The Washington herald., 1911-11-12

drew a picture that has often been par
~ aIeIed in real life. Les Miserabes,' al
though pretending to be nothing more than
fiction Is yet true story, in that it describes Incl
dents actions and emotions that have occurred not
once but thousand times the actual experience Of
mankind"
William A. Pinkerton head Of the great detective
agency that bears his name. the speaker The
talk had been running on criminals who had re-
formed
There a case" he said. "in which the effort
Of the criminal to reform hampered by the fact
that he had escaped before he finished paying the
penalty society had meted out expiation for his
crime You know the story-the poor fellow had
done nothing serious nothing we would regard
grave offence. His real offence was in escaping from
the galeys 1t is of the pathetic stories In
all lterature-the tale of his effort to lead honest
and useful fe in constant fear of detection and de-
nunciation. And the character Of Javert. the relent
less police official who turned up every time poor
Jean Vatican got a fresh start is. to my mind.
of the most despicable pictures drawn by
elst. Yet the policeman only doing his duty.
the law laid 1t down"
Mr.. Pnkerton paused. reit his cigar. contemplated
the richly Drowned meerschaum holder aectionately
for moment then spoke again.
I'VE were talking the other day about crooks who
turned straight" he said. II told you of some knew
who had paid the penalty of their crimes and
honest respected men-good citizens in every sense.
These hold up their heads among their fellow
men, knowing that the that befall them is
have their past discovered. They may suffer shame,
out they are free from the shadow of the prison
long they remain straight. Good citizens-yes.
sometimes too good, Most of them inclined to
ret themselves up superior beings. when they
10 fear the discovery of their Identity but in
while there is who torgets that he a
criminal"
Mr.. Pinkerton paused. puffed at his cigar and
laughed shortly
"One of the foremost physicians In New York. a
at the very head of his profession, is Of that
kind h" said. "A good many years ago called
to bank in a small Western city. A man had come
in. demanding money and presenting revolvers made
the assistant cashier and girl clerk hold up their
hands while he got away with all the cash in sight
some $4,000. There were traces that made me be-
leve it inside job, and my investigation
proved. The whole thing had been framed up by
young physician well liked and respected, and Of
the telers 1t turned out later that this same phys
clan had been involved in a similar in another
town and that he had been planning this affair for
two or three years
He convicted. and on his release came to New
York. He did not change his name but it is a COM
enough that it attracted no attention
when he began his practice this city. Now he Is
noted practtoper whose fees are enormous and who
is in great demand among his wealthy patients.
But it has not been sufficient for this to accu
mulate wealth and fame; has arrogated to himself
of aristocratic superiority that makes him self
appointed arbiter of society morals. He is member
of exclusive clubs very particular as to
who is allowed to join them"
Mr.. Pinkerton laughed again.
1T makes laugh every time think of it-what
the of highly respected and very wealthy
Western family, whose put up for member
ship one of the most exclusive clubs IN town. And
in the way in which those things told he was in
formed that he would better withdraw his If he
didn't want to be blackbaled for DR.. -, who is
on the Board of Governors would oppose his ad-
mission.
The young man happened to be friend Of mne
as his father before him. He came me, greatly
to ask what he ought to do.
- can't understand it, he said I've never done
anything any could critcise except to buy cham
payne. l admit I've opened lot Of wine, but I've no
SSNNSNNSNNSsNSNSSN%SNSSSSS SSSSSS~SSSSSSSNNSNsSSSsaNS