The Washington herald., 1921-12-31
NOTED BANK THIEF
SEEKS QUIET LIFE,
SAYS M'INTYRE
"Snarkey the Hat" Au-
thor of Unique Slang
OF Underworld.
BY o. o. MCINTYRE

NEW YORK. Dec. 30.-"Snarkey
the Hat" has settled down to a life of
peace and quiet In a little street on
the caves Of Chinatown street flled
with young mothers and scrawny old
children. He has a little corner candy
shop where he will dole out loliy-pops
and penny ice cream bricks to the
-neighborhood.
In the old days "Snarkey" was q
bank thief-a snarker of talent. He
once grabbed a $4,000 packet of bills.
adroitly slipped 1t into his hat and in
the mIx-up led the chase for planted
confederate down the street. Hence
the moniker 'Snarkey. the Hat
He has done two stretches up the
river and he knows the loneliness of
San Quentin and Joliet. In the old
days when underworld life bubbled
about Fourteenth street, "Snarkey'
was parsonage. He was quick or
the trigger and had a way with
women.
When the chase grew hot. he travelled
in ocean, liners as the sportive young
millionaire, trimming passengers In
the card rooms. At. st. Morits one
season he gained the confidence of a
rich Austrian lady. planned a hold.
up in which he was to play the gallant
and got away with Jewels valued at
$4,000. The lady still writes to hin,
as a bold knight.
For years he rode the top waves of
a&senture. But at so the thrill lost
its zest. He began TO tumble his
leads" and he told friends that the
night before he had planned a final
job he suffered so from paipitation
OF the heart that he gave It up.
"Snarkey" is responsible for much
picturesque underworld slang. II was
he who gave the name "a grand" to
$1,000 bill and "a century" to a
800 note. The thiefs female con.
federate he gave the name OF Mol
Buzzer."
He is still a handsome, outstanding
figure, with silver gray hair. arts
tically shaped hands and an expression
as bland and naive as the country
pumpkin. He has convinced the police
of his good intentions and they are
leaving him alone but watching care
fully.
Milady's couture II not a couture
these days. 1t consists OF a head
dress. a band of gold and a silver
cloth wrapped tightly around the head
and entirely covering the hair. The
French ladies with Premier Brands
party brought the innovation over
from Paris. The ladies also wore
plain white evening frocks at the
cafes and theaters.
Strange types people this complex me
tropolis. He Is a man who has lived all
over the world-from New York to
Pekin. He is scholarly and artistic.
He devises artistic dances for classical
performers and writes brochures on
ponderous topics for a weighty insti-
tuition Of higher learning. / have
never failed to meet him in a slovenly
restaurant, a notorious night life place
on Tenth avenue. His companion is
bulldog jawed taxi-driver with husky
gin voice. They talk the jargon OF
the saloon back room. At other times
at infrequent visits to a smart cafe
I have also never failed TO see him
with a group OF scholars, writer's and
poets.
Two vaudeville stars OF other years
are now featured in Broadway cab
arets. Theatrical agents say that
without the cabarets in and around
New York there would be many starv-
ing members Of the profession. Many
stage folk who have spacious apart
mcnt. last year are now living in small
rooms in drab boarding houses on the
West Side. it has been one OF the
hardest winters the theatrical profess
sion has ever known.