The Prescott daily news., 1911-04-26

the age of 51, an old man, broken in spirit, broken in health. Seven long terms of imprisonment in penal insti- tutions on both sides of the Atlantic have convinced him that his chosen profession is a poor one, and now he finished his last term only two weeks ago-he has resolved to lead an honest life.
 Everybody will say an habitual criminal like myself cannot reform. ," said Lillis, the other day q don't believe a thief can reform. This is my opinion formed after association with thieves for forty years. But a crook can reform. There is a differ ence between a thief and a crook The crook, I say, can reform, if he takes himself in time I would place so years of age as the time when the probabilities of reform are greatest. Of course, there are exceptions; I, for instance. expect to lead an honest life though l am past 50.
 The ordinary crook is saturated with the idea of obtaining money easily and spending it rapidly If, be- fore he is 30 he sees the difficulties he will always have to face he can turn aside with a fair chance of bury ing his past. But I wouldn't give the average crook much for his chance for reformation if he waits until he reaches my age.
 "Thieves" and Crooks"
 T am not thief, although have stolen thousands of dollars. A thief is thief through natural instincts. Thieves are born, not made. A crook Is not thief by instinct, but by pro- .fession. l have devoted my time to stealing, in the same manner as other men devote their time to law, to busi- ness or to medicine. Stealing was my profession. It was misdirected ener- igy Had devoted the same amount or time and energy to law or medi cine, l should have been a successful lawyer or physician There is. how over one great difference between my profession and others. There can be no lasting success in it. I am abso- lutely convinced of this fact, and for that reason I have now dropped it.
 No, l am not going to reform an simply giving up the profession which I have followed for nearly forty vars.
 There is no longer anything left for men in my profession Criminal ingenuity has not been able to keep pace with modern invention. We are forced into other lines of work. Some of the brightest of us have become promoters and swindlers. I have tried before to drop my profession, but circumstances have been against me. l was unable to get honest work and it was either steal or starve. have thought of suicide, but way down in heart l believe in a God, so 1 have never attempted to take my life. Now that am free man, I am going to remain free by abandoning the poor est profession in the world"
 No Money in Thievery.
 The history of this remarkable man, who is now in New York, earn ing an honest living, is a record of series of astounding crimes and ter rible misfortunes, and from it only one conclusion can be drawn-thiev- ling as a profession doesn't pay.
 Lillis was born in County Clare. Ireland, in 1855. His parents moved to Cincinnati in 1861, and, as his ia. .ther joined the Union army, he had to help support his mother. Accord. singly, he sold newspapers in the streets, and he received his early edu. cation from hackmen and from oth. ger newsbcys. He made several dol Ears every week during war times. and everything went smoothly until 'one day in 1867 well dressed strang. Ter came up to him, snatched the news. papers from under his arm, placed A sS5 bill in his hand and tossed the pa- spers into the gutter
 Boy said the stranger, If you tWiil work for me I'll give you s5 a day"
 You will?' cried the lad, trembling with excitement. Five dollars dav for me?"
 Yes. Will you work for me?"
 "I will"
 His First Successful "Getaway.r
 The stranger was Joe" Butts the notorious bank thief. He had planned to rob the safe in the office of the Phenix Brewing company and he needed small boy to take the money from the safe while he "newspa- pered." or occupied the attention of