The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-04-09

and six months was his sentence and this at
hard labor.
Before Stewart was taken into custody of
the Minneapolis authorities we had several
long talks. ! told him that ! thought | rec
ognized, despite his exquisite pose and pol
ish, some of the traditional earmarks of the
convict about him.
you've served prison term beforp,
haven't youl" asked.
"Now that you've guessed my number and
know me to be u lag (convict) I'd like you
to hear my story" he replied.
AS you know am II Yankee-a Yankee
OF old Revolutionary stock at that. Some
where way back in the history of my family
there must have been black sheep from
whom inherited my criminal streak, for Il
heritage IT certainly is. | had had every care
taken with my rearing, but from early boy
hood had the instincts of blackleg.
'In 1885 / was sent up to the Massachu-
sets state reformatory for highway robbery
near Salem. For good behavior | was par
doned two years before the expiration Of the
term, and determined to turn straight, hut
fell in with some of my old bad companions
and with another young fellow assaulted
and tied up n iewelry salesman in one Of the
best stores in Danbury, Conn, and took $l0.-
600 in jewels. For that spent twelve years
IN state S prison, but again for good behavior
the term was shortened.
"Alter that went into the army think
ing to live down the past. Receiving an hon
orable discharge at the expiration of my en-
lstmenl ! went TO Chicago and got work
with an express company. Things went along
finely until ! was offered n better position
with the company, which made it necessary
TO obtain bond,
"Righi here my success proved to be my
undoing. In order to procure the bond had
TO account for pretty nearly every year Of my
life Needless TO say the fact that had spent
fifteen years in prisons or reiOrmatOries made
me poor risk, and being unable TO obtain
the bond lost the position which would have
given me $50 month about twice as much
as ! had been getting.
discouraged, | went u work in the wheat
fields of Minnesota and by dint of hard work,
saving and clean living managed TO get to-
gethcr $50 by the time the harvest was over.
| went to ST. Paul to look for work and while
there n pickpocket 'frisked' me for every
cent | owned. Even then | determined TO
make one supreme effort TO get back into
the right path again and if the effort failed
well, | would let the future take care Of
itself.
"That attempt did fail The result was
the Pinault robbery.
"Well, you know the rest fell and you
rounded me up, but might as well tell you
that even when you were closest on my trail
! was reaping my harvest here, for | could
not resist the temptation of taking any adj
vantage that offered itself and many night
! strolled from my rooms here and with ease
stuck up defenseIess and unsuspccting citi-
zens. | happened to meet for their entire
bank rolls and their iewelry. | did u good
business in that line while in New York and
! took good care TO plant the money. III
need II some day. But New York is easy for
a man who knows how. Give me one month
here and III fix myself for life"
That was the last | saw of Stewart. No
doubt he proved TO he the model prisoner he
had always been, and when he comes out of
prison he may either turn straight or else go
back to the old life In any event he will
bear watching and shall keep my eye on
him, no matter where he settles. But he is
without doubt the smartest thief / ever
knew.
Next Month-"Man With the Largest
Criminal Record, by Inspector Joseph Eau
rot, head Of the New York detective bureau;
Copyright. 1871