The Topeka state journal., 1906-04-06
7nE EVENING STORY
a Nan 81 E.xperience.
(By NJ. Quad.)

years when he made what I will call
his first experiment. He was then 8
man OF thirty. unmarried. fairly
wealthy and of a family of distinction.
He was in no sense a black sheep. The
only thing that could be said against
him was that he had keen desire for
sensation and experiment. I had heard
him express a desire to know how 1t
felt to be seated in the electric chair
or to stand on the gallows with the
moose about his neck.
He wanted to be on a wreck in mid
oceanic be on the tenth floor of a
hotel and cut off by fre-to be racing
for his life with the waters Of a burst
reservoir behind him.
You may assert that he was Of a
morbid disposition. but the fact is that
he was one of the most cheerful and
sanguine of men ever met All OF
his friends knew of his singular desires
in CERTAIN directions, but all knew him
to have a strong character and a well
balanced head.
When Black decided upon his first
experiment it was only after due con-
sideration. He hinted to me that
something was afoot and that he was
going into it deliberately, but he would
not give me the particulars. He left
his rooms one day. grip in hand ana
next day turned up in a city three hum
dred miles away. On the night of his
arrival he took a walk among the res
idential streets, and finally selected q
house to operate on. He wanted the
sensation of burglary. He had fre-
quently wondered whether a burglar
was cool and deliberate or timid and
fearful.
On a well lighted street. vigilantly
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 nail and left bloodstains
here and there. He packed up con-
siderable spoil and could have safely
taken it away. He did not choose to
however. He entered another cham
Der and deliberately aWoke young
man who was sleeping. An outcry was
raised, and during the midst Of it he
made his exit. Three blocks away he
stopped to chin with a policeman
When he reached his hotel he took
care to show his bloody hand and to
talk with several persons and to call
their attention to the hour. He want
ed the sensation of being hunted.
Next morning Black had disap-
peared from the hotel. He told one
of the porters before going that he
feared arrest. He left a broad trail,
but it was three days before the de-
tectiVes struck it. He led them a chase
of six hundred miles. They had his
description, and yet he doubled back
on his trail and rode with them part
of the time. He was experimenting
as to the acumen of the average de-
tective. They finally gave up the chase
and he returned to the city where 1t
had begun. The clerk looked bit
astonished but said nothing. The por-
ter 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. When the police came,
they would have gone away empty
handed if he had denied and protested.
This he refused to do. He wanted the
sensation of an arrest and trial.
The young man who had been
aroused swore to Blacks identity, as
did also the policeman with whom he
had conversed. The hotel porter also I
came forward, as did Others He had
given the name of Williams. The po-
lice failed 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 a little ex-
pertinent to work there. He told the
lawyer that he was guilty and deserved
all punishment that would be meted I
out to him, but the lawyer did not hes /
itate a moment about taking the case
and preparing for a strong defense TO
set the burglar at liberty on society
again.
When the trial came on it was Will
Jams who experimental with the wit |
nesses for the prosecution Staring
them boldly in the face he defied them
to swear that he was the man. They
knew he was, and yet tn ey 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 a
little with state prisons. He was called
a fool by his lawyer. but he persisted,
was found guilty and sentenced to two
He had $3.50 in cash and a credit Of
$1,000 in bank after he had settled
with his lawyer. That. did not repre-
sent his fortune by any means, but he I
considered 1t ample for the expert /
ments he had in view. He had a gold
watch in the hands Of the police. "A +
detective aeked the privilege of wear
Ing it for the next two years He asked
In such way that Williams granted
the request without demur. At the I
prison they took his money away, but
It was on call. Some of it was called 1
for at once. He wanted extra fare and
It was so arranged that he got it. He
wanted a better cell than had been as
thing to do. He didn't want to go to /
work until he had looked around a bit,
and there was no trouble about that.
Williams found that there was caste
in state prison as well as out of it. but
1t was cash instead of blood and birth
that made caste. The man who had
no money and no friends to put up any
was q convict and must obey the rules
to the letter and do all the hard and
dirty work. The man who could tip
was a gentleman and a martyr and
must be used as kindly as possible.
The other rich man in the west
wing Of the prison and having a cell
next to Williams was a notorious con-
hdence man. He had been sentenced
for five years, but he did not mean to
L. :