The daily Alaskan., 1906-07-26
A Man of Experience
[CopyrIeht. ll05. by .. J. HIrt. ]

had keen desire To experience tle sensation of being wrecked in mid ocean. to be on the teuth floor of a Babel and cut oG by fire. to be fleeing from the waters of a burSted reSer- yOIr.
 One day he left his rooms, grip iu hand. and next day turned up in a city 300 miles away. On the. night of his arrival he took walk among the resi- deutial streets and finally selected q house to operate on. He wanted the sensation Ot burglary.
 On a well lighted street vigilantly parolIcd by the police and with part of the family still up, he climbed up the column of d porch and entered q window. In So doing he scratched his hand ou nail and left blood stains here and there, He packed up cOnSId- erable spoil and could have safely talk eu it away. He did not choose to, however. He entered another cham ber and deliberately awOke young man who was sleeping. An outcry was raised anal during the midst of It Le made his exit. Three blocks away he stopped ro 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 broJd trail. but it was three days before the detectives struck lt. He IeI them a chase ot GOO miles. They had hlS description. and yet he doubled back on his trail and rode with them a part of the time. He was experimenting as to the acumeu of the average detective They finally gave mp the chase. and he returned to the city where it had begun. The clerk looked bit aSJouiShrd. but said noth- ing. The porter wjuked at him, but dld not give him away.
 To get himself arrested he had to write am anonymous letter to the po- lice and Co rhc owner of the house he uad Invaded. He wanted the SeuSa- rion of an arrest and tv.al
 The young man who hIl been arous- ed Swore to Blacks identity. as did also the policeman with whom he had couverSed. 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 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 metcd out to him. but the lawyer did not hesitate moment about taking the case and preparing for a strong de fensr tO set the burglar at liberty on society again
 When the trial came on it was VII liamS who eyperimeuted with the wit uesses for thr prosecution. Staring them boldly in the face he defed them to swear that he was the man. They knew he waS. and yrt they wavered and he>iJar,d and made points in his favor. Even Jhe detectives who had played cards with him on tue train while thinking they were pursuing him were not strong iu 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 spoi,rI his case by making certain admissions He had made up h.S mind ,o experiment a 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 prism.
 ne had S-1D in cash and a credit of 5000 in bank after he had settled with his lawyer. That dtl not represent his fortune by any mraus. but he consider ed lt ample for tue experiments he had in view. He had a gold watch in the hands of the pol.ce. A detective asked the privilege of wearing it for the next two years. He asked in such way that Williams granted the request with out demur
 At the prison they took his money away. but it waS ou call Some of 1t Was called for at pace. He wanted extra fare. and 1t was so arranged that he got it.. He wuu:ed a better cell than had been assigned him, and he found it au easy thing to do. He dld not 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 1t, bur 1t was cash instead of blood and birth that made caste.
 The other rich man in the vest wing of the prison Uud having a cell next to Williams Was notorious confidence man. He had been sentenced for five years. but ne did not mean 10 serve even one. After he and Williams had Become friends aUI 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 Eo:" was asked.
 Buy our way out"
 Williams rested and experimented for three months. He learned a great