Arizona republican., 1900-11-08
MIGHT HAVE TAKEN MORE.
Fred Switger Kicks Himself Fer steal
 ing Only $120.

T didn't seal as much money as ] thought and l want to go back to Mis- sissippi and stand trial,' was the un- usual statement made to Captain Arm strong a police headquarters yester- day afternoon.
 Armtrong thought he had net heard correctly. The idea of a thief walking into headquarters and confesslng to crime was beyond the belief of the cap- tain and he asked the individual to re- peat the statement
 When ha had done so Capt Arm strong t&:nsd slowly around and g2zed at the police sergeant. Then he turned to tn author of the statement and said:
 "WeM what do you want us to do:'
 ''I wan. to be put inso jail and sent back to Mississippi and prosecuted for net st altng as much money as ] though I hai." replied ;he individual.
 He was ,aken into the captains pri- vate room, where h. told a story that resulted in his being locked Up as fu- glive from justice. As z0cn as he was p!acri in jail he stretched Llnsef on cot, drew a long breath and seemed to be at peace.
 
 caNer. and I stole $120. That's all. he added, as though he were sorry the amount werc nos greater. I was the bookkeeper and telegraph operator for Linkimsrer 6, Co, lumber merchants at Mateson. Miss. They trusted me with all the money and the secrets of the business. get to drinking and my sal ary was not large enough for me, so I took some of the firms money to buy whisky with. Then I kept on taking money and changing the books so they would not sICw l was stealing. T kept this up for several months and each day l was more afraid that would be discovered short and then be thrown into jail. About tha first of August I could stand the suspense no longer, and I skipped out. I went to Chicago. and from ther~ 70 Omaha and Cheyenne My money soon gave out and I wccke.i on ranches or wherever I could get work to do. When l lift thought l had stolen about $1,50O, but get to figuring on the amourit since hav-. been on ne road and find that all that I stole was s120. Just think of that; only S120, and I had a chance 10 steal several thousand. When l be- came Ea..sfi5l of the amount l cursed myself fer not getting more, and be- came so disgusted that now I warit to so hack and b. sent to the per.tentiary for making such a fool Of myself. No. my conscience dC5s nos bother m5, but I'm sore on myself. If a man is going to be a thiee he ougI1 to be good one. Here am in jail for stealing a paltry $120, when l had a chanc- to make good haul. I h2vs no family ard no one to care anything about what be- comes of rle and am sure 1 do not care have been sDeaking around in al the towns thinking the police would srao me, and scaT-d half to death for f ar taey would, and here I came and gave myself up today, and they never even heard of the case.
 You telegraph th2 sheriff down there and you will find that l sto.- the mon ey all iskt; but just think, only $l20, when l had a. chance to get whole lot more." and Switger turned over on his cot and swore.
 Switger seam-d as if he w5re really sorry lhe amount Of his shortage was net greater. He looked as if the chilly winds Of teh no.'-l were not tempered fer the shorn lambs, and his light sum- mcr suit was creased in many places, as if 1t had not been removed from his back for some time. Sw!.S5r is a we'll educated fellow and seems intelligent.
 The police iegraphsd to the Missis- sippi authorities last night asking if Switg,r We're wanted.-Denver Fos,.