Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-11-02
PARLllJED


lotion.
..Conductor.T said gentleman slt'
e,,,, opposlte. stop that man getting
ali lie platform. lie was sitting be
side ihe lady"
several men rushed FOR the man re
ferred Ia and held him.
twhat.s the matter?'' he asked
somebody's robbed that lady YoI
were sitting beside her"
esuppose was. didn't rob her"
police yelled the conductor. ring
ing the stop bell and reckoning TO a
nolceman lettering ON the sidewalk.
The man Of law suddenly frightened
mn AZ the prospect OF something to do
and hurried TO the car. The suspected
man was taken to police station and
searched. but nothing was found on
him. But there was nothing remark.
able in that. These thieves all have
pals. TO whom they can pass the
..swag."
The next morning the culprlt was
brought up for examination. and the
lady who bad been robbed appeared
against him.
What's your namef'' asked the In
spector.
John Joslin."
The Inspector looked at him with the
air of one who was not to be thus i'm.
posed upon.
Jim Boise" he said, you're the
most impudent crook that has ever
figured in the police courts. But you're
a fool TO work this town. know OF a
dozen ladies' you robbed year ago
who can be brought to swear to your
Identity. Your picture Is In the rogues'
gallery. and yet you play your pran'ss
with as much assurance ms If you had
never been up before"
Il am not Jim Boise. l am not
crook. and | never robbed any one"
The inspector certainly did not ex-
pect the man TO acknowledge his guilt.
He sent him away and forgot him the
next moment in the next case.
At the trial the Inspector was IS
good as his word. The state produced
nine women who testified that they
had at different times and In different
ways been robbed by the accused.
Boise had been convicted before on
their testimony. had been sent to the
penitentiary and had escaped. II was
only necessary for the state attorney
TO prove that he was the same man.
and, this being done conclusively by
the women he had robbed and a com
parison of his features with his pic
ture in the rogues' gallery. he was sent
TO prison. With the added term. lie
would serve twelve years. The prison
gate changed behind him. and the
world forgot him.
Seven years passed. One morning
man was brought in charged with pick
ing a lady's pocket. He was caught
before he could get away or get rid of
the plumber, pocketbook with the In
dy's Initials on ii and $55 In bills In it.
who are your asked the inspector.
"What'lI you do for me II | save the
state expense by owning up and plead.
ing guilty."
I'm quite sure the judge will take
off the usual time
"AlI right. I'm Jim Boise"
The prisoner was sent away, but the
next day he was brought up again.
Whats your gamer" asked the in
spector.
Haven't any game except to get a
short term"
You're not Jim Boise. Jim Boise is
serving u term now. Got telegram
this morning from the warden that
he's where he was put seven years
ago"
Can't help that. Tn Jim Boise"
The inspector took up d photograph
lying on the desk before him and look
ed from 1t TO the prisoner.
''It might have been your picture
seven or eight years ago. Singular case
this. ! must look into It,"
He did look into 1t and found that
seven years before John Joslin. owing
TO his resemblance to Jim Boise, had
gone to serve a twelve years term In
prison.
One morning John Joslin emerged
from his cell, put on the clothes he had
taken on seven years before and pass
ed down a corridor of cells amid Il
shower of congratulations.
'Pardonedr'
Good luck to you. hope you won't
get caught next time"
These were some OF the remarks
made to the man who had under a mis-
take served a seven years sentence.
The next morning he alighted from
train and walked over road he had
OFTEN walked before. The birds were
singing In the trees. the dew glIstened
In the sun. the air was laden with
fresh country odor. The man walked
I'LL he came to cottage. Its paint had
worn away, the fence had rotted, but
In the windows were neat white cur
tains. As the gate clicked behind him
pale. oyerworked woman appeared
az the door. With cry she rushed
forward and fell into his arms Sew
eral half starved children gathered