Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-09
A REAL "RAFFLES."
English Burglar Tells Extraordinary
Story of His Exploits.

"Raffles" in real life was present at
the London sessions this week, and
probably in the whole annals Of mod
ern crime no more extraordinary story
has been told than that which was
given to an interested court.
In the dock stood a young man OF
average height, somewhat slimly built,
clean shaven, and with dark hair, who
gave the name Of William Parker, aged
2S, and who pleaded guilty to having
been found by night at Dart
mouth Park Hill, Kentish Town, In
the unlawful possession of a Jenny
and ten keys.
The remarkable story of Parker's ca
reer of crime was told by Detective In
spector Neil. Parker first came under
his notice when he was sentenced to
fifteen months hard labor for house.
breaking. At that time, continued the
inspector, Parker had been living In
a little workshop which was also a
sort of bungalow, using it not only as
a builders shop, but as bed and sit
ting room. BY means Of a secret door,
which he could enter and leave un-
seen by night, he got to the backs OF
houses and committed robberies with
impunity, returning to his bungalow
with his booty without being observed.
On January 1, 1907, he was sentenced
to two years hard labor for burglary
and receiving. He had as companions
two young fellows, and as a prisoner
had himself described it in some Of his
writings This burglary was one Of the
most daring and cunning the police
had been troubled with for a consid-
cradle time.
At the time of his capture at Dart
mouth Park Hill the prisoner smashed
a bottle, which investigation showed
had contained ether, and he was pro-
vided with a quantity Of cotton wool
"for his toothache," he explained. The
reason of his arrest, said Inspector
Neil, was to prevent him from COM
mitting a much more serious crime.
Information had reached the police
that the prisoner had ascertained that
an old lady of eccentric habits, who
lived alone in a house, kept all her
savings in her residence. The prison
er was seen to approach and enter the
garden of her residence, and his idea
was thus: He intended to break in,
attack and chloroform the old lady and
rob her.
Parker had written the story Of his
life, and he entitled it Fallen Among
Thieves" In his preface he wrote:
Dear Comrades: The chief object Of
my writing this book and emitting 1t
Fallen Among Thieves" is to give you
a little idea that 1t does not matter
how we'll a son or lad may be brought
up by his parents, If it Is in his mind
to go the wrong road he will go, and
from experience which I myself have
had no one can force him from going
the way he chooses, whether it be for
good or evil.
Proceeding, the prisoner referred to
his early life, his attendance at Sun
day school and local church in High
gate, and in another passage he de-
scribed his first burglary:
The house in question Che wrote) is
situated in one Of the best neighbor-
hoods Of Highgate, and no doubt when
the case Is recalled 1t will be familiar
to all our readers, especially those
who were interested in the heading in
the newspapers:
CARPENTER BY DAY AND BUR-
GLARY BY NIGHT.
A Daring Daylight Robbery.
Police Baff1ed. Full Career.
We entered this house in a cunning
and crafty manner, and it would not
have mattered If the house, garden and
window had been smothered with
alarm bells-all would have been Of
little use.
We carried a complete set of house.
breaking implements. To reach the
house we had to cross the l. C.. G.
ground, and then across a barristers
estate. 1 do not wish my readers to
start laughing when tell you that we
dined on the lawn, and our diet con-
sisted of poultry, roast beef, vegeta-
bles and fruit, which, I can assure you,
we did justice to.
Now, my friend, for business. I
at once removed my overcoat, lit a ci-
garette, turned up my shirt sleeves and
started work in a business-like man
ner. I gave orders to my friend and
told him the plate glass window would
have to go. He replied, you will new
er get it out" "Oh," I said, Don't
you believe it. I only put this window
in short time ago, and the putty Is
still soft" (The court laughed loudly
and the prisoner joined in the merri-
ment.) I then said, Hand me the
TOOLS" and I removed the window In
a few seconds. l first hacked away
the putty from the window, then drew
the panel pins and politely eased it
out in one piece just as had put it in.
AS soon as the window was removed
heard the clock ticking. thought,
"how dare you tick and defy me in the
dead Of night Oaughter.) I'll tick
you," and I licked it into my pocket
when / found 1t was solid silver. /
collected all the stuff wanted and af-
ter regaining the fields, I wished my
friend good night"
AS soon as 1 was getting to the en-
trance 7 ran into a policeman. Being
we'll in with the police, I simply said,
Good morning, Jack" He replied,
Good morning, Bill" and no further
notice was taken. Naughter) Eigh-
teen months hard labor was the SEN
tence.-Manchester Chronicle.