Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-10-04

robbery. 1t was like pulling teeth.
The gang would not discuss the rob-
berry at all except in a general way.
for the life of me could not get line
on any of the gang who were out OF
the city.
'T tried to get start on the fences
where the property was disposed OF
usually, but ran up against solid
wall. Every thief I met took a look
for an t. on his right hand. but none
I was able to find had the accusing
mark. I wanted to get some informa-
ton from the outside about crook
known as Peg Reilly, SO one night
quit the gang and sneaked to head
quarters. was followed by Red
Wormser. He had been suspicious or
me after the robbery on Long Island
because I would not let him abuse an
old woman who defended her property.
81 did not know that he was looking
for me or would have been more
cautious. / only learned 1t afterward
when turned the gang up and land
ed seven of them in Sing Sing. After
leaving headquarters l went to Andy
Mullen's. He spoke very pleasantly
to me and threw me completely on my
guard. We had few drinks and then
Red went out with several of the
crooks. tried to find out If anything
was up, but could not. left Andy's
to go to my room about midnight.
had only gone a short distance when l
got terrific blow from sandbag. 1t
was meant for the back of my neck.
but the aim was bad and / caught 1t
on the shoulder. Four of them came
at me. The darkness was In my favor.
and I escaped the lunges of three
knives at my heart. l got pretty well
bruised and battered. Help was out
| of the question. At the first oppor-
tunity ran like deer and several
| shots came after me.
"The next day We received report
from Scotland Yard OF the robbery OF
a jeweler named Bennett in London.
believed to have been committed by
American crooks. In the description
was the statement that one OF the
thieves had the letter t. on his right
hand. A boy who had been apprenticed
by old Bennett saw the men enter the
store and noticed that India ink mark
on the hand. The boy knew that old
Bennett had lot of money In a chin
hSys Ahio hdo DCSh tohShs anu s@&0
old man was found unconscious. He
could not tell what had happened. The
police kept the facts quiet as to the
evidence of assault on him. hoping
that the thieves would believe the
story which had been printed about
his miserly habits making him Ill.
81 was sent to London to look the
matter up. There learned that Jim
my Parsons had been mixed up In 1t.
in some way. though there was no evil
dence of his actual participation in the
crime. Years before had done Par
sons a favor when he got into trouble
in New York. He had been arrested
for forgery. proved that he was en-
tirely innocent and cleared him. l
went to see him and made myself
known. At first he was very reticent.
I went to see him every day for a
| week to urge him to explain how his
name had been brought into the Ben
nett robbery. When I gave him my
word that would protect him he told
me all he knew.
He said the two crooks from New
York had come to him with load of
diamonds. and he bought them. He
did not know who had been robbed. as
1t was not his business to inquire.
They stayed around for a week and
had spoken to him about old Benefits
money. The robbery of Bennett oc-
Cured the next day and the thieves
skipped.
Parsons told me with tears rolling
down his cheeks how they had induced
his daughter Nellie to steal bag Of
gold that he had In the safe and go
with them. He had thought at first
that she had only run away for little
change. and he tried to get the police
to find her. Then he got letter from
her saying that she had gone to Amer
lea with his friends.
HE denied all along that he knew
who the thieves were. One day l asked
him what the t. stood for. HE re-
piled Little in an absent-minded way.
felt like turning a handspring for
Joy. He saw his mistake in a second.
and then gave up all he knew. He
said the crooks were JEFF O'Neill and
Tim Little. and that they were in
New York.
'T came back on the first steamer,
well satisfied with my trip and feel
ing that sooner or later ] would bag
my game. During the time that l had
lived with the thieves in the Fourth
ward / had been very friendly to a
simple-minded fellow whose head had
been split open with an ak. I used to
take him to my room to sleep. He
talked SO much that did not dare
ask him any questions. He was known
as Shiny Baker. I fixed myself up in
good shape, went down to Water
street, on a hunt for Shiny. and got
him after two days. 1 asked him