretty near superannuated. ! should think
and said: I am not guilty. your Honor but
have means to employ a lawyer The Judge.
he turned 10 nifty looking chap sitting at one
side. and said. Mr. Angel. will you give this
matter your attention. and heerd the court
officers n whispering together as how the young
fellow was a newcomer whom the Judge was
pushing along. account Of his being a pro-
tcgy of the beautous young wife, the Judge had
Just been margin. after enjoying for twenty
odd years the facilities of widowerhood.
We'll. didn't fancy Mr.. Angel or his pro-
fessional ardor necder. He kinder sauntered
over to me and drawled; You better change your
plea my man. You haven't n ghost of show
And thought what a monkey could make out
OF him il came aCrost him on a dark night, COM
ing home from the club.
Don't you bother your head about my chances
| answered. but go ahead and make them prove
their They've got 10 show that broke in.
haven't they? How do you know but that l stood
in with the wallet and had his pass,key? When
you get your wisdom teet instead Of them milk
ones, young man, you'll know that the mussy Of
the court is reserved for deaultcrs bigamists and
other dedicated philanthropists' Very good
he grumbcd a little about hcquity brief he had
to prepare, and then the called.
1T was nigh . O'Clock when VIC got a jury, and
there was only time for the direct examination
Of Montague before the court took a recess for
lunch. They gave me bite in side room