The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-05-03
A Remarkably Polite Burglar,

1t happened yesterday morning that
William Winslow Sherman, retiring
president of the National Bank Of
Commerce in Manhattan, awoke to find
burglar covering him with a pistol.
1t did not take him long to realize the
situation. There was an electric but
ton by his side, by touching which he
could have summoned his son, but
understanding that it is the habit of
burglars to shoot under circumstances
of provocation, and also caring more
for his son than for any articles of
value that might be lying around he
invited the burglar to make himself at
home. The invitation was accepted.
An offer of a cigar was respectfully de-
clined, on the ground that smoking is
not conducive to health. When the
burglar sat down by the foot of Mr.
Sherman's bed there was opportunity
to observe, by the aid of dim light,
that he was we'll dressed and possessed
other outward tokens of prosperity.
His voice was we'll modulated. AL
though low, it was clear as bell, and
had about it tone of earnestness
which seemed to discourage disobedi-
ence, if not debate. What chiefly
commanded admiration, however, was
his off-hand, free and easy manner 1t
was evident he did not feel abashed in
the home of millionaire.
Before proceeding to business the
burglar was kind enough to ask Mr..
Sherman's opinion of the conduct of
the war. And when that subject had
been lightly passed upon he made a
casual allusion to politics, inquiring
possibly whether there was not some
cardinal mistake in a system of gov
eminent under which men like Speak
er Reed, pre-eminently fitted for pub
lie life, should be compelled to retire
from it because of its inadequate re-
wards. Several times the conversa-
ton was interrupted by laughter.
When, for instance, the burglar asked
Mr.. Sherman whether he would not
himself like to go "burglng" he chortl-
ed in his glee, at the same time volun-
teering the information that the bust
ness of burglary was by no means so
difficult or 80 dangerous as it might
seem. Having picked up a watch and
a few scarfpns and having taken all
the money he could find in Mr.. Sher-
mans clothes, the burglar thought it
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pressing appreciation of the hospitality
of the occasion, nor without obtaining
the name of his host in order that he
might make restitution at some future
day should he have chance.
How much more sensible was this
method of procedure than one which
would have involved violence and
bloodshed. Mr.. Sherman was COM
pletely at the burglars mercy, for the
man with pistol at his head is as help
less as a child in the hands of giant.
1t is certain that burglars do not ply
their calling without expectation of be-
ing called upon to resort to murder, if
necessary, and the life of any decent
member Of the community, even though
risked in defense of his property, is not
worth hazarding as against that of
thief on whose side are tremendous ad-
vantages. We have seen some notable
illustrations of this in Brooklyn. A
few years ago real estate dealer nam
ed Hondlow undertook to grapple with
a burglar, whom he found in his room,
and was killed. Later we had the
Lucca murder, the unfortunate grocer
of that name being carved to pieces by
a burly rufiian, who was subsequently
captured and sentenced to death.
No; it is not worth while, unless you
have an even chance. If you 60 to
sleep with pistol in your hand, if your
aim is good and you can see the bur-
glar before he sees you, why kill him
If you can. But unless these condi.
tons exist, it is advisable in the long
run to act as Mr.. Sherman did.-Brook-
Ign Eagle, April 10.