The Forrest City times., 1911-03-10

treacnery among gang of criminals was much worse than the unlawful deeds performed by them.
 I learned from the prisoner that he had a family. When this was men, toned he shuddered little. Coming to the conclusion that I could learn nothing from him I was ready to lock ] him up. Before doing this I suggested the idea of taking him to see his wife and children. Early in the morning l procured carriage, and after | 20 minutes drive We stopped in front or a large tenement house which we | entered ascending the stairs to the | second floor
 Knocking at a door to our right we were after some delay admitted by woman wearing calico wrapper, and We entered the room which was dark and dismal as a tomb TWO CT three 1 broken chairs, rickety table and i mattress spread upon the floor and covered with ragged quilts, consti- tuted the furnishings Peeping from beneath the tattered covering saw the bright eyes and curly heads of two young children.
 'ls this your home, Mr, Hartz?" inquired.
 This is where I stay" he replied. saw at once that I was up against a species of affliction for which I had ! no readymade speech of condolence, and l was just little embarrassed. l There was depth of seriousness in the affair that 1 had rarely met with. l was confronted with the genuine woes of humanity and at a loss for the moment to know just what to do 1 or say. After deliberating a short time l came to the conclusion that 1t was best to explain all tc bis wife She looked like an intelligent woman and l proceeded to acquaint her with the facts concerning her husbands ar rest and the punishment that was sure to follow. likewise pointed out the | door through which he might escape demanded a clean breast without reserve. l was to know all the partic- ulars in regard to the conspiracy, and 1 he was to act in good faith and to as l sist the detectives in plans to cap 1 ture the engraver and all others con- neeted with the affair; besides, he was, If 1t became necessary, to go up | on the, witness stand and testify 1 against his confederates. Counterfeit CTS as general thing are treacherous l towards one another when in tight i place; 1t is anything to save them | selves. With John Hartz 1t was diff l ferent; he preferred to sacrifice him 1 self rather than to give away his con- 1 federates
 When the wife was made acquaint- ! ed with the proposition that had been made to her husband she appealed to l him in language that seemed irresist- l ible.
 He hung his head There was an expression on his face that was in- 1 definable. fresh link in miserys chain had now reached his heart. The scene was absolutely painful and I soon saw that he was weakening i mans character varies in accord ance with the position in which he is | placed Criminals are human, like 1 our selves. and if we would learn the ! dangers lurking in our pathway. we should know how they chance to stumble and fall Some men are weaker and more prone to vice than others There is never-ending bat tie between right and wrong. l never yet found man so bad that there | was not something in his character 1 upon which to base a hope l never yet saw man that was so good as to be free from danger. There is a thread of gold running through the character of the worst of men; the l difficulty is to reach it,
 The prisoners eyes fell and were filled with tears We have no pity for the tears shed by criminals. They are deserved. but they are tears just the same, and sometimes come from heart unjustly pierced His wife now approached him and said, Where is the money to come from to pay the rent for this miserable room we are living in? How am l to obtain food and clothing for our children when you are in the penitentiary:
 Accustomed as I was to scenes of l this kind my heart was deeply touched and my hand went almost involuntari- ly to my pocket I pulled out roll of bills It was the governments money. Feeling off five twenties, l handed them to the woman. Take this, my good woman. I cannot save your hus- band, but I will give you something with which to supply your immediate wants. Buy these children some clothes"
 l handed her an additional twenty. The counterfeiter and his wife stood looking earnestly into each others faces. Both seemed well nigh broken hearted He stepped towards me as he said You are the only decent man l have ever seen in the detective business and I am going to tell you all about it"
 I have seen crime in it's many phases l and bava noted inc affpct of a long