Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-08-15
A Man Of Experience
copyright. 1906. by c. ]. Hirt. !

sensation of being wrecked in mid
! ocean, to be on the tenth floor of g
Babel and cut off 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
800 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, 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 a nail and left blood stains
here and there. He packed up consid-
cradle spoil and could have safely tax
en- it 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 il
he made his exit. Three blocks away
lIt SlOlDCd W Nuln W III
Next morning Black had disappeared
from his hotel. He told one of the
porters before going that he feared ar
rest. He left broad trail. but it was
three days before the detectives struck
it. He led them chase of 600 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 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 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 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 it was Will
liams 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 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
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 credit of
$4,000 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 gold watch in the
hands of the police. 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 on call. Some of it
was called for at once. He wanted
extra fare, and it was so arranged that
he got it. He wanted better cell
than had been assigned him, and he
found it an easy thing to do. He did
not want to 90 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 other rich man In the west wing
of the prison and having a cell next to
Williams was a notorious confidence
man. He had been sentenced for five
years, but he did not mean to serve
even one. After he and Williams had
become friends and were running
things to suit themselves the ICON"
man remarked one day:
when you are ready to leave here
just say the word and we'll 60"
But how can we gor' was asked.
BUY our way out"
Williams rested and experimental
for three months. He learned a great
deal about human nature on the inside.
He discovered that money had more
value than he had ever attributed to It,
One day he said to the ICON" man that
he had been there long enough.
1T will cost you thousand and
half" was the reply.
Williams drew his check for the
amount and II was passed on. A week
later the pair were standing outside