The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-19
SIDE TALK
ON CROOKS
Incidentally Billy Edwards
Says He Could Find
Chris Norbeck.
The Gentleman CRATER Finds
Cause for Laughter in
t..-s
Ames' Order.

Billy Edwards, who calls himself a
gentleman CRATER" made some highly
diverting observations at the county Jail
this morning. Speaking from the stand
point of personal experience, not as a
crook. but as as'Iegitimate" swindler-
the suave, the urbane. Mr.. Edwards was
able to throw considerable light on the
code Of ethics, the rules and regulations
of the select gentry who in devious ways
live by their Wits Equipped with such
a liberal knowledge of the ways OF the
underworld, to say nothing of his alto
gether original and picturesque delivery,
Edwards, ought to be able to earn much
easier and. more lucrative livelihood on
the lecture platform than: that derived
from aeecng the ,unwary, past master
though he may be at the latter.
Edwards scouts the idea that Norbeck
has committed suicide.
"Why. I gave that poor dummy the key
to the Mississippi river months ago." he
laughed.
'Is that place still running?" asked
"Cheerful Charley" Howard, as he got
firmer grip on the bars, II thought it was
closed up. ...--%... .s.' p * =.
"Now, thatH be. enough for you,
Charley" said the other: "Go and sit
down like good little boy; I want to
talk to this gentleman" ".r..- Z :. =
''No, you can bank on their finding
Norbeck alive he resumed. IF he
didn't have nerve enough to stick it out
in the trial, it's cinch he never killed
himself. l believe he's right here in Min
'neapolis, and that he's being held for ran
som. Now that they've dismissed the jury
in his case, wouldn't be surprised to see
him turn up. bet I could find him it
they'd turn me loose. / know his scent.
1--we got no sympathy for Norbeck be-
cause Of the way he treated his family,
but. he was an honest man when he was
walking beat They put him on the de-
tective force because he was an ignorant
fellow and easy to corrupt. They certain
ly used him t> 49,: :.... ....
Laughs at Mayors Latest.
Edwards was deeply engrossed in a
morning papers report of the mayors
latest general orders to the chief OF po-
lice when. a Journal man appeared. -
THAT makes me laugh" he said. You'd
think that the old man was Just tunbling
to the situation, and was at last making
an ohnest attempt to rid the city of
crooks and grafters by the adoption of
such strict measures as he proposes.
Why, he's issued lot just like that
since he's been in office, but this is the
fire mo hn fo5 fhor ie1a 4
broadcast. There are plenty of honest
- policemen walking beats in this town, but
this is the the first time they have dared
carry out to the letter any such instruc-
tions as have now been handed to them,
No officer with a family to support, who
cared anything for his job, dared disobey
the word quietly passed along the line
that any attempt to molest certain privi.
legged characters would cost him his po-
sition. That is why many good patrol
: man has swallowed his scruples and done
? the bidding of those higher in authority
p His inability to stand the joshing o.
crooks and grafters was what caused Pa
trolman Myron johnson to resign His
beat on Washington avenue CONSTANT,
subjected him to insults of that kind
He. was always being 'kidded' by men wht
ought to be In Jail while he was powerles!
to resent their taunts.
s: Now, of course, the administration II
+ out to make~a front, and it Is not agains
orders for coppers to be seff-respecting
I I see the mayor says there has been
large influx Of thieves and crooks as
Z result of this investigation. That ism
true. The fact is that this Investigation
has scared them away. Every journey
man crook in the country who might hav,
been headed this way has got the til
that the towns 'sloughed up and itha
there's nothing doing. There's no crooked
work to speak Of going on here now.
/ G. J.'s Work Did 1t. .-
N''Crcoks and grafters-and I'm speaking
by the card now-kept on operating her,
: under police protection for five weeks af
I ter Howard and i were pinched-if the,
: had the price. The moment the grant
jury began to indict police officials, tn,
: joints were closed and the licenses Of th
! proprfetors revoked. I The police did it t,