The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-20
a JUDGE INTERVIEWS THIEF.
Philosophical and Practical Views
of Mexican Pete.
From The New York Sun.

Clerk Wolf yesterday IN Part IL OF the
General Sessions. and a tine-looking man,
as years old, stepped up to the rail-
you have been convicted Of grand lar,
ceny in the first degree" said the court
clerk. Have you anything TO say why
sentence should not be passed upon you?"
II have" replied the prisoner, but
desire to address my remarks to the judge
presiding upon the bench" vt
Il have something to say to YOU also"
remarked Recorder Con. "You were con,
victed on an indictment charging you
with grand larceny. You told me few
days ago when you were arraigned in this
court that you had never been arrested
before, and remanded you 90 the Toombs
for the purpose of finding out whether
this was so. l have here upon my desk
officials records to show that you have
served time in the prisons of various
states 1 am told that you are known
under the names of Frank Valdes, NIexi-
can Pete and Mexican Frank am told
that you are the most expert pckpocket
known to the police"
''Wen" said the. prisoner. IF what you
say is true. I'm not proud of such repu-
tation."
rs ii true that you are known as Next
can Frank?" asked the Recorder.
Yes, sir. l have heard people refer to
me as Mexican Frank" said the pris-'
oner.
rs it true that you served term OF
Imprisonment in Onion"
IT believe it is"
Q.-And you are known as Mexican Pete?
Awe heard some people say l was
known as the man from Mexico
GA few days ago you told me you
were from Cuba? A.-Well l deny that
now for the simple reason that you have
proof that j am not Cuban.
Q.-Is it true that you served term of
imprisonment in Indianas Alt Is; it's no
good of denying il because you have a
record of 1t there on your desk.
Q.-You have served terms in seven diff
ferent states, haven't you? Al am not
compelled to answer that question, but IN
answer it just the same by saying | have.
The law does not compel a man TO answer
such questions as these II they tend to in
criminate him. l certainly would not be
here now, arraigned for sentence il my
counsel had take my advice.
Q.-What was the advice you gave him?
A-Not to put me on the witnesR stand 10
TESTIFY IN my own DeudiI. but ne did il,
with the result of a conviction should
never have been convicted with che evil
dence such as the prosecution produced
Everything was in my favor except having
a lawyer who did not know how to defend
a case That is one of the things that you.
as a Judge on the bench, have probably
learned some time ago. Many men are
convicted by their own lawyers
Q-But i'm this case you stole a diamond
rid ff,er
ear: you were certainly guilty Of that
crime? A.-Under the Jaw, | guess | was
But that man showed he was very igno-
rant by wearing a big bulky stone in his
lie that day. He was one of those Ignorant
fellows who know nothing whatever about
etiquette or style "A man of wealth and
intelligence who had been accustomed TO
luxuries would never have worn such
snowy stone as that man had in his tie Ii
was the essence of ignorance. l know what
I'm talking about for | have moved in
good society in my time
Q.-You seem 10 possess intelligence and
il seems a pity that a man with such in
telligence as you possess should become
common thief. Al was not always
thief. l simply went INTO the business
for the purpose of gaining an easy living.
The first crooked work aid was in the
city of Chicago. l made considerable money
at the business and always managed to
dress neatly. and for hat reason a was
eR easy matter for me to carry on my
profession.
Q.-Do you consider IL a profession? A.
Why, certainly.
Q.-Do you mind telling me how you
work when you re in a crowd? A.-For
instance, have this silk-hned overcoat on
my arm, and it is very easy matter 10
shove my overcoat up close to a person
so that my right hand can work in the
persons pocket while the overcoat shuts
off his view
We'll" said the Recorder, you are GER
tanly most peculiar fellow. However
think 1t would be a good thing for the
community to get rid Of you. so | will SEN
tence-"
lone minute" exclaimed the prisoner.
raising his right hand, and interrupting
the Recorder. Just minute have
something I wish TO say before you pass
sentence" ts
"WeR. I suppose you wish to-"
Just wait a minute" said the prisoner
again interruttng the Recorder. I'm not
going to appeal to you for mercy. I've
never done that yet aud I've been in a
good many of them. When I'm convicted
| / generally take whats coming 10 ,mc
without murmur I've served a good
many terms in prison and nobody ever
heard me make any kind of an appeal for
lenity. If a man adopts thieving as a pro-
fession. he must expect TO accept trouble
that he may get into after he goes into
the business. Under the law, you are per-
muted 10 sentence me to ten years in
states prison. II is now within your pow
er TO do So While l do not appeal to you
for mercy. / do wish to say thar think
the penalty prescribed by the Legislature
is lust double what il should be in case
lIka mine Five years in states prison 10
NV Judgment, would be about the right
nenaltv. Let us look at the facts in the
case. Here is a man who violates all rules
of deeency by coming out with an ugly
looking big 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 temptation to steal
ne stone simply for its commercial value
ora not for it's beauty. Do you think II
was proper for that man to wear that
diamond pin loosely in his tie In that
wHy?" a., = q
said the Recorder.
Il ~