Evening journal., 1912-02-26

] had always had a fancy to see the
Bowery, in New York, and on my first
trip to that city took occasion to visit
It. I was srrolling along it when a
man suddenly confronted me. and by
his manner / knew that be was a
srook.
AS to his appearance there was moth
ing very bad about it. Only small
thieves have rundown. disagreeable
look He beckoned me to follow him
and went down into dive very near
where | had met him. hesitated for
a moment; then my caution gave way
before what l fancied might be an
opportunity to see something of New
York crook life. and I Joined him at
a table in the saloon.
Il didn't know you were out" be
said.
The man had evidently mistaken me
for some one else. Willing to let him
\ talk, feigned reticence.
i've got a job in view and want
another man. Are you openf"
I told him that 1t depended on what
the fob was and led him on to devel-
op his scheme. A butler to a wealthy
family was ready to act with him and
bad told him that a daughter Of the
house was about to be married and
valuable wedding presents were COM
ing in.
The butler. whose regular duty was
TO shut up the house nights was to let
the crook in, In order that he might
have free access TO the gifts. was
wanted to help carry or the swag.
/ endeavored to get the man to tell me
the location Of the house. but he was
too sharp for me. He agreed to meet
me at a designated place on the night
he proposed to make the haul and take
me with him. was to keep watch
and help carry on the plumber. After
settling all details we parted, and I
went straight to police headquarters
and reported my experience.
was told that my information
would be worthless unless would con
sent to 90 with the man to make the
robbery. We would be shadowed and
caught red handed I didn't like the
Job very well, but they told me that I
might expect a liberal reward from
the family who we're to be robbed, ana,
since was not over well supplied with
funds. I consented.
7 was 10 call every day at the saloon
where | had met the crook for notif-
cation Of time and place OF meeting
with him On the third day the bar
keeper handed me an envelope, in
which was a slip of paper advising me
to be at certain corner on the Bow
cry at a certain hour the same night.
, My pal would pass me, and l was to
follow him, but ] was not to recognize
or notice him. When he neered the
house he was TO slow up under a gas.
light, which was 10 tell me that he was
, within a few doors Of the crib. Then
was to draw near so that I could keep
him in view. My position was 10 be at
the point he entered. to watch and wait
for further orders.
AT the appointed hour I was at my
4 post and took pains to stand directly
in the light where those who shadow
ed me could see me. My man did moi
e keep me waiting long and walked
D straight past without looking at me
I followed him as he had directed. and
be led me into a street where there
y were several OF those old fashioned
downtown residences that when bull
were the finest in the city and some
still occupied by the descendants OF
their Dutch builders. He stopped neal
Il one Of them. looked at his watch, theI
went on slowly It was O'Clock il
the morning, and the street was de
l. serted. He went up onto a front bal
cony Of a large house. opened a win
dow that had been left unlocked ans
p disappeared in the darkness.
Time was given him by the police Il
get together considerable property
"a Then l was relieved by a plain clothe
man and went back on TO the sidewalk
h. where I saw men surrounding tn
house. When my pal had filled sacl
he brought it TO me and was quietl.
- told TO throw up his hands. Then a
p signal several men ran in from tn
street and the capture was made with
m out disturbance
The burglar. I was told, was yer,
hot against me for giving him ava,
and vowed that II be ever got a chanc
= he would kill me. though he stSll be
q lieved was the crook he had mistak
3 en- me for The police kindly wen
6 through the photographs in the rogues
& gallery and found me-that IS, my ex
< act counterpart. was not especiall
8 pleased 10 find that so nearly resem
/. bled a criminal. but was comforte'
that the picture did not give such al
impression / insisted on the burgla
: being informed OF his mistake lest b
i should carry out his threat on th
wrong party.
II turned out that there were $500
+ OF $4,000 worth of wedding gifts in th
b house to be robbed. and the burgla
had put more than half Of it in tn
sack he had brought TO me. Had b.
:, been properly supported he would un
Il doubtedly have got away with all tn
j? brides property I received a thou
sand dollar check from her father.