The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-03-03
MADE A FALSE CONFESSION.


"Nhen I was considerably younger
and greener in this business" said an
old railroad detective, who had been
asked to tell a story OF his experience, II
lived at certain hotel, which it is not
in the least necessary TO name. One
rainy, sleety night in early winter
came in very late, and going directly to
my room, was surprised to find the
door ajar had on pair Of old rub
bers, so my approach had made no
noise, and peering in saw o man bend
ing over my open trunk. 1 didn't STOP
TO mediate, but was on his back in q
couple of jumps, and who should It turn
out to be but the porter a young white
man, much liked by everybody In the
house. lie was so startled that he
couldn't say a word, and there was the
evidence plain as day. The trunk had
been forced With a chisel, which lay
on the Goor; the contents were iunhlcd
about, and sticking In the lock was
skeleton key made out OF a piece Of cop
per wire. When the porter found bis
tongue he begged me not 70 turn him
over to the police. He said that his
mother, who was dependent oD him for
support, was sick and In destitute cir
eumstances; that he was unable 10 earn
enough to provide her with uecessaries.
and his desperate need Of money had
tempted him to the act Il was bis first
offense, he pleaded, and II | would let
him off It would be his last-in short,
he gave me the usual story but he told
1t so well and begged so piieouslythat
at last weakened and told him to get
out. Next day he quietly left town,
and later on | discovered that the
mother story was fake. Then eussed
myself for being fool.
NEARLY a year aftcrward,' continued
the detective, 81 arrested professional
crook for car breaking, and found him
wearing a pair Of my own cuff buttons,
which had missed for long time, and
didn't know what had become of them.
Under pressure he confessed he had
stolen them in such-and-such a house.
naming the hotel where lived. He said
he had opened the door with a false
key, broken into a trunk, and was just
rifling it when he heard somebody COM
ing, and darted out. barely dodglng a
young man in the hall. Ipulled out the
copper skeleton key, which still had
on my ring, and he identified it immedi-
ately as the one he had used. You may
well believe l was considerably agl-
tated, and | went to work Immediately
to locate the exporter. After good
deal Of difficulty | found him in Mem
phis, clerking in grocery store; J got
the tip, by the way, from letter he had
written to friend. Wen, cornered
him and insisted on an explanation.
and he told me story will never for
get as long as ! live, He said he was
coming down the hall that night when
he saw a man run out Of my room. The
fellow got away before he could grab
him, and, naturally enough, he went in
to see what was up. lie noticed the
trunk open. and had Just stopped down
TO see whether II had hecn forced when
rushed in. The surprise of II hewil'
dered him Tor moment, nnd then he
realized that be had been caught in
advertently In position that would
certainly convict him Of BURGLARY. 7
knew you wouldn't believe me u | told
the truth, he said, and would be dcad
sure to have me arrested. but did
think there was some chance of work
ing on your feelings by pretending 10
confess. remembered hearing you re-
mark, said he, that you always felt
sorry FOR a man that owned up So be
tried that plan, and, as you already
know, It worked, ! was satisfied that
what he told nc was absolutely true,
and, taken altogether, ! believe that
was the queerest case | ever had any
thing to do with The last heard OF
the young man he was living in Atlanta
. and doing we'll The ear thief got seven
years.--N. 0. Times-pcmocrat.