Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-07


asked my friend Stigers, an old and
experienced detective.
I'VE run across terminals of all
grades. The common jailbird, of
course. hasn't the education and re-
inement 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. l had one
case wherein a common thief played
the part of a gentleman, but he had
been born a gentleman"
Tell me about him. am always in
terested in these cases Of criminals
passing under false colors."
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
and otherwise indicate that they have
been reading stories of the highway
men of a 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 l was sent to the house for
was to see If the fellow had left any
clew. 1 found nothing but the Jingle
he had written, and since l had no
other specimen Of his handwriting 1t
was valueless. But preserved 1t, of
course, trusting that the time might
come when it would furnish clew. 1t
was not long before l got another
specimen, for another house in the
same neighborhood as the first was en-,
tered and another poetical effusion left
on a sideboard on which the burglar
had eaten a buffet supper, washed
down with a glass of wine.
Handy Andy went through a mum,
Der of houses, most of them in the
same locality, usually leaving his com
| pliments to the persons he robbed
His handwriting and grammar indi'
Gated that he had been educated, and
the manner in which he expressed
himself smacked of the gentleman
One of his notes-in rime-was inclos
ed in quotation marks. l showed II
to a number of persons with view
to finding out who was the author.
was advised to hunt for 1t in a diction
airy Of quotations. 1 got no satisfac
ton till l referred 1t to professor oil
English literature in the - univer
sity, who showed me the lines in 9
poem of Alexander Pope. This lee
me to believe that Handy Andy was {
scholar who had become run dowI
and, being familiar with the deeds Of
Jack Sheppard and similar character
famous in English history. had takeI
to initiating them.
"One of the rscapades of the rasca
was to attend a social function giveI
at the time. After the guests had de
parted one of the young ladies of tn
family found on pincushion in he
which he had written:
Thanks for your enjoyable entertain
ment. l found the supper delicious. tn
wine excellent and enjoyed chats wit
three different guests very much, espe
ciany Bishop b.
The lady's jewels were gone. Bish
op B. had been one of the guests. III
was asked to recall those he had talk
ed with during the evening. but ha'
spoken with so many that no infOrma
ton of value was ELECTED from him.
These crooks who work in certain
locality don't keep 1t up very long
and | was anxious to nab this one be
fore he left the field. About ten day
after his chat with the bishop card
were sent out for fashionable wed
ding. 1t occurred to me that Hand
Andy's success in attending one funC
tion might lead to his going to anoth
er. and 1t was quite possible he wOul
drop In ut the wedding with view I
helping himself Ia some of the gifts
! concluded to go myself
1.-THE wedding took place in a churc
at 3 o'clock in the evening, and tn
. guests were invited to the house a
o. | chose half past for my appear
ance. when the guests had all assem-
bled and before they had begun t
depart. ] found 'throng. as ! had el
pected, and the wedding presents lai
out OH a table in a room crowded wit
, guests examining them 1t occurred I
me that there was fine Opportunit
, for any light fingered person to purloi
some OF the smaller gifts. which wer
at the same time the most valuable. |
Handy Andy was not there he wa
very neglectful OF his interests. sper
some time in the room. watching ever
one within range Of nv eyes. but saV
nothing to excite the least suspicion.
Proceeding to a room at one end &
. which the bride and groom were r.
ceiving their guests. stood eXaminin
the physiognomies Of different person
passing me. Two men stood near m
chatting One was light haired ma
of about thirty. with glasses and
slight Irish brogue. The other was
tall. spare man with mutton cho
) { whiskers
I've often been in London sci
the latter. but have never got out I
Oxford I've always been abroad 1
he summer, and that's the vacat1o