Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-08-21
CITY OFFICIAL
ONCE A CONVICT
ChaTIestOWn Ex-PrisOner, Phlla-
deIDhla Councilman
UPRIGHT LIFE BLACKMAILED

FOiHnST INCL TISNP0SNSN'
and Porch Climber Serves Seven
Years In Massachusetts Peniten-
tiary, Goes to Quaker City, Re-
forms, Marries and Is Elected to
Office on Reform Ticket
Philadelphia, Aug. 1S.-A Jean
Vatican in real life was disclosed here
when William Burke, elected a city
councilman on the reform ticket head
ed by Mayor Blankenburg last fall,
resigned his seat and told how, I'M
der the name of Benjamin H. Trip,
he had served long term in the Mas
sachusetts state prison, after career
of crime in Boston and New York.
Coming to this city in 1907, after
completing his sentence in the Massa-
chusetts prison, Burke earned an
honest living as a wood carver, a trade
he had learned while in Jail. Taking
an active interest in reform politics
he was prevailed upon to accept the
nomination to councils. Shortly al
ter his election he was recognized by
a fellow convict and blacEmailed I'M
til, driven to desperation, he deter
mined to resign, and tell his own
story.
According to Burke's story over his
own signature, Tor years before ne
became a convict at Boston he had led
the life of a thief, pickpocket, a
yeggman and a porch climber. When
he was arrested previous to his con-
viction at Boston, he was called the
prince of workers" He says he
started in life as a street waif on the
East Side of New York, sellig news
papers. While he was hanging around
the corners of the East Side, he be-
gan that life of crook which he now
about in his 43d year, has confessed
to.
Gopher men," the species Of
crooks who confne themselves tC
cracking and robbing safes, were the
first of the underworld he fell in with
They used him, so his stOy runs, tt
visit establishments where the.
thought safes might be worth rif1ing
Then he drifted in with a gang o
Mol Buzzers," that class of thieve
who, he explains, are pickpOcket
who make a speciality of snatchin
women's handbags.
After this, Burke says, he wen
r1,;+h xnuoro1 FU0UoT1nn' and i
Chicago, Kansas City and San Fran
cisco in the SOS he was the associat
Of desperate thieves.
Upon returning to New York he be
came a gambler and then a snea
thief. Later he went to Boston
where, after robbing many houses, h
was caught and convicted. Judg
Bond sentenced him on Dec. 16, 1896
to not less than seven years.
Upon his release he settled in tn
northeastern section of this city
where he worked at his newly learne
trade and saved enough money to bu
a little cigar store. He married an
has one child, a little girl, an
has uOnS uOLuluS WlOuS DlASS Ill
gates of Charlestown swung open fC
him and he stepped into the world
free man.
Night and day Burke shaved ar
toiled to get the money that h
nemesis demanded, but the more
gave the more greedy the vulture b.
came.
The demands of his blackmailer
met as often as he could, but wi
each succeeding week he became lie
and less able to satisfy the mercile
leech. Then came the confession a.
flight.
Mr.. Burke forwarded his resign
ton to the council on Wednesday las
sending his wife away and hims
disappearing.
Boston, Aug. 18.-According
Warden Bridges of Charlestown pr
On Burke, who as he stated to
Philadelphia officials, is on the pris
books as Benjamin Trip. He ente1
Charleston on Dec. 16, 1896, on
seven to ten-year sentence ad was
leased on Dec. 81, 1903. The t
that he served but few days over
minimum term, says the ward
shows that he was a good prisoner
This record comedies with data
nished by the Boston police. Blu
was arrested in a Shawmut ave
house in the fall of 1896, they say
Police Inspector Gaddis, charged v
breaking and entering and larce
In December of the same year he
found guilty and sentenced. A
serving seven years he disappes
from Boston. Previous to his int
ceration he is said to have condu'
a second hand store on Cunard str
RoXbury.