The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-19
HONOR AMONG THIEVES.

After all, there can be no denying that
there is a kind of honor among thieves
If there is a scoffer who viii not DelleVe
this old time axiom let him give hee9
% the story of these two conIiIhe Il
criminals who have lived Tor years 4"
the Underground World -
The tale concerns only James NJ IN
aid, sneak thief by profession, anu jas
Darling, hotel thief and sometimes com con-
rade Of the first mentioned DdItiiiS AiaS
just commenced to serve out q touI M
q half year sentence IN the pShtteli IA )
ali Auburn. n y Mcdonald is d free
man having gained his liberty by the
flip Of a coin. ....o..- -,
crime have been running III paiahel
lines for many yeaTs-in fact, almost
from the davs of their boyhood, when
thew nv some evil fate, chose to I'VE IN
9he night and keep IN mans WASn -
est men toiled. They shared their goou
fortunes which may be taken to mean
the III fortunes of others VINO leil IN
their vvav. There were times when their
paths would not cross for many months
fTor these lapses there was ample rea-
son. Sometimes one would be DONG
time" for acquiring property that dldn [
belong to him and foOilshly getuns
caught with the goods on MN -Asall
this condition would apply to both Oh
The two old cronies in crime found
themselves snugly ensconced In lhe
MnmH TIlSOM recently anu AAAdl was
much to their liking, for they had a
coveted chance to become reminiscent
They were even in the same cell, which
speaks volumes for the kindness OF the
sheriff at Elmira, y. 7. 1t also signlnes
that the Jail was fun of guests and had
out the sign standing room only. The
uherin might not have been overcome
with kindness of heart if there had been
any apartment to let in his commodious
The two old pals were registered at
his place for the reason that they had
INDUCED in a little careless THEFT
among the several hotels with which
Elmira is blessed. In this job they
worked as partners, sharing alike in
the profits They neglected to cover
up their tracks when they left the city
and were caught a few weeks after
ward I'm Scranton. Pa The capuFe5
were taken back to the injured city on
reuulsition papers. the Pennsylvania
authorities expressing gladness 10
nave New York entertain the pair.
Mcdonald and Darling were willing
awav the time in the jail at Elmira.
waiting I'm patience for the day Of their
trial when the latter was seized with
an idea. They were both cOoped up
there for the same crime Why
shouldn't one of them shoulder the en-
tire responsibility and sufer the pen
atty instead of dividing both Daring
pondered the question over ana then
nut it before his companion Mcdonald,
too. thought well of the plan. In this
way one at least would have his ho-
erty. and might it not be possible fOr
him to assist the other while he was
settling the double account with the
law
But how are we to decide who shall
go FREQ" asked Mcdonald, when Oar
ling made the suggestion to him
"Ch. that's easy enough" replied Oar
ling. There are any number of ways tc
settle it, We might play game OF
seven-up. or peuOchle. or cut the cards
or even try filipino. like girls do-ir
fact sust about any old way that we
happen to agree on.
And the veteran sneakthief looked
deeply bored a the prospect Of gong To
so much trouble over the mere question
of q few years more or less of liberty
a privilege that ne had not always been
on good terms with
Yes. I suppose we eau settle it in
some of these ways, but" and McDon-
aid the younger by several years
looked rather WistfulIy out of the grated
window, as if he might be wishing to
get out in the street beyond and have a
romp with a group Of noisy boys
We'll old pal I don't care much
which way it goes" draWled Darling
D. but I do want to get it over with, and
then the loser won't have anything to
worry about He viii know that be
just has to stand and take his medicine
Suppose we Just flip a coin for it anC
have it done with" And he drew from
his pocket a greasy half dollar. which
ne spun careleSsly above his mead as he
sat on the prison bunk
All right, I'm agreed, said Melon
aid whose courage came back to hin
after he had left off gazing out at the
boys who were playing in the street
We'll. which do you take. head o
tail?' asked Darling, preparing to pitct
the coin on the stone floor Of the cell
Head" replied Mcdonald laconically
and the coin spun up above them. Two
pairs Of interested eyes followed it al
Ii Cell to the floor with a sharp rims
and then the two captives knelt dow
close together to see what fortune ha,
deCreed Tor them.
Its a head" drawled Darling as hi
arose to his feet and I congratulate
YOU" ne added as he extended his han,
to his comrade.
So there IN that cell the compact wa
made that no law could unmake Tn
prisoners agreed that the winner shouli
get his freedom by the perjury of TIN
other and to them it didn't occur tina
in perjury there was aught of crime
OF v