Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-10-21

JACKIE M'BRIDE,
BURGLAR
By Will Lexington Comfort
Copyright, 1908, bu wa Lexington Comfort |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

[ COPYRIGHT, 1908, bu IYill Lexington Comfort {
IA TERM Of imprisonment is to a
lA certain degree like the brand
lEseFy Of Cain, because it leaves up
(aS OH the person peculiar man.
ner OF expression which is indelible.
is this true when the con-
vict is man of high strung tempera-
ment. From the freedom of the outer
world to the dim stone or iron bound
CELL, with its steel incased lock, is
frightful shock even to the stoutest
system of nerves. An imaginative
mind is the bitterest possession pris-
oner can have. Such mind the silence
fortunes, the utter hopelessness mad
dens, the absolute nothing terriies.
Several years ago young man was
taken to Sing Sing and happened to be
placed in a remote corridor. Through
his bars he could see nothing but the
stone wall Of the building Not even a
window relieved the monotony from
his viewpoint. Inside of an hour the
new prisoner was pacing his cell nerv-
ously. Two guards came In the even
ing and sat down In the far end of the
corridor to play checkers. The young
fellow could hear them talking in low
tones and moving their pieces on the
board, but could see nothing. He called
to the guards several times and was
finally threatened with the straitjack-
ct. 1t seemed that he wanted to be
placed in cell where he could see
somebody pass. After the menace Of
the straitJacket the young prisoner ut
tered no sound. Two hours later he
was found lying in the bottom of his
cell temporarily insane and almost
smothered. 1t was his nerves which
unhinged his mind and would not let
him breathe. And this same young man
had revealed peculiar daring and
deviltry outside. He recovered fully
afterward.
A term of Imprisonment thoroughly
intimidates man. The cell may not
always breed cowardice, but 1t invaria-
bly, induces caution. In the majority Of
cases 1t narrows mans mind, debases
his morals, eats away his spirit and de-
stroys his individuality. If convict
has the faintest trace Of suicidal mad
ness in his blood, confinement will en-
gender it into a passion, and such q
passion preys with deadly zeal md sub
tlety upon his reason and his morality.
An impulsive, daring young lawbreak-
er enters prison to serve two years.
His time over, he energies pallid, fab
by limbed, evil eyed fellow, full Of
hate, internal craft and evil plans ma
tured unto absolute perfection. Long
after the great outdoors have brushed
away the pallor of the prison you can
tell an ex-convict by his eyes.-Ex-
Warden.
With Jackie Mcbride, who had a
year to serve for attempting to enter
the mansion on West Sixty 49, street,
these conditions did not prevail. A CEN
fury or more before the great Moriari-
ty was Jailed In London many Of his
descendants, the McBrides, died in pris-
on. In periods Of captivity these hard
men had schooled themselves to vast
patience and q sort Of stole philosophy
Their education, self made, became q
heritage to Jackie Mcbride of our day.
a years imprisonment meant to him
only temporary setback. There would
have been certain element of dis
grace attached had he been captured
while attempting to get away, but he
was taken for his first job simply be-
| nnr1 ha had STIR ly 10 nj Dot,
who was wounded unto death.
Jackie had no time to brood over his
misfortune. Directly after his cell door
closed he became the busiest man In
the prison. Being young and small, be
was given a chance in the tailor de
partment, but he refused it, preferring
to break stone. So his muscles were
hardened. In the evenings he read and
improved his mind Beyond the toll
and the reading there were only two
other possible things in the terrible
routine eating and sleeping-and Jack.
lie did both with will.
At length the day Of days came. Al
noon Jackie was brought into the pris
on office. Not a soul had come to meet
him.
"Goodby, ME- MILFORD. You've beer
good to me-" the little fellow said. His
hand, calloused from hard labor, was
closed upon mine.
"Goodby, Jackie" said I. LET me
come to see you next time"
Not long after that the happy young
ster waved to me from the rear plat
form Of train pulling down toward
the city. Even then feared that II
would not be who would seek Jackie
if we were to meet again.
The second event Of significance II
McBride's life happened a long time
ago, but 1t is new even now in police
circles. In the years which. followed
the boy came to trust me, and SO pos
sess the details of his doings. A man
sion on West Sixty - street was en-
tered by single burglar. Jewelry tc
the value of $1,000 was taken. Mr.
Stephen Hendie, the gentleman of the
house, was awakened by cry from
his daughter. Following the cry Mr.
Hendrie heard some one descending
the back stairway swiftly and softly
The gentleman was an expert pisto
shot in nm amateur way. He grabbed
his revolver from the dresser drawer
and ran to one Of the rear windows
The burglar was crossing the bach
yard. Mr.. Hendric emptied six cham
bers at the flying figure. He was sure
that one or more of the shots took eff
feet but the burglar was not dropped
So much was all the newspapers o,
police ever learned.
In small, dimly lighted room owe,
saloon near the foot of Blocker
street the following conversation tool
place one night about two month";
after Jackie's release from Sing Sing:
you're little fooll" snarled the
elder Mcbride.
"All right. dad" Jackie answered,
"but got the hunch-s
"O!d Pete Dresser was killed on that
Job after he had squared It for two