Arizona silver belt., 1901-01-31
ORIGINAL GOLD BRICK MAN
William tiennessy, of Texas, Always Sought Men who were Dishonest.

Sought Men who were Dishonest. From the New Telegraph
 The death of William Hennessy, the original gold brick man in Texas, was being discussed at the Rossmore Hotel last night.
 Colonel Atkinson, the criminal law yer. who has offices at II Wall street, was one of the party He said 1t had been his pleasure once to defend Hen messy the first time he was caught self ing a brick, although he had disposed of hundreds of them before that time.
 "HenneSSy was one of the brightest men ever met,n said the colonel. "l was practicing law in Chicago, and he sent for me to defend him. He had been arrested in Nashville, Tenn. l asked him if he was guilty, expecting the reply criminals usually give even to their lawyers.
 He told me right out that he was, but added: The man l buncoed IS a meaner thief than I. An honest man will never buy gold brick. He goes into the deal because he thinks he can rob man in distress. He is thief at heart, and would steal from the man in the next pew to him in church 1T he wasn't afraid.
 "'l always hunt for a Sanctimonlous thief, when go to turn a trick and tell him how myself and an Indian guide wandered for miles over the plains and mountains in search of this lost mine l graphically tell how the earth gave way, and my guide was killed but found myself in the treas ure house of the Aztecs. There were bars of gold scattered all about, but l too weak to carry more than this bar away. want to sell it for enough to organize an expedition to bring away the rest of the gold, and half of it IS his if he will buy this bar at half it's real value.
 "'An honest man would either laugh at my story or else advance the money in a legitimate manner, but the man who is a thief at heart gulpS the whole story and buys because. he thinks he is robbing me.
 That is exactly the kind of man caught here. The only possible line of defense for me now is to show that am not as mean as my victim.'
 II took his advice. His wife and two daughters came on from St. Louis. She wore jewels and silks, and assured me her husband was innocent, and that he was commercial traveller. thought she was trying to fool me, and told her her husband was a thief and that he had confessed to me.
 ''She became angry, and l sent her to see him in prison. She went, and learned then for the first time his real character. l told her to take of her jewels and dress plainly. If she would do that and teach her daughters to cry at the proper moment, l thought there might be hope. She did her part and we had him acquitted.
 "As an evidence of his readiness to meet emergencies, heard of him in St. Louis. He had been under sus- picion for some time, and the police decided to arrest him. He was stand ing in crowded saloon when the chief of police came in. He saw the chief $ eyes wander all over the crowd and then rest on him.
 He knew that meant something, so he acted quickly. Going right up to the the chief, he introduced himself, and then told him cOnfidentially there was Chicago bank theft in town for whom there was a reward of 5000. I don't want any part of the reward, he said, this man has done me dirt, and want revenge, and when you ar rest him l want you to tell him Hen messy gave him away. l know where the man is, and l am gong after him. 1 will be back here in half an hour, and the man with me is the man you want.
 "lhe cheif fell into the trap easily. He thought he could take both men at the same time, but HenDessy never returned.'