Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24

EHE alarming and increasing preva-
lence in the large cities of crimes
of the character described in the
Pollock diamond robbery, which
the Pinkerton term 1.-The original
stick-up." led Mr. William A. Pinkerton a
few days ago to outline the causes of such
crimes and comprehensive plan by which
they may be checked. His remedy, which
is no less than the general and generous
application of the whipping post. Will
doubtless arouse considerable adverse crit
icism on the part of humanitarians, but,
as Mr.. Pinkerton says, ones ideas on that
score may be quickly changed by figuring
as the victim in "stick-up." He said:
my Investigations have revealed the fact
that the original crimes of this class in
Chicago and other large cities In the west
were done by Burke or by men who had
been either his associates or students of his
methods. Then young fellows who had
merely read newspaper accounts of the OPP
erations and rich hauls of the pioneers In
the stick-up business gradually began TO
embark in the same vocation. Soon this
class OF crime was spreading over the
country like flame 1t started In the
west and travelled eastward On account
of its geographical location Chicago began
to suffanbefore the cities farther east, but
1t is a mistake to suppose that this class
of crime fiourishes In Chicago more than
elsewhere. 1t has reached from the Pacific
coast to New England, Boston being one
of the most recent cities to suffer from the
stick-up. 1t is only a question of time I'M
til the stick-up will be as familiar to Port
land, Me-. as to Portland, Ore. In fact
this condition practically prevails at pres
ent.
New York is about as bad of in this re
spect as Chicago. The public there is clam
oring for protection against the stick-uJ
man as loudly as here. Only short time
ago two masked men entered private
gambling house in New York and took S.
Goo Pedestrians stuck up on the
streets with alarming frequency. 1t has
become crime not only of national scope
but It has invaded Europe, where few
years ago such crimes were entirely un-
heard of. While / was in London last
year prominent jeweler was surprised In
from Saturday night till Monday morning.
masked thieves meanwhile making away
with large amount of jewelry. In France
and Italy heard of numerous stick-ups.
g.
.Since Burke as a hfteen-year-old boy
started single-handed to hold up store In
Aurora, the stick-up men have been largely
of this type. Nearly all of them are young
mere kids. They are unknown to the
police and there is absolutely no way in
which the authorities can get line on
them until they have committed several
crimes. Most of them are young fellows
that have not been known as loafers, hav-
ing worked at some trade until they con-
ceived the notion of going into the stick-up
business.
Burke was farmer boy, raised In west
ern Iowa He never had been contains
mated by city influences. His parents were
worthy people. The facts illustrate the
uselessness Of trying to find causes In he-
redity or environment. But he was q read
err of sensational literature.
The Chicago car barn bandits furnish
an illustration of the type Here were
four boys whom nobody had any reason to
suspect until they had committed a long
series of the most desperate crimes. It
will be recalled that they killed six men
in their career as stick-ups before they
were caught 5Ss
Il recall the killing OF drug clerk In the
southwest part of Chicago about two years
ago BY three youths who attempted to
stick him up. The three were caught, one
Of them proving to be q clerk around the
board OF trade and the other two employed
In Packingtown. The clerk had resisted
them and was shot 70 death. Last week