The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-02-25
"reminiscences of a safe-Cracker.

, Liverpool Jack" nee James Murphy,
wears old, lust out OF Jail and lust startin
back for another visit, allowed himself t
drift into Renaissance in the presence OF
New York Evening Sun reporter Will
waiting to be tried in a New York cit
court. When he was sentenced year az
Tor carrying burglars tools he was give
the choice of facing charges or going T.
the Salvation Army home for decrepit ant
reformed criminals and answered unhesi
tatingly, Il takes the prison.
why did you choose that?' he wa
asked this morning after the police inspec
tor had told of the earlier conversation.
Because" he answered, "burgling sam,
business. Going to iail's what you get fol
getting caught. I'm no hypocrite, anc
when get caught | take what's coming tc
me. | don't drink either, and | don
smoke, | used to drink lot, but | got
| over it.
Il came to this country" said the oft
convicted shoemaker swinging into an
easy reminiscent conversational gait, when
was a little boy. My pals found out when
| | turned crooked that ! came from Liver.
pool, and SO they gave me that name OF
| Liverpool Jack
yes. | had some great old pals in my
day and he named over a list who have
been famous in the annals of 800 Mulberry.
There was Red Leary, Shang Draper. Bill
~ Porter Johnny-the- Mick, Jimmy Hope,
and his son Johnny Hope. And say, if you
was to ask Just who it was pulled that big
swag out of the Manhattan bank, you
wouldn't have to ask any further than
Now, | didn't 60 crooked natural. |
was working honest when they took me in
the first time 1t was for robbing gold
smelling place on Franklin place, and they
gave me five years in Sing Sing. l didn't
do that trick and it cut me up pretty bad.
That was back in the seventies, and when
got out | went west to Kansas City,
where | worked honest for five years more.
But some of my old Sing Sing pals came
along. and so | got to drifting with them
and went crooked. | came east and pulled
off trick in Gloversville, robbed a safe in
the local bank and got away.
well. a while later | drifted back into
Gloversville. and found they had sent away
a man named James Donovan for that
trick and | knew Donovan wasn't on the
lob at all. He was doing six years in Sing
Sing. and knowed well enough what it is
to do time innocent So one night when ] |
was little drunk | got to talking, and |
said it was a shame Donovan was doing |
time for that job. They arrested me and
gave me hoater out of town and 50 |
fne-which was all the money had on
me. But | wouldn't go. | thought if |
went on the stand and told the judge that
| done five years innocent once, and that |
pulled off that bank robbery trick, he'd let
Donovan go and call my own account
square with that five-year term figured into
he bargain.
But the Judge didn't | proved to him
Donovan wasn't on the bank job and that |
.racked that safe alone But what did the
udge do? He upped and sentenced me to
III the time Donovan had still to serve, and
o went away and did that time.
"And then year ago | got caught here
nd McCafferty wanted me to try the Sal
alton Army place. But | said no, prison
or mine, and | went, and | guess I'll go
gain"
"Are you married." Liverpool Jack was
sked. And his brow wrinkled deeply be i
ore he answered. Lord yes; why | was 5
larried in nearly every town / went to-" t