The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-05
Horse Thief, Hlghxayman and
Burglar Gives Himself Up.
PRISON AS ASTEP TO REFORM.
Haunted Al Night BY Dreams Of Terror
He Resolves 10 Pay Debt Of lm-
priscnmeNt ann Ref:rm.

New York. March 5.--Determined. as he
says, to turn his back on crime, Edward
known as kid" Wilson. hunted up
detective and surrendered TO him in Jer-
sey ~.1y yesterday Wilson. who In
career Of twenty-five years has come to
he known as Horatio johnson, Trooper
Dunning." and by several more aliases.
reasons that he never can be at peace
so long as ne Is wanted by the police
He says his purpose is to pay tho debt
of imprisonment-several of them-that
ne owes 20 society. and then he square
man for the rest OF his life. lie 5
forfy-ive years old
II know I'll be old. and made older yct
BY prison life, said he. but II I've only
a week 10 live In freedom I'm going to
live that week honestly
Smoking n cigar IN his cell at the Jer-
sey City police headquarters, wilson told
his story 10 a reporter His manner
r. that OF n man OF more education than
most criminals. and beneath the hard
lines Of his face some signs OF refinement
are To be seen.
is HAPPY NOW
I'm happier now than I've ever been,
ne said II know 7 might have dodge1
the police and lived To the end outside
Of jail but I could never have made
living except BY crime. and the thought
of nv crimes would have made Life
hell on earth.
II think I've got enough strength and
courage left TO endure a few years In
prison, and then when get out can
ct least die without torturing conscience.
st had a nice home and have father
f,, 20
in my boyhood I became a frequenter
of the cross-alley dives OF Vine street
Then one day the town got too hot for
me and / went west That was twenty
two years ago.
II won't tell YOU my right name. The
folks think I'm dead and I'll spare them
that Llsgrace. After I've squared my
self with the world I'm going back TO
surprise them.
crimes, from cattle-rustling to horse
stealing Joined a cavalry regiment.
One day the coloners horse was missed
from the corral and | was sent 10 Fort
Leavensworth prison for Ave years. My
comrade wrote my parents that | had
died In the hospital. and while | was SER
wing my sentence my mother died. I'm
glad she did not know l was a convict.
CATALOGUE OF CRIMES.
"Tve served lot OF time in jail since
then. I got a year in Philadelphia I'm
1885 for a jewelry store job. and in 1897
] got two years In Moyamensing prison
for another. In 1900 for attempting a
jewelry store burglary I'm Newark | got
two years and six months In Trenton
prison. I came out last July. I've
'strong-armed people in city streets and
held them up on country roads, but Ican't
recall eyerything I've done
Ever since coming out of Trenton I've
been tortured with remorse. and finally
made up my mind TO square myself
with the police and strive for an honest
living. At night had the most terrible
dreams that was about 10 be shot down
or stabbed In bed by people | had rob-
bed"
Wilson's mouth twitched as he said
''rd like to see my father and sisters
before I go to jail. but I'll forego that
I'll waft until I'm free and then ] can &c
10 them as n man who has served and
reformed instead OF as fugitive from
Justice
Wilson told Detective James Iarkin.
that he had beaten the frelghts' from
Philadelphia 10 find him. He had heart
from other criminals that Larkins wa
ION the lever'-that is. that he woult
not innate the charge against him an,
treat him unfairly. He Is wanted II
Chester, Pa. for a jewelry store robbery
There are some burslaries too. II II said
for which he can be called TO account