The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-03-31

llfc OF crook is happy one, would
Try to impress 1T upon his mind that
there is nothing in it for him.
will admit that there is d fasciua-
tion in thieverv, which grows upon
what it feeds. until il Is overpowering;
and stealing then becomes a habit, the
same as tobacco smoking and drinking
rum, and il is very hard to break of,
But there is no young man who has
not become Steeped in crime who can
not give up his vicious notions. ] have
talked of late years with hundreds OF
young thieves. and they generally have
laughed at me, They usually suggest
have applied some of my teachings to
myself. and of course, they have the
best end of the argument.
But the practical lesson Of my life
is very clear. ! have been a thief for
forty years. spent twenty wears III Jail,
made over $2.000,000 in forgcrics coun-
terfciting schemes and bank robherios,
and TODAY | have not u dollar to my
name. II s tho old story over again
easy come. easy go.
| will tell YOU about the coumierfeit-
ing scheme, which gave me rcputa-
tiou among crooks and honest men as
we'll, of being a star performer in my
lire. II all grew out of a little trip
which | made TO Washington TO meet
Tom Cannon, IN old friend of miuc,
who had planted a place near the
White House which promised reward
of about $4,000 | would have gone
anywhere for d lump of money half
that size in those DAYS We'll. ! looked
over The scheme and saw that il was
very dangerous, but Cannon would not
give mp tho idea ] did not want 10
he looked upon aS u fellow without
nerve. so ] consented to go into the
Job. which WAS TO rob the sale Of a
paymastrr.
The paymsstcr-I think his name
was lloffman-drauk pretty hard, and
slept near the safe. but the plan was
10 attack the strong box while the pay
master was in drunken stupor.
We got To the safe without much
trouble The box was an old-fashioned
affair, and we got TO tho bills by sim
ply knocking out the spindle in the
handle.
nailed the money when the door
flew open. and started away. Cannon
WAS behind me. The paymaster was
aroused, aud instantly fired shot from
his revolver The ball went through
shoulder Cannon was killed, hut tho
ball dii not stop me. | ran and got
AWAY with the doodle.
knew that il would he unsafe for
me 10 try and get out OF Washington
then. for tho alarm was promptly CIV
en-. and every street and outlet was
guarded by Uncle Sam 5 men, as we'll
a. the local police. | went directly to
the home of Big Jim Farrell. He was
an old.time thief. and then vas run
ing n faro bank 10 win the soldier
money with crooked dials. ! told Jim
| was hunted, and he put me away in
the care Of Louise Jordan. who alter
ward shot Farrell in Chicago. through
jealousy. / kept under cover in the
Jordan house for about TWO weeks,
and then Darby Jones and his gang,
consisting Of Billy Wallace. trenchy
Kline. George keeuc and Wary Nc
Gee, turned MP. They had come TO
WASHINGTON 10 do business with me-
| left Washington with the gang DIS
.uiscd ae a negro. There WAS a re,
ward of $4,000 for my scalp, but ;
won out easily.
I left the train in Newark aud drove
Ia New York in cab, kept under
cover for few days in New YORK;
ynd then moved over 10 one oi the oId
houses in Ravonswood. l.. l'.. wh'cn
had been practically deserted Tor scS