The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-15
FRANK WITH THE JUDGE.
How a Pickpoclxet Fixed his Own
Term In Prison.

How a Fixed if1s OWn
Tern, In Prison.
Pietro Fernandez, one of the most ex-
pert ~pickpockets in the country, was re-
Gently convicted in New York Of stealing
a diamond pin from the necktie Of a mai
he met on a street car.
When he was brought up for sentence in
general sessions, this conversation was
had between him and Recorder Golf:
II have here upon my desk, said the
recorder, s'ofiicial records to show that you
have served time in the prisons of various
states. / am told that you are the most
expert ~pickpocket known to the police"
well, 7" said the prisoner, "if what you
say is true I'm not proud of such a repu-
tation.'
you have served terms in seven differ
ent states, haven't your"
1.-THE law does not compel a man to an
swer such questions as these if they tend
to incriminate him, said Fern lez. Il
certainly would not be here nov traigned
for sentence if my counsel had taken my
advice
What was the advice you gave him?'
ssNot to put me on the witness stand to
testify in my own behalf, but he did it,
with the result of q conviction
"But in this case you stole a diamond
pin from a man riding on a Third avenue
car. You were certainly guilty OF that
crime?'' said the recorder.
"Under the law I guess ] was, but that
man showed he was very ignorant by
wearing a big, bulky stone IN his tie that
day. A man of wealth and intelligence
who had been accustomed to luxuries
would never have worn such a snowy
stone in his tie. 1t was the essence of ig-
norance. know what I'm talking about,
for / have moved in good society in my
time"
"Do you mind telling me how you work
when you're in a crowd?'
ssFor instance, / have this silk lined
oyercoat on my arm, and it is a very easy
matter to shove my overcoat up close to a
person so hat my right hand can work in
the PERSONS pocket, while the oyercoat
shuts off his view"
ssWe1l, said the recorder, 'syou are GER
tainly a most peculiar fellow. However, 1
think it would be a good thing for the
community to get rid of you; SO I will SEN
tcnce you
Just wait a minute, /" said the prisoner.
81 am not going to appeal to you for mer-
cy. I've never o II that yet. II a man
d0OptS blllcNinS dS u prUiCooiOh, uo iiuou
expect to accept trouble that he may get
into after he goes into the business. I'm
der the law you are permitted to sentence
me to ten years in state prison. 1t is now
within Sur power to do SO. While I do
not apps to you for mercy I do wish to
say that shink the penalty prescribed by
the legisls qre is just about double what
it should L in a case like mine. Five
-oore s1 g. t+a ,ricor, ~, INV irdrnnonf
would be alb lit the right penalty. Let us
look at the facts of the case. Here is a
man who violates all rules of dccency by
coming out with an ugly looking diamond
pin. He evidently was some cheap clerk
in an east side store, and he throws right
in the way of the professional thief a temp
tation to steal the stone, simply for its
commercial value and not for it's beauty.
Do you think it wa proper fer that man
to wear that diamond pin loosely in his tie
in that way?"
"You evidently believe in socialism, !
said the recorder.
'No, L don't believe in socialism in the
way that you have reference to it, " replied
the prisoner, .sbut | do believe that five
years would be about right in a case Of
this sort. Society would not be benefited
any way IL you lihpoaeu d sciitciicc VI ttil
years upon me. / alone would be the only
interested person."
Now, tell me, do you think that yoa
could make up your mind to refor1mi''
asked the recorder.
"a very ridiculous proposition" an
swered the prisoner. II wish to say right
here, your honor, that only one u of
about 100 criminals who come here and
tell you that they intend to reform ever
do reform. don't believe it's in me to
reform, although such a thing is possible.
1 have known of stranger things than
that. However, l wish to tell tile+ tn"
"Iu sentence you to state Eztson for a
term of five years at hard labor, . said the
recorder, and the notorious pickpocket
was hurried away to Sing Sing.