The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-11-06
THE CONFESSION
OF
DAVID LEWIS
THE NOTED
HIGHWAYMAN AND COUNTERFEITER
CONTINUED from last week)


ed by certain rules and regula-
tons, and to make them more
binding and appear more. solemn
they were written on parchment,
in ink of blood drawn from our
own veins while we kneeled in a
ring or circle with our hands mu-
tually clasped each other, and
one of the band standing in the
centre with basin to receive the
red fluid of life. According to
one of the articles the fruits of
our joint spoliations were to be
divided among us at stated Pc
riods-and for this purpose we
proceeded with all the formula of
bank director, having a presi-
dent, directors, cashier, teller
and clerk, and so particular were
we inproviding against deception
that one of the rules prohibited,
under penalty of expulsion, any
member of the company from be-
ing concerned in burning any of
the books or altering any of the
entries. The depository of our
plunder was deuominated a vault,
and committees of examination
we're regularly appoiA led to in
spect It's contents, and report to
the company at a general meet
ing. A dividend was declared ev-
cry Sunday night just as the cock
gave his midnight crow. On one
of these periodical settlements a
disturbance of a singular nature
took place that disgusted me a
good deal with the fraternity and
occasioned my abrupt S >paration
from them it was this:
During the previous week, at
tended the "ladies auction room"
on Broadway, and had been very
successful in picking up and con-
cealing the velvet reticule ola lady
who had made considerable pur
chases of some rare and expen.
sive articles of female ornaments
aud dress goods, principally of
French manufacture, such as
Brussels lace and jewellery. l had
taken my stand on the opposite
side of the street, and lounged
about until eleven o'clock, when a
handsome equipage stopped, and
saw a lady descend and enter
the room. | Immediately recog-
nized her to be the wife of John
Jacob Astor, Esq, one Of the rich
est merchants in the city, and
who report said, was very lib
eral in his presents of money to
supply to Madame's pin money
establishment. | soon crossed
over, and dressed like gentle
man in true dandy style, the sure
passport of admittance into fe-
male society, entered the auction
room and saluted the ladies with
all the graceful ease of an old ac-
quaintance. The experienced
salesman, knowing that the best
plan for picking lady's purse
was to dazzel her eyes, soon ex-
hibited to the view of his fair Gus
toners the finest lace and the
most elegant jewelry that the
workshops of France ever pro
duced; the sale commenced, and
before many minutes had passed
away, | saw Mrs. Astor pack into
her velvet bag several pieces OF
lace aud as many ornaments o1
lewelry as might suffice to decor
ate at least half a dozen of brides
After she had completed her pur
chases she carelessly threw hei
reticule on a bench in remote
corner of the room, and immedi
ately opened brisk conversation
witha a surrounding group of male
ana female companions, who buz
zeu around her and We'd with ont
another for volubility and non
sence. The gobble of voices coult
no' iaii to attract the attention o
'ile other spectators who crowd
ed the place, and while some wer,
occupied in talking, and the res
Engaged in listening admiration
laid hold of the bag with appar
ent carelessness, and thrustinI
- quickly into my bosom, left tn
room unnoticed, taking Frencl
ieaVe OF the romnanv