The Washington herald., 1907-05-26

ed. He was one Of the greatest stalls
known TO the profession twenty-five years
ago He was big, blond, and handsome
and his carefully combed burnsides, and
his smooth, soft-voiced way Of address,
ing one, proved the downfall OF many
cashiers and bank presidents. Notwith-
standing his sleek appearance and ways,
he had no use for women except one his
wife He was devoted to her and used 10
boast when other mems wives were wear
ing calico his wife paraded in silks ana
wore diamonds. and that while other peo-
pie Jared sumptuously on sowbeily, ne
and his wife ate roast beef or turkey, Just
as they preferred. A greater bank sneak
than Rice ever thought OF being was
Eddie Burke. He came pretty near be
ing a topnotcher. He operated In every
large city in this country and Europe. but
like all the rest Of his kind. he eventually
got his
EnEIand's Greatest Thief woman.
Probably the greatest sneak thief that
England ever produced is the famous
sophy Lyons She emigrated to the Unit
ed States. when she was in the full flush
OF her wonderful beauty, and soon after
married the notorious Ned Lyons. Her
maiden name was Sophy Levy. Her
father was a noted crook and her grand
father a notorious London fence. She was
brought up to the business of sneaking
things from stores, and became such an
artist at the game as to earn an inter
national reputation. There Is not a capi-
tai in Europe, nor a city Of any size In
the United States that she has not visit
ed, and the most remarkable thing about
her career Is that she got away with the
goods In every case, and was never con-
victed Of the many crimes she has perpe-
trated
Lyons. her husband. was intended by
/ his parents for the priesthood, and was
educated al FOrdham. on the Hudson
! Just how he fell into evil ways ] do not
recall but he became one of the most
| desperate and daring men in this coun'
/ try. lie served several terms for his mis-
deeds On one occasion, when he was
/ put away, his wife took up with another
/ thief. The news reached him while IL
prison I'm due course of time and he made
| a VOW that he would kill both his wife
and her lover when released. The Latter
| fed the country, but when he finally
| found himself face 20 face with Sophy
/ she looked him in the eyes with glanc'
/ from the marvellous gray depths Of hei
| own. and made him crawl al her feet lik'
/ a whipped spaniel
Richest Thief I'm the world.
To-day Sophy Lyons is counted th'
! richest female thief in the world. Sh'
owns diamonds galore, and has real es
/ tate IN different sections OF the country
/ She separated from her daughters wher
they were almost infants, and placed
/ them IN a convent In Montreal. wher'
/ they were carefully nurtured hy the sis
+ ters and educated. II was her boas
/ that they did not know the crimes thei
I mother had committed. and she neve
went near them, but she paid the bills a
the convent with unvarying regularity
Sophy now lives IN Detroit. Mich. He
son became a thief az an early age.
1 think 10 IS safe 20 say hotels are no
infested with thieves as In the old days
That is they are not robbed by outsiders
. chronic thieves, as they were IN day
gone by. Nowadays most Of the robber
les committed are the work Of employees
IN some Instances, but IN most instance
the work of discharged employees, VIII
know the house and habits of the guests
II Is pretty hard for a professional THE
/ nowadays 20 get lodgmeut In a hotel !
detective that is onto his Job is sure no
/ 90 let one register, and II one does. he
! routed at once. and il he puts up muc
-alk about going. Is handed over 90 tH
| municipal authorities. who soon show hin
the way out OF town.
Then. too. q man who has beer In IN
/ business long as a hotel detective is yer
quick Co get on 90 crooks, even IL he doe
not actually know them as such. IF D.
Is N for his place. he knows human ma
ture pretty well, and is quick 10 deteC
suspicious actions. that would not be no
tired by other persons"