The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-08-19
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Of the other $50 or 800 .tobsr be
claims 10 have pulled off, in Boston
during the three years preceding his
arrest.
Nor we're the police able, he says,
TO Identify him as any other than one
Benjamin H. Trip. the name he gave
when arrested, although he had gone
under many other aliases and was
even known at that time TO the under
world as New York Slim" What he
did admit. he declares, was sufficient
for the police to recognize in him an
unusually clever sneak thief and It
would probably have gone harder with
him had he not once saved from drown.
Ing an oflcer o! the court in which he
was to be tried.
Saved Court Officers Life.
After succumbing to the third de.
gree Burke was taken, manacled to
detectives, to the Charles street Jail.
Boston. In the cell into which he was
thrust he was later visited by The court
officer whose life he had saved. The
oibcer, after again expressing his graf.
itude to Burke for having rescued him
from drowning. promised to use all
the influence he had to make the pun,
ishment of the sneak thief as light az
possible.
Burke, in the hey.dey OF his pros.
Perity as a porch climber in Boston,
with plenty Of money and clothes at
his command. had been the guest on
more than on occasion Mt a boat club
In East Boston. fs'' F-g
1t was there that he saved the court
officer from drowning when the latter
fell overheard from n yacht. The
court officer did not forget that he
owed his life 10 Burke even when III,
latter was jailed as sneak thief. He
persuaded Burke 10 plead guilty, and
TO throw himself upon the mercy Of
the court, which resulted in the
Prince OF Fiat Workers" escaping
with sentence OF not less than seven
years and not more than ten years I'M
prisonment, after being convicted fol
breaking and entering and larceny,
Decides to Live a New Life.
Burke went to the Massachusett,
state prison at Charlestown. While
he describes it as a penal institution
fully twenty-five years ahead of any
other prison so far as the treatmen,
| OF the Inmates Is concerned" lie dc.
clares that the seven years he Spent
within Its walls cured him Of any de.
sire to return to his old life as crook.
IWhen he was finally released, he DRIFT.
Eed back TO New York and sought EN-.
nloyment in stores there.
ne did not finger long in New York
deciding to shake the town and live
straight" In the latter part of NAV.
1904, he came TO Philadelphia for the
hrst time in his life. he says. He as.
sumed the name of William Burke and
made UP his mind to steer clear of all
OF his old associations.
He realized that even then he might
be recognized as an ex.crook and an
ex'convict and be exposed, but he de.
termined TO take change and see II
he could not live honestly without any.
one here discovering his past.
During his mprisonment In the
Charlestown prison he had learned the
trade OF hardwood finfsher. This
enabled him to find employment in
several furniture factories before he
finally secured position in the plant
OF talking machine firm. Later, hay.
Ing saved up some money, he opened
cigar store at 769 East Hilton street.
He became well acquainted In the
neishborhood and. becoming active in
politics, eventually became the leader
OF the Nineteenth division Of the ThIr.
lfy-third ward. So many friends did
he make and SO much Influence did
he WELD as division leader that las,
year he was named as candidate
Tor common council. i,
First majority OF the members Of
the Keystone Party executive commit.
tee OF the Thlrty.thlrd ward strongly
advocated his candidacy. Then he
was unanimously Endorsed for councils
by both the Keystone party and the
Democratic party executive committee
OF the Thirty.third ward. Supported
by union labor as well, he not only
stumped bis ward In the interests Of
his own candidacy, but he addressed
many Keystone party meetings last
TALL as a representative or organized
labor and reform.
His, voice was raised for the whole