The San Francisco call., 1913-07-20

nially attractive to men of loose
morals and profitable to the hawks.
But the end was at hand. The au-
thorities began to close up the gam
bling dens. Even those who enjoyed
the highest police protection kept
open under conditions of painful pre-
caution. The detectives, under the
sting of criticism. began to curtail the
operations of the wire-tappers. Dutch
Alonzo, true to his tendencies, had
kept nothing of his enormous gains.
He was poor; he made small borrow
ings just to keep his head above water.
The tradition that thieves help each
other in misfortune is more romantic
than accurate. Then came the Rosen-
thai murder, and the final curtain on
gambling was run down with clang.
Several nights before his death
Alonzo met wealthy fence whose
specially is the purchase of stolen
bends. They had done much business
together. Alonzo asked for SO.
The fence" eyed him contemptu-
ously, turned on his heel and walked
away without word. That unkindest
cut showed Alonzo HEM that he was
indeed down and out He decided to
and 1t all. Returning to his garret
room, he swallowed a dose of morphine
and died.
Thus ended in desperation and de-
feat this daring enemy Of civilization.
He was never under any delusions
about his occupation and discoursed a
cynical philosophy when among those
to whom he gave frankness. He stole
because he liked to steal, liked the
money to indulge his prodigality-and
why not? Did he not take from those
whom he argued had committed eco
nomic crimes? Bankers have robbed
for thousands OF years. They have OPP
pressed the people. Have ] not right
to rob them?" On religion he had
views Of his own. He believed In the
migration OF souls. and that in the
course of the ages the animating prin-
ciples had TO assume innumerable
roles. MY SOUL" he would say, has
been doctor. merchant, lawyer, and now
1t Is on Its last phase, the name OF
which you can supply yourself"
But what of his associates, the others
OF the Forty Thieves-Shang Draper's
gang, The men who had assisted Dutch
Alonzo in SO many Of his piratical
raids? On them, too, has fallen the
retribution that society inevitably ex-
acts from those who defy her laws.
However romantic and picturesque ap-
pear their exploits, the moral Is in the
way OF their deaths. Truly they who
live By violence have violence meted
out to them. Shang Draper alone re-
mains.
Here Ia brief is how the others met
their ends:
Johnny Irving. one of the Northamp-
ton bank robbers, who obtained more
than $1,000 in securities. was killed
by his companion in Draper's place.
Billy Porter, also one OF the North.
ampton gang, was tried for the muir
der of Irving, but acquitted. He was
afterward sentenced from France to
Cayenne. where he died, and his body
was taken out into the bay and thrown
to the sharks.
Red" Leary. bank burglar. whom
columns might be written. was slair
in this city by William Train ane
his body was buried by subscription.
Ned Lyons, the bank burglar who was
credited with helping to steal millions,
died in charity hospital in New York.
Likewise "sheeny Mike" Kurtz. Johnny
Jordan was found dead and penniless
In . Southampton hotel
"Rufe" Minor met his end In q
cheap lodging house in Paris. Big
Frank Mccoy died In the city hospital
on Blackvelrs Island. Shell" Ham
ilton was buried from a Western
prison, and Tip" Little from the Clin-
ton prison In Dannemora.
- r. nxxs 81