The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-09-26

me a lot of trouble several years be-
fore. Then started in to get IT.
tie information about the Simpson
robbery 1t was like pulling teeth.
The gang would not discuss the rob-
berry at all except in general way.
for the life of me could not get line
on any of the gang who We're out OF
the city.
II tried to get a start on the fences
where the property was disposed OF
usually, but l ran up against a SOLID
wall. Every thief met took a look
for an r. on his right hand, but none
I was able to find had the accusing
mark. wanted to get some informa-
ton from the outside about crook
known as Peg Reilly so one night l
quit the gang and sneaked to head
quarters. was followed by Red
Wormser He had been suspicious OF
me after the robbery on Long Island
because I would not let him abuse an
IT did not know that he was looking
for me or would have been more
cautious. I only learned it afterward
when turned the gang up and land.
ed seven of them in Sing Sing. After
leaving headquarters I went to Andy
Mullen's. He spoke very pleasantly
to me and threw me completely off my
guard. We had few drinks and then
Red went out with several of the
crooks. tried to find out if anything
! was up, but could not. left Andy's
to go to my room about midnight. Il
had only gone short distance when
got terrific blow from a sandbag. 1t
| was meant for the back of my neck.
but the aim was bad and I caught it
| at me. The darkness was in my favor,
and escaped the lunges of three
knives at my heart. got pretty we'll
bruised and battered. Help was out
of the question. At the first oppor-
tunity l ran like deer and several
shots came after me.
"The next day we received report
from Scotland Yard Of the robbery of
q jeweier named Bennett in London,
believed to have been committed by
American crooks. In the description
was the statement that one of the
thieves had the letter II on his right
hand. A boy who had been apprenticed
by old Bennett saw the men enter the
store and noticed that India ink mark
on the hand. The boy knew that old
Bennett had a lot of money in Chin
ney. This had been taken, and the
old man was found unconscious. He
could not tell what had happened. The
police kept the facts quiet as to the
evidence of assault on him, hoping
that the thieves would believe the
story which had been printed about
his miserly habits making him i'll.
IT was sent to London to look the
matter up. There learned that Jim,
my Parsons had been mixed up in It,
in some way, though there was no evil
dence of his actual participation In the
crime. Years before ] had done Par
sons favor when he got into trouble
in New York. He had been arrested
for forgery. proved that he was en-
tirely innocent and cleared him.
went to see him and made myself
known. At first he was very reticent
I went to see him every day for q
week to urge him to explain how his
name had been brought into the Ben
nett robbery. When I gave him my
} word that would protect him he told
me all he knew.
"He said the two crooks from New
York had come to him with a load o.
diamonds, and he bought them. He
did not know who had been robbed, a:
it was not his business to inquire
They stayed around for a week ant
had spoken to him about old Bennett:
money. The robbery of Bennett oc
Cured the next day and the thieve!
skipped.
parsons told me with tears. rolling
down his cheeks how they had induced
his daughter Nellie to steal bag o
gold that he had in the safe and g
with them. He had thought at frs
that she had only run away for littl'
change, and he tried to get the police
). to find her. Then he got a letter from
her saying that she had gone to Amer
lea with his friends.
"He denied all along that he knew
:, who the thieves We're. One day aske'
= him what the t. stood for. "He re
= piled little in an absent-minded way
3 1 felt like turning a handspring TO
= joy. He saw his mistake in a second
y and then gave up all he knew. H
y said the crooks We're jeff ONeill AM
Tim Little, and that they were IL
= New York.
q 81 came back on the first steamer
h we'll satisfied with my trip and fee
$ ing that sooner or later / would ba
e my game. During the time that ha
lived with the thieves in the Fourt
h ward I had been very friendly to
p supplemented fellow whose head ha
+ been split open with an ak. used t
y take him to my room to sleep, H
a talked so much that l did not dar
v ask him any questions. He was know
g as Shiny Baker. fixed myself up i