The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-18


a fayorite tonic for discussion is the |
whereabouts of Barnard Carr. He
vas never a great celebrity in the sense !
that he had become noted for a mastery
in some one branch of Underworld skill
but he was considered by the ''perfesh'
and the Powers That Rule q remarkably
clever "all-rourd" man. Hoboes liked
him because, as they put it. he was not
"stuck on himself" 1t was his custom
when in luck-and for ten years he
seemed to be always in luck-to visit
them at their hang outs, ard hoDoes
have always admired a crook who was
sufficiently independent not to fear loss
of caste on being seen in their COM
pany.
One of the present scribes met Carr
while he was at the top OF his reputation,
at tramp camp in Pennsylvania 1t
was at night and circle OF men and
bows were lounging about great hre,
with the dome of the stars for tent
and selected railway ties for camp cnalrs
and cots On tie apart, tie OF state,
sat a well-dressed stranger, who was oD-
yiously the guest of the evening HIS
stylish garb, white hands and polite
manner were evidence enough that ne
was no ordinary traveller of the road.
Newcomers at the camp were not left
long in ignorance of the mans identity.
The scribe had hardly taken seat on
one of the ties when a lad at his size
nudged him and said in an awe-sruck
whispar: That's Carr, the great per-
fesh'nul" A heather could not have d.
rected attention to one of his de1tles WIN
more reverence. The man seemed TO De
oblivious of the regard in when ne was
held by the camp. His eyes were hxed
on tho fire, and he spoke only OCCASION
ally. He had little to say ABOUT MINI
self. and answered questions IN mono
svllables. When he got up to leave ne
dropred a ten-dollar bill on the tie, say
ing: WET er up on me, boys ana us
appeared up the track.
The tramps commented on his career
and personality after he had gone
Glow that bloke holds OUT" one eX-
claimed. eff he's done day IN the
Pen. he's done fifteen years. He's got
the nerve: you can't see sign OF weak
enin' in him. Behanged if l can ex-
plain it,
Hell go to pieces all of sudden
some day." another declared. you see'
f he don't There's men like that; they
don't crack nor bend, they bust. Wen
see him here on the turf yet. l tell you
the bloke don't live that can take
stretchers in the Pen the way Carr mas
an not bust Tain't in human nature.
Course he's holdin' out longer'n some;
he's nervy an s got good health. but
gamble coin he'll be hittin' the ROAD
after a while. A crooks built like other
folks. an can't live on nerve forever
s.Thev say t he's sailed down a big
pile for old age, all the same west
erner remarked. g Frisco Blackie told
me the other day that Carr was one OF
the richest crooks in the country.
"Rich in your eye" sneered an old man
from Chicago. I'll bet Carr don't SAT-
down anythin' from one years end TO
the other Crooks amt bankers; what
the devils the matter with you? Ihey
blow their dough as fast as they get II,
and right too. Some lawyer or 'front.'
office stiff 'ud cop it out if they saved
it up. I'll bet Carr amt got over ten
thousand put past, an he'll spend all o
that prob'ly the next time he's pinched.
| tell you it's the fly cops an lawyers
that get the crooks coin. l amt heard
of a chief in a big city that didn't re-
tire. as they call it, with his pockets
full o. dough- Thems the blokes that
does the savin' 'Tain't the crook.
What about Detroit Fraxy an his
blocks o. houses?" asked a kid.
Detroit Fraxy-you make me tired!
He'll lose EN- He'll get in a hole some
day an have to cough 'em up them
houses Look at Carr. He had one o
the best payin' gamblin' joints in Frisco
four years ago; he had to deed it over to
his lawyer fer chewn' the rag fer i'm
in that murder scrape. It's all right
bout crooks maxim dough, but it's
holdin of it that counts. God never
yet made a crook that has stuck to the
graft long, takin' chances an stretchers,
an come out rich
The hang-out broke up soon after this
statement, and the men took trains in
different directions. E.
During the following five years the
scribe saw Carr twice and heard of him
once. On both occasions when he saw
Carr the man was apparently still in
luck He was dressed well, had money
Ito burn" was courted by his compan-
ions, and had no complaint to make be-
yond the statement that he felt that he
was getting Old
Had a year to do in Alabama not
long ago." he exclaimed at the second
meeting, land the Stir was so
damp that my bones got wet.
l don't mind when they give me
steam heat in my cell. but it rather uses
me up otherwise A fellow gets cranky,
you know after he's been shut up good
deal. As kid 1 didn't give a damn
where they put me, but the guards get
all my money now for things t l think
1 got to have. That's about the only
thing t 1 keep a bank account for-to
get privilege when the pinch comes.
And do you know l don't feel conf table
any more in a large room. l amt done
such hell of lot o time compared with
some blokes. but been Twin in cells off
an on for the las sixteen years, an I've
got so used to 'em t l always ask for
small room now when 1 go to hotel.
! have enough dough sometimes to pay
for whole suite, as they call it, but /
wouldn't feel right in one. Give me a
chair, washstand, an six feet to stretch