Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-07-27
A Man Of Experience
Copyright, 1906, by c. ]. Hirt.l


fairly wealthy and of good family. He
had a keen desire to experience the
sensation Of being wrecked in mid
ocean, to be on the tenth floor of a
Babel and cut of by FIRE, to be fleeing
from the waters Of bursted reser-
voir
One day he left his rooms, grip In
hand, and next day turned up in city
300 miles away. On the night Of his
arrival he took walk among the resi-
dental streets and finally selected a
house to operate on. He wanted the
sensation of burglary.
On well lighted street, viglantly
patrolled by the police and with part
of the family still up, he climbed up
the column of porch and entered a
window. In so doing he scratched his
hand on a nail and left blood stains
here and there. He packed up consid-
cradle spoil and could have safely TAX
en- 1t away. He did not choose to,
however. He entered another cham
Der and deliberately awoke young
man who was sleeping. An cutlery
was raised. and during the midst Of 1t
he made his exit Three blocks away
he stopped to chin with policeman.
Next morning Black had disappeared
from his hotel. He told one Of the
porters before going that he feared ar
rest. He left a broad trail, but 1t was
three days before the detectives struck
| it. He led them a chase Of 900 miles.
They had his description, and yet he
doubled back on his trail and rode
with them a part of the time. He
was experimenting as to the acumen
of the average detective. They finally
gave up the chase, and he returned to
the city where 1t had begun. The clerk
looked bit astonished but said moth
Ing. The porter winked at him, but
did not give him away.
To get himself arrested he had to
write an anonymous letter to the po-
lice and to the owner of the house he
had invaded. He wanted the sensa-
ton of an arrest and trial.
The young man who had been arous-
ed swore to Blacks identity, as did
also the policeman with whom he had
conversed. The hotel porter also came
forward, as did others. He had given
the name of Williams. The police fail
ed to trace him back. Not one single
thing could they find out about his
past.
Williams sent for a leading lawyer
to take his case. He had little ex-
pertinent to work there. He told the
lawyer that he was guilty and deserved
all punishment that would be melted
out to him, But the lawyer did not
hesitate q moment about taking the
case and preparing for a strong de-
Tense to set the burglar at liberty on
society again.
When the trial came on 1t was VIII
liams who experimental with the wit
nesses Tor the prosecution. Staring
them boldly in the face he defed them
to swear that he was the man. They
knew he was, and yet they wavered
and hesitated and made points in his
favor Even the detectives who had
played cards with him on the train
while thinking they were pursuing him
were not strong In their recognition.
The fact that Williams would not
Identify himself was against him. The
fact that he had returned to the same
city and the same hotel was in his ia
vor His lawyer was feeling certain
that the jury would at least disagree
when Williams spoiled his case by
making certain admissions. He had
made up his mind to experiment lit
tie with state prisons. He was called
a fool by his lawyer, but he persisted,
was found guilty and sentenced to two
years in prison.
He had $3.50 in cash and a credit of
$1,000 in bank after he had settled with
his lawyer. That did not represent his
fortune by any means, but he consider
ed it ample for the experiments he had
in view. He had a gold watch in the
hands of the police. A detective asked
the privilege of wearing 1t for the next
two years. He asked in such a way
that Williams granted the request with
out demur.
At the prison they took his money
away, but 1t was on call. Some of 1t
was called for at once. he wanted
extra fare, and it was so arranged that
he got it. He wanted a better cell
than had been assigned him, and he
found it an easy thing to do. He did
not want to go to work until he had
looked around bit. and there was no
trouble about that
Williams found that there was caste
in state prison as we'll as out Of 1t, but
1t was cash instead of blood and birth
that made caste.
The other rich man in the west wing
of the prison and having cell next to
Williams was a notorious confidence
man. He had been sentenced for five
wears bur he did not mean to serve
even one. After he and Williams had
become friends and were running
things TO suit themselves the "con"
man remarked one day:
when you are ready to leave here
Just say the word and We'll GO"
But how can we go?" was asked.
buy our way OUT
williams rnstnd and axnerimantad