The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-29

Y VERY often a burglar finds among his
" loot a lot OF articles of little or
no intrinsic value. but worth pos.
sibly thousands of dollars to their owner
Such articles. If disposed of in the regu.
lar way to 4 fence" or professional re-
ceiver OF stolen property would often net
but small returns whereas the same ar.
ticles if worked back" to the owners
through tactful negotiation might bring
thousands Of dollars.
Because of my ability in working back"
articles in this manner my services we're
frequently enlisted by professional house.
breakers in years gone by. In this way
came to know many of the most notorious
Of them quite intimately. Then, too, was
'n' on several jobs myself. If burglary
presented an exception to the general rule
that crime does not pay | think, there
fore that would be in as good a position
as any one to testify to it.
AS matter of fact. throughout all my
experience in the underworld the conclu.
sion was continually being forced upon
me that life Of crime cannot pay and
that the house breaker. however success.
full he may prove for while. Is bound to
lose out in the end.
The truth of the matter Is that the
housebreaker, like every other profession.
a. criminal is an inveterate gambler
When he is in funds he squanders his
money, and then when times are bad and
one lob" after another seems TO go
wrong. he has nothing TO fall back on. For
weeks at time even the most Success.
full burglars have found it hard work to
secure three meals day During such
periods they lead the existence OF out.
But even when the burglar is not
harassed by actual want there are many
other things to worry him. The fear OF
arrest is constantly in his mind He is a
hunted man. II Is fact that some burg.
lars are occasionally stricken with remorse
for some of their heartless deeds One of
the cases | speak OF to-day presents an
instance OF this. Then. too, the burglar is
constantly jeopardizing his life and lib.
erty in pursuing his dangerous vocation
The householder has no hesitancy in
shooting TO Kill when he comes upon an
Intruder, and the burglar carries his life
IN his hands
Even with money in his pocket, there.
fore, the professional house breaker is
constantly asking himself the question.
Does 1t pay? Is the game worth the can.
de and from what | know of the game
feel warranted in saying that In nine
cases OUT OF ten the answer is in the mega
tive. CRIME DOES NOT PAY.
II IS a fact that the horror experienced
py householder upon discovering an in.
Tuder In his room is far less than the tax
upon the nerves 4f the burglar himself
From the moment the housed breaker makes
MS entry he is under the most intense
stra!n The shock he experiences when
ne Is discovered is enough to make even
the oravest quail. Al the slightest sus
pic!ous sound he is ready to turn tail and
run II Is only when he finds himself cor.
ne!eo mat ne puts up q fight. Then he Is
oscked by the courage Of desperation, and
escape Is the only thing he thinks Of
no burglar ever encountered greater
surprise tAan that which met Pete" Kel.
ley. the notorious second.story man. some
years ago. | was not in on the lob in
the hrst place, but Kelley cot me to work
back some OF the loot and that is how |
came 10 hear his own story OF his remark.
able experience
ms Kelley was a very clever second.
story man. Some house. breakers obtain
an entrance by way % the front or back
ooor. Others climb w the porch and get
II oy way OF the second-story windows
THESE are known as the second.story men.
and Kelley was one OF the best Of them
The particular JOB 10 which l referred
TOOK place n Kansas City Kelley took
IN theatre one night, and there he saw
the wife Of d wealthy man Of the town
Her display Of jewels dazzled him. He
made up his mind 70 get them II il we're
possible.
He followed the couple home and spent
me following three days studying the
habits OF the inmates OF the house
Every time the husband or the wife left
the house he or one Of his pals trailed hin
or her! As a result OF this espionage
Kelley satisfied himself that the family pos
sessed no safe deposit vault or, II the,
did, that the jewels which the lady hac
worn al the theatre, Ct any rate. had no
been deposited in their safe.deposi, box
because neither Of them had visited N,
vault
From all he could gather the household
consisted OF the husband and wife ant
three servants Kelley had ascertainec
that their usual hour for dining was sever
o'clock. Quite frequently they had con,
pany for the evening meal and the dime
was seldom over before eight, giving al
energetic second-story man full hour L
work uninterruptediy.
Kelley bided his time On the tour,l
day of watching he decided his opportunit
had arrived. He had watched the hous
from early morning being relieved a
times by pal in whom he had the utmos
confidence.
at seven O'Clock the mental pctur