Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-12-13
CLIFF DEMPsEVs STORY.

Wilt EmF0E y = OhNs
Il never asked credit" said Cliff
''for doing good to any one, and
never feared censure for doing evil
because l have always made 1t a rule
to do what was right according to my
judgment and the way was brought
up. What might appear right to me
might be condemned by preacher
many times, and then again what
+. some preachers do might not seem
right to me, and so 1t goes. 1t may
not be In accordance with the teach
ings of good men to stick to friend
no matter what trouble he may get
into and to kill the friend who does
you serious harm while having the
smile of friendship on his lips. Well,
that's my doctrine, and everybody
knows it. 1t has made my path thorny
at times. but II has given me some
of the truest friends who ever lived
on earth.
1T is astonishing how friends will
sometimes go back on you, even those
who have been very close to you in
danger, and when the blow comes
there is to my mind only one way to
wipe out the disgrace. The way l
gave It TO Abe Baker is a good idea
Of what / mean.
ABE and l were raised together,
and for many years we worked in the
same line. I was with Abe in the
Connecticut and Long Island masked
burglaries. When Abe was shot in
Islip while we were leaving the house
Of Judge Reynolds with about $4,000
in property l put him on my back and
carried him several miles to plant him
in spot that / knew was dead safe.
He paid me back for this in a way
that no one would ever believe him
capable Of doing. and I had to suffer
for II.
Ling DAILY, Abe and / went into
the bank business when the masked
burglary trade played out, and we
Travelled over the country together
with great success. We tapped alto
gether about thirty banks, and there
was no reason why we should ever
have been nailed. 1t was a lucky trip,
and we did not have the slightest trou-
BILE In any place except the little in
conveniences which come to men in
our line who are being logged by the
police all their lives.
"One of the tricks was the Empire
bank in Troy. They had an old-fash-
toned vault which was then looked
upon as the best safeguard in use
against attacks of burglars But /
knew Its weak point. We got into II
two hours after dark and were on the
midnight train out of Albany with
$4,000 In cash and securities. We
read the account of the robbery in
New York the next day. II was very
evident that we had not left any clue
for the police to work on. It was a
sure thing. as looked at IT, and we
lay down for chance to get rid of
the bonds.
! was then living in st. Marks
place and was taken by surprise when
couple Of detectives carried away
my door and took me to headquar-
tiers. They told me was wanted for
the Troy job. ! found DAILY and Baker
there and glanced at them in their
cell as was brought in. DAILY
smiled, but Baker looked surly and
sat on the edge Of hts bed and did not
give me a glance. I supposed. of
course. that he was ugly at being
pinched, but knew that we could
beat the game II we did not say any
thing.
Thieves convict themselves by talk
ing about half the time, and / thought
that could trust the men I had been
pulling with. We were taken to court
the next morning and were remanded.
This showed me that the police were
not satisfied with the evidence they
had against US, and had a chat with
Baker about the business. He did
not seem to act right, but l did not
mind 1t then. / could not see through
the scheme until we were taken to
court again. Then I was dumbfound-
ed to hear that the detectives had got
possession Of the securities and part
Of the cash.
There were only two others beside
myself who had a knowledge of where
the property was. They we're Baker
and DAILY. knew that one OF them
had given up to the police thought
OF the two men that it must be DAILY;
but did not say anything to either Of
them. waited until the trial. Then
Colonel Spencer, who appeared as
Bakers lawyer. made motion for a
separate trial for him. / saw the
Joker for certain then and had
consultation with DAILY. It was evil
dent that II was useless to make a
defense. so DAILY and pleaded guilty
TO the charge Of burglary. feeling GER
tain that Baker had squealed to the
police. The positive proof came when
we were sentenced. Baker also plead
ed guilty. DAILY and got twelve years
and six months, while Baker got on
with three years and six months.
Il Lost my temper In court. de-