The San Francisco call., 1909-01-31
THE LUCK OF A SEXTET
L DRUAnNoND. FORMERLY U

being bad ut their trade they started a mint Let
one OF them get a genuine trade dollar, half dollar
quarter TO use as pattern-or as daddy, as they
called it-and they would turn sinners in
abundance. But such the vicissitudes of for
tune that the lack of daddy" often plunged them
into poverty.
1t was during such period OF unfortunate finan-
cial depression that ! first met James Maher, or
Brock" Maher, as he called.
Maher was a big, raw boned fellow perhaps so
years old leader of the band. An old counterfeiter
had offered to introduce to him, and we found him
one evening sitting truck in dark corner near
the Battery Left ourselves, he told me his story.
Me frind he said, you come to me at most un-
forchint time This is the sixt OF July On the Fort
7 got droonk came home in horrible condition, and
while I a-sleeping it off me old woman went
through me clothes. And a dollar a cent did
she leave me"
That's bad Brock said J. but such thing
ought to trouble YOU less than it would almost any
body else. You can make your money"
y can. can I:8 he replied with feeling How
the diy1lc can make money when haven't
daddy TO me name: Tell me that
couldn tell him. and he
Now IlI tell We what to do, frind Yc're like
lnescf-ye want money and yc don't want to work.
too hard 5erit. II sc had come to any time but
this I could a sold ye all ye could But just
now as said. I'm on me uppers haven't an ounce
ia lead and had a ton I coudnt make nickel
for hc lack "a a daddy. Now. II tell ye what yc
do Give me eight or ninc dollars and come back
here in day and I'll have yc all thc nice sinners
sc want
didn't lile the idea OF furnishing a man capital
with which 10 commit crime. merely for the purpose
IF arrestna l'im. told him ] did not have the
mercy nl me aud did not know Just then, where
could get d. / told him. however that expected to
gct a littlc money soon, and parted good friends
When went back the Office ] related the con
ycrsation 10 Chief Nashburnc. and he asked me why
didn't gvc Maher the money
81 didnl give 1t TO him. said !. because if had
done and aitcrward arrested him, his attorney at
his trial would have cross-cxamincd something
like this:
Where did You first this defendant
Down the docks
What was he doing:
Sitting truck
Did he tell you whether he was out Of work
Yes Tie said he was.
Did you give him any money"
Yes
Was anything said with regard what the
money you gave him TO be put"
YES
What was to be done with it,
"' He TO ii to make counterfeit money.
Then you found an idle man sitting on the docks
and furnished him with money with which to become
criminal Is that II
And I should have been compelled to say, Yes"
well, guess you right, said the chief well
go the United States district attorneys Office
and what advice get there"
We of the assistant attorneys, and he
most emphatic III his declaration that I should have
given Maher the money for which he asked. He
finally went far to tell me to do it.
"In do nothing of the kind said /, no matter
who may tell me to. If Maher can be caught in no
other way than this he will never be caught by me-
The chief stood by Ipe, and this means of getting
evidence was definitely abandoned
few days later however, the man who had intro
duced me to Maher told me that Brock wanted to
see me-that he had raised few dollars with which
buy materials and had some counterfeit trade
dollars TO sell night set for me to meet him.
and ] found him sitting the old truck,
the Battery
How are ye, Tom, boy said he q was known
TO him Tom MoranH). y wonder ii ye are still
broke. as ye the other night? I hope ye have
money with ye this evening, I've got something
good
Something good eh,7 said !; lets see it?n
Don't be SO fast, me boy" said the old man. q
want to know first have ye any money!"
Well Brock, ! said I'm sorry say that l am
IN about the same financial condition that ! was
when saw you the other time. But my sister has
gold watch, and ] know where there is pawnshop
hate to hook the girls ticker, but I'd rather do it
than TO miss anything.
And how long would it take ye to go home and
get the watch?7 asked the old man
oh, I've got it with me" | said, pulling out my
wifes watch, timepiece worth about Sl7, that had
pawned in such emergencies, l don't know how many
times
Well get 10 your uncles in hurry, said Brock
Raise every dollar ye can and come back. I'll wait
for ye and ] can tell ye now, me boy, that I've got
something good"
! left him sitting on the truck while ! TO the
nearest pawnshop, returning IN a little while with a
pawn ticket, which showed him, and ST.
shnng trade dollar from his pocket he held it before
..cr - .lo