Omaha daily bee., 1904-12-27
WATCHES WERE TEMPTATION
story of n Crook whose weakness
for Timepieces Were Irre-
sistible.

There's nothing in stealing from a finan-
cial standpoint. Suppose l steal a watch
that brings me $40. And suppose / get
pinched and get sent UP for three years.
Ten dollars Is pretty small wages for three
years work. Let's see. II l was honest
and worked suppose / could get 50 a day
at my trade. That would be 800 days or
81 800 I'd earn"
Thus reasoned Lewis Meyer, known for
over fifty years to prison officials as Dutch
Charlie" as he was admitted a few days
ago to the Missouri state prison under SEN
tence of three years for grand larceny, the
twelfth time he has been committed to the
prison where he has spent nearly forty
years of his life. Not that he holds a hor-
ror of Imprisonment. for, as he says, 81
like 1t here. This prison is my home, for
was brought up here. But yet-yet. ]
would like to get another start and be
honest"
But do you believe you could leave
watches alone?" he was asked.
We'll, don't know. Ninety-one years
Is pretty old to get out and starve when
you haven't any money or friends. A watch
will always get me a good clean home here
and, besides, love a good watch. l know
how to build one, and l just can't help
stealing one whenever l see 1t lying around
| Every time / get out of here l say to my
self I'll never steal another watch, and ]
mean 1t, too. But when get hungry and
there lies watch my fingers go toward 1t
and pull avty and try not to see 1t. The
fingers go back and close over 1t, and as
soon as l get the feel of It can't let CO.
Stealing is a disease which ] can no more
control than If 1t were rheumatism or any
chronic ailment"
Seventy years ago Meyers mother started
with him from Germany to America to
give her son a start in life She was buried
at sea and he landed in New Orleans with
81 800 in gold. IT had just finished my ap-
premiership as Jeweler and matchmaker" a"
he says, and intended looking for work
until 1 learned enough English to open a
little shop. But first I would have a good
time. l met another young fellow who
could speak German. and he introduced me
to his pals. We spent the money, every
dollar of II, and when 1t was all gone they
taught me to steal. That was their busi-
ness.
Now, suppose II I'd never met those
fellows I'd have gone to work as a watch
maker and lived peaceful sort of life and
perhaps got rich. I'd have had wife and
children, maybe, but-I would never have
known the thrill of stealing. I've heard OF
the feeling gamblers have. or that sports
men get out Of shooting, but it's nothing
like the thing that goes through you when
you get your fingers on a good watch and
there's the owner not three feet away and
may turn around any second and catch
you. But it's bad trade with all its ex-
citement. What good is wealth to a thief?
man risks years Of his life in making
big hauls and then he spends II all in keep
ing hid. Pretty soon he blows 1t all in,
and when he comes out the police are
watching for him. He starts out TO find
new plant and perhaps he gets pinched
honestly believe that no matter how much
man steals, or how successful in thievery
he is, big or little, he is far worse or than
the poorest honest man alive.
when I am out of prison always get
a hankering for the country, and / start
of to tramp II. I never have any trouble
getting along out in the country. People
don't suspect me out there, and I really