The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-01-27
A Bowery
Experience
BY MARTIN SHARPE


trip to that city took occasion to visit
it. was strolling along 1t when
man suddenly confronted me. and by
his manner | knew that he was
crook.
AS to his appearance there was moth
| ing very bad about 1t. Only small
thieves have a rundown, disagreeable
look. He beckoned me to follow him
and went down into dive very near
where l had met him. hesitated for
a moment; then my caution gave way
before what l fancied might be an
opportunity to see something of New
York crook life. and Joined him at
a table in the saloon.
II didr't know you we're out" he
said.
The man had evidently mistaken me
for some one else. Willing to let him
talk. i feigned reticence.
"I've got a job in view and want
another man. Are you openT'
| / told him that It depended on what
the job was and led him on to devel-
op his scheme. A butler to a wealthy
family was ready to act with him and
had told him that a daughter OF the
house was about to be married and
valuable wedding presents were COM
ing in.
The butler, whose regular duty was
to shut up the house nights, was to let
the crook in, in order that he might
have free access to the gifts. / was
| wanted to help carry of the swag.
l endeavored to get the man to tell me
the location Of the house, but he was
J too sharp for me. He agreed to meet
me at designated place on the night
he proposed to make the haul and take
me with him. / was to keep watch
and help carry Off the plunder. After
settling all details we parted, and
went straight to police headquarters
and reported my experience.
was told that my information
would be worthless unless 1 would con-
sent to go with the man to make the
robbery. We would be shadowed and
caught red handed. l didn't like the
Job very WELL but they told me that
might expect liberal reward from
the family who were to be robbed and,
since was not over well supplied with
funds, l consented.
was to call every day at the saloon
where l had met the crook for notifi-
cation of time and place of meeting
with him. On the third day the bar
keeper handed me an envelope, In
which was slip of paper advising me
to be at certain corner On the Bow
cry at q certain hour the same night.
My pal would pass me, and | was to
follow him. but ! was not to recognize
or notice him. When he neared the
house he was to slow up under gas
light. which was to tell me that he was
within few doors of the crib. Then
was to draw near 80 that j could keep
him In view. My position was to be at
the point he entered, to watch and wait
for further orders.
At the appointed hour ! was at my
post and took pains to stand directly
in the light where those who shadow
ed me could see me. My man did not
straight past without looking at me.
/ followed him as he had directed, and
he led me into a street where there
were several of those old fashioned
downtown residences that when built
were the finest in the city and some
still occupied by the descendants Of
their Dutch builders. He stopped near
one of them, looked at his watch, then
went on slowly. 1t was o'clock In
the morning, and the street was de-
serted. He went up onto front bal
cony OF large house, opened win
dow that had been left unlocked and
disappeared in the darkness.
Time was given him by the police to
get together considerable property.
Then l was relieved by plain clothes
man and went back on to the sidewalk,
where | saw men surrounding the
house. When my pal had filled sack
he brought it to me and was quietly
told to throw mp his hands. Then at
signal several men ran In from the
street and the capture was made with
out disturbance.
The burglar, was told, was very
hot against me for giving him away
and vowed that II he ever got a chance
he would kill me, though he still be-
lieved l was the crook he had mistak.
en- me for. The police kindly went
through the photographs in the rogues'
gallery and found me-that is, my ex-
act counterpart was not especially
pleased TO find that so nearly resem-
bled a criminal, but was cOmforted
that the picture did not give such an
impression. insisted on the burglar
being informed of his mistake lest he
should carry out his threat on the
wrong party.
1t turned out that there were $5.o0e
or $1,000 worth OF wedding gifts In the
house to be robbed, and the burglar
: had put more than half OF 1t In the
, sack he had brought to me. Had he
been properly supported he would un'
ioubtedly have got away with all the
brides property. received thou
sand dollar check from her father, @
portion of which spent in seeing New
York, The butler was arrested, and
on Ihy evidence and discriminating prop