Morris tribune., 1912-11-08
A GENTLEMAN
BURGLAR
He Played an Intricate
Part
By MARY C. BLACKISTON


experienced detective.
1--WE run across criminals of all
grades. The common jailbird, Of
course, hasn't the. education and re-
finement to mingle with gentlemen and
ladies, but there are refined criminals,
you know. Then there are Wallets and
ladies' maids Of good personal appear
ance who have the faculty Of copying
their masters and mistreSSeS, who take
advantage of this ability for the pur-
pose of victimizing persons. had one
case wherein a common thief played
the part Of a gentleman, but he had
been born a gentleman"
''TeIl me about him. am always in
terested in these cases Of criminals
passing under false cOIOrs."
In the autumn of 1S9- was sent
to the residence Of a Mr.. Bradford"
said Sdgers that had been burglar
lied by one Of those romantic fellows
who leave notes on the dressing cases
from which they have taken the jewels
&aAO OLuSL WISE 1uu1CdLC C11dI CACJ La 2
been reading stories of the highway
men of couple Of centuries ago. The
rObber had not only written a note, but
had written it in rime and very
cleverly, signing his effusion with the
name Of Handy Andy.
What | was sent to the house for
was to see if the fellow had left any
clew. | found nothing but the Jingle
he had written, and since had no
other specimen of his handwriting it
Tas valueIess. But preserved it, Of
course, trusting that the time might
DOme when it would furnish clew. 1t
vas not long before l got another
Decimen, for another house In the
Rame neighborhOod as the first was en-
Bered and another pOetical effusiOn left
pa a sidebOard on which the burglar
lad eaten a buffet supper, washed
Down with Il glass of wine.
I ~Handy Andy went through a num-
Der Of houses, most of them In the
RRme locality, usually leaving his com
ments to the persons he robbed.
lis handwriting and grammar indi-
ted that he had been educated, and
be manner in which he expressed
himself smacked Of the gentleman.
MN Of his nOtes-in rime-was inclos-
7 in quotation marks. 1 showed it
Do q number of persons with a view
Do finding out who was the author. I
NR@S advised to hunt for it in diction-
10y Of quotations. got no satisfac-
hon till I referred it to professor Of
English literature in the - univer-
sly, who showed me the lines in a
POEM Of Alexander Pope. This led
me to believe that Handy Andy was a
scholar who had become run down
and. being familiar with the deeds of
BACK Sheppard and similar characters
famous in English history, had taken
b Initiating them.
zone of the escapades Of the rascal
was to attend a social function given
ut the time. After the guests had de-
parted one of the young ladies of the
ERmily found on a pincushion in her
room card from Handy Andy, on
WHICH he ndu written:
'"Thanks for your enjoyable entertain
&ent. 1 found the supper delicious, the
wine excellent and enjoyed chats with
&hree different guests very much, espe-
Caally Bishop B.
'"The lady's jewels were gone. Bish-
% B. had been one of the guests. He
was asked to recall those he had talk
ed with during the evening, but had
spoken with so many that no informa-
don Of value was elected from him.
'These crooks who work in a certain
locality don't keep it up very long,
and was anxious to nab this one be-
fore he left the field. About ten days
after his chat with the bishop cards
were sent out for a fashionable wed
ling. 1t occurred to me that Handy
Andy's success in attending one func-
ION might lead to his going to anOth-
NJ, and it was quite possible he would
drop in at the wedding with view to
helping himself to some of the gifts.
L concluded to go myself
"The wedding took place in a church
b 8 o'clock in the evening, and the
uests were invited to the house at
3. I chose half past 9 for my appear
Rnce, when the guests had all assem-
bed and before they had begun to
depart. I found throng, as had ex-
pected, and the wedding presents laid
out on table in a room crowded with
quests examining them. 1t occurred to
me that there was a fine opportunity
Tor any light fingered person to purloin
some Of the smaller gifts, which were
at the same time the most valuable. II
Handy Andy was not there he was
very negiectful Of his interests. / spent
some time in the room, watching every
one within range Of my eyes, but saw
nothing to excite the least suspicion.
proceeding to a room at one end OF
which the bride and groom were re
ceiving their guests, stood examining
the physiognomies of different persons
passing me- Two men stood near me
chatting One was light haired mar
of about thirty, with glasses and 8
slight Irish brogue. The other was 6