The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-26

prevalence in the large
cities of crimes of the charac-
ter described in the Pollock
diamond robbery, which the
Pinkertons term the original
Btick-up," led 11r. William A. P1nker-
ton a few days ago to outline the
causes of such crimes and compre-
nensive plan By which they may De
checked. His remedy, which is no less
than the general and generous app1ca-
tiCn. Of the whipping post viii doubt
less arouse considerable adverse criJi-
cism on the part or humanllarlans,
bat, as Mr.. Pin5erton says, one 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 ia 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 operations
and rich hau1s 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 a flame. 1t started in
the west and Travelled eastward On
account of its geograp hical location
Chicago began to surfer before the
cities farther east, but it is mistake
to suppose that this class of crime
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 or
time until the stick-up will be as IA
nflfar to Portland, Ne, as to Portland,
ore In fact this condition practically
prevails at present
New York is about as bad OF in this
respect as Chicago The public there
IS clamOring for protection against the
q
a short time ago two masked men en-
tered a private gambling house In New
york and took $4,000. Pedestrians are
stuck I'D on the streets with alarming
frequency. It has become a crime not
only of national scope, but It has IN
vaded Europe, where a few years ago
such crimes were entirely unread Of
While L was in London last year
prominent jeweler was surprised in his
shop. gagged. tied to the safe and left
from Saturday night till Monday
morning. masked thieves meanwhile
making away with a large amount Of
jewelry. In France and italy heard
OF numerous stick-ups.
since Burke as q 15-year-old boy
started singie-handed to hold up q
store in Aurora, the stick-up men have
been largely Of this type. Nearly all
of them are youn g--mere kids They
are unknown to The police and there
IS absolutely no way in which the
authorities can get a line on them IN
I'll they have committed several
crimes Most Of them are young fell
lows that have not been known as
ioafers, having worked at some trade
until they conceived the notion of go
ing into the stick-up business.
Burke was farmer boy, raised in
western Iowa. He never had been
contaminated by city Influences His
parents were worthy people. The
facts illustrate the uselessness Of try
ing to ind causes in heredity or en-
yironment. But he was q reader OF
sensational literature.
1.-THE Chicago car barn bandits fur
uish an Illustration Of the type. Here
were four boys whom nobody had any
reason to suspect until they had com
mitted a long series OF the most des-
that they killed six men in their ca
reer as stck-ups before they were
caught
"I recall the killing Of a drug clerk
I'm the southwest part Of Chicago about
two years ago by three youths Who
attempted to stick him up. The three
We're caught one Of them proving to
be clerk around the board of trade
and the other two employed in Pack
lngtowu The clerk had resisted them
and was shot to death Last week
Two youths were allowed to plead
guilty to murder The plea was ac-
cepted on account of their youth
whereas if they had been older they
T=9bably would have been hanged
Recently the police arrested three
boys about 6 years old. and from the
confessions Of the prisoners they have
been guilty Of dozens Of stick-ups and
burglaries in the last rev months
These cases might be cited without
end. In other cities the sticl-up man
IS the same youthful culprit he is i'm
Chicago.
"a singular feature eff the case is
that the most desperate stick-ups we
have developed in Chicago have been
Poles and Bohemisns These ara
races supposed to be more than com
monty quiet and laW-abfdine To the
police or the world neither the Pole
or the Bohemian Is known a s. a profes-
slona1 criminal JUS why such a large
proportion OF the young. American born
Poles ana Bohemians should develor
such desperateness along the stfclz-tr
line do not pretend to say. but the
fact remains
Another criminal of the Burke type
whose work is closely related to thai
Of the stick-up and of whom we have
too many In Chicago, IS the night work
CT OF proWler. He makes a speciality OF
entering a house in which there is q
sleeping family and goes to the sleep
Ing room OF the man of the house I'll
the householder is not awake he wakes
hiU. and orders him to keep quiet arc
deliver the family valua bles- a mar
named Wilson represented the highes
development OF this type. as Burke slit
u the stick-up proper. Wilson operated
Ca Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota eev-
sgai years ago. One Of his most sense