The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-09-20
Willy MlTcHELL's YARN.

tips Of the principal actors.
Willy MIrcHELL's YARN.
"a crook who is up to, snuff," said
Willy Mitchell. who Is noted among
other things for having been tried and
acquitted three times for murder, ''and
wants to get along in the business
without working too much for the
state. must be like a good general.
He must always arrange his plans so
as to cover his retreat.
Some thieves are so constituted that
they do not mind going to jail for
i've or 80. Punishment Of that sort
has no terrors for them, and, while
liberty IL sweet to every man, they
take their medicine, and rather enjoy
prison life. I always had horror Of
going to prison, but It was never quite
strong enough to lead me to become
honest. When the big door closed be-
hind me every time that entered jail
It gave me chill, and never got over
It until was out In the sunshine
again.
$50 It naturally happened that when
I was In active business, It was my
special desire to do everything in my
power to keep out Of Jail. I always
paid q great deal more attention to
laying plans for a getaway after a
robbery than to the work itself. For
that reason used to get into quar-
rels with the men I worked with.
They did not like my caution, and
have pulled many times out Of what
looked easy Jobs just because could
not see my way clear to escape. It
was my notion that any bit of work
would not pay, no matter how much
money there was in 1t, II 1t were fol-
lowed by ten.years' contract with
the state in the stone-breaking line.
1T was this trait Of mind which led
me into the Kingston National bank
robbery. At the time when ran
against this trick was a fugitive from
Justice. with the charge Of killing Ned
Wallace hanging over me, so, natural
~, had to go bit slow. There was
no doubt about my killing Ned. but
had to do It to save my own life. !
knew that I would be acquitted II I
were pinched and held for trial; but
i hated to 60 through It all. and I
made up my mind that the best way
out Of It was to keep under cover un.
til the clouds blew away. I got over
to Kingston, where I had q solid
friend, and In my trips about the place
I struck the bank.
my attention was attracted to the
bank by story In one Of the papers
about q large sum Of money which
had been deposited in its vaults by
some company that was going to build
q railroad and q water works. knew
that this money was going to remain
in the bank for several weeks, so I
sent for Bill Noble, who was at that
time running . gambling house in
East Houston street, near Broadway.
Bill was always ready to take hand
with me because he understood my
ways and I did his. and we never had
had any trouble. It was Just what Bill
wanted, for his bank roll had been hit
very hard. had not been out OF the
house In the daytime because the muir
der Of Wallace was very hot, and I
knew that the coppers were making
q lively chase for me. arranged with
Bill for him to do all the preliminary
work. He turned book agent on
short notice. which gave him chance
to visit the bank without exciting sus-
picion.
!. Il don't remember what book It was
that Bill was selling. but he did such |
slick work that the clerks bought all |
his stock, and he had to get more
books to MI the orders. just to make
4 appear all straight. .s 4
!; while Bill was talking books he
sized up the vault, and saw that the
door WIS m old-fashioned affair, with |
9 nsw ana Intricate lock, which had |
Just come Out, and was believed to be |
burg larproof. Bill got everybody;s |
phis n the bank firmly fixed II his
mind ana tho signs on the desk ii
front sof them indicated the part az the
business thats Asck man looked after.
81 The next Sfsp NJ to ma out who |
Inlosed IN thu yautt. This ~ 3 Yery
jdslise thing to pick np Nithout -
dng fnauisiti M ffact taE3 Bill Ind
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