The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-07
WOULD YOU STEAL
$5OO,OO0 IN CASH.?
Few Found in Washington Who Wouldn't, if Thew
Could Get 1t and Not Get Caught

II there was no risk Of being caught.
would you rob an express messenger OF
$4,000:
That question was asked OF several
prominent men in Washington and II the
men interviewed are a representative
lot. the chances are pretty strong that
you would
A minister, whose audience never
would suspect him of having criminal
inclinations. said he would rob the mes
senger on certain conditions. lawyer
admitted he would So did an insurance
man. a clothing dealer. a banker. shoe
clerk a brakeman. railroad promoter
and everybody. in fact. except a banana
wagon operator and the banana man
probably would have made the same ad-
mission IL he had had the imagination.
A reporter for The Washington Herald
was given an assignment one afternoon
to find out just how honest Washington
is The first man he met. as soon rs ne
had crossed Twelfth Street, was the
banana man.
Would YOU rob an express messenger
II YOU could get away with it?'' he asked
Never getta way with ut said the
banana man. Gotta gooda cheepa
sweeta banana"
Insurance Man Interested.
The next man tackled sold insurance.
Business was dull and the reporter knew
the insurance man had no children at
home who needed new shoes. When the
question was asked the insurance man
closed the outer Office door. then went
into the inner office and locked that door
He showed a roll top desk against the
door and after looking into all the draw
ers to see that there was no photograph
abou-. said:
What's your tip"
The next man was banker.
Would To- said the banker.
What want to know is. would
have to hurt anybody. II hardly seems
regular to rob a train. but II I could
get the $500 600 without any risk of get
ting caught and If could get 1t without
hurting anybody. I wouldn't mind. The
insurance companies would cover the loss,
so no one would lose in the deal. III so.
The lawyer spoke in this wise:
:If the aforesaid express package could
be taken so that news of the aforesaid
robbery would not get to the people and
establish a precedent, l plead guilty.
The reporter thought he might have
trouble in getting a confession from the
minister. but the minister answered with
out the slightest hesitation. He even
said loud enough so others standing near
could here:
IF Providence should put $4,000 in
my path where 1 could take the sum
without anyone becoming the wiser. l
would take it as an omen from heaven
and use it to uplift mankind. OF course,
I would want 1t guaranteed that the
money belonged to people engaged In a
nefarious and ungodly occupation. i
would not wish TO remove a large sum
of money from men who would invest 1t
to the glory of God.
Politician Was Careful.
A Republican politician was not enthu-
siastic about going into the robbery bust
ness.
1T might create a business failure"
he said. Il am anxious for my party's
success Every failure will count against
the Republican admin ,stravon."
But suppose the Democrats win and
the opportunity comes after the next
election
"oh." said the Republican. That's an
other question"
A shoe clerk way down on F Street