The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-16
AFT"DOES'NT
PAY SAYS IKE VAIL
Venerable "COn" Man Expects
to Wind Up in Prison or
POOrhOuse.

A tall. white-haired old man. fashion,
ABLY att1red and carrying a heavy walk
ing stick, climbed the steps at Dolica
headquarters on Thursday last He was
accompanied by younger man, and the
pair were in earnest conversation.
You might think that was some re-
tired banker and his son come to COM
plain that the butler had run off with
the silver" suggested Detective Ser
geant Sheridan, who has charge of the
pictures and pedigrees of rogues. ''As
matter of fact, it's old Ike Vail. the
confidence man, and the young fellow
with him is a detective. Vail was an
ldI-tirner twenty years ago. when 1 was
a KID, and, barring the time he's been
IL prison, mes been rObbing people con-
tinually for about half a century. He's
G Gieyer i stu In spite Of the fact that he's
past slxty-elght years Of age Walt till
you near the game he gives me.
"a Wnat they got you for, KEEP he ask
ed, turning to the prisoner.
He says l turned a trick in RrooI1Ivn
TOUR months ago." said Vail holding
toward his escort, and in a tone which
combined annoyance and a plying con-
who should be guilty of such an error
nnlsned that Boston sentence more than
I'm sorry for you, Pop" said sheri-
dan, after consulting his records '.hif
you're a little mixed in your dates. Yon
I,i,Isned mat oBston sentence more than
And SO the old confidence man was
L ~! seC OF 70 cell. There a World report
er LQund MN later, and put to him the
question: Does it pay in the long run to
''The best proof that it doesn't" said
1 TLfe [ OI6 man q rs that at my time of
OF the doctor I'm locked up in this cell
with a term of prison staring me in the
race. When mans been convicted as
many times as have a jury does not re-
qulre much evidence to convict him again.
Inc newspapers have written about me
SO SO OFTEN during the last twenty-five years
on on jury IS likely to know me by reputa-
ton and then it's all day with me.
IL It's an easy. thing for the young fell
to the oid-timers " NOBODY * kno GgnP }beg1
as professionals, and if they are caught
at al az u they stand a good show of beat
I nr6fe ene case: OF course, practice in any
PtLIoIessloL makes perfect. but what Is
Ihe use Of 1t when your face gets to be
as well known as the Astor house or
any other old landmark?
1t was only a short time ago that T
Decame acquainted with a gentleman
from the West who was stopping at one
o e[,6 tn En- notes. l did my best to make the
evening pleasant for him, and showed him
scheme by which he expected to make
a snug little sum of money. I accom-
panied him to the bank the next morn
1Is; ana while he was attempting to ne
gollate draft upon his home bank one
or the employees recognized me and sent
f LOT Policeman After that the man
IRON o!11, the West refused to speak to me.
=, The ordinary man. when he finds
thIngS too warm at home, can 1ump to
SO re other 2 city and do business. used
70 90 mat When | was younger, and get
away with 1t. But with the years my
circle OF acquaintances has gradually
WIdened, until now, you can find my
photograph In nearly every city from
Maine to Frisco. I'm an easy mark for
the cops when once they get nv descrin-
ton because Of the two moles between
my eyes. There is no way of Disgusting
mem and they seem to grow more prom
my appearance IS in my favor among
strangers in New York or Boston I am
TOO distinguished in appearance not to
attract attention In most other towns
Another thing, there's more science
In graft now than there used to be. and
We old fellows are behind the times. The
young men have new schemes that are
more attractive than anything we can
offer. Who wants to buy a gold brick
or counterfeit money when he can get
g, promise Of 800 per cent a month on
ms capital by investing in stocks or
buy shares in gold mine for 81 that
are worth $40 In the open market? The
young men have the nerve and the con-
hdence that have grown weaker in the
sentence Many Of their TS schemes ilfI grlS are
so clever that the law can't touch them.
ana they generally work In punches. Ii
one man Is locked up. the rest Of them
see that he gets bail and a good lawyer,
and If they can't square the complain
courts.
"If I was a young man again I'd start
out In some honest employment, and
stick to it. The man who makes his
money crooked generally spends it faster
than he gets it. If I'd saved my money
IN my younger days could have retired
twenty-five years ago comfortably. AS
it is. I'm likely to die in prison or in the
poor house. New York World.