South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-19
REFORMED CROOK
SAYS King AIDED
tliiil Lii RUDD1RI
Underworld Politicians and
Crooked Lawyers Bleed
Crook lie Says.

~ retains very lltle or the loot or
cash because there's the crooked law
yer who oieeds you Wnile, che t4Ae
Doulsman the go-betwsen. the un-
dersgorld politicians and score OF
lesser fry."
Thus spoke Robert ". ("Kazor'D
FontOn. VINO has served eight and a
haf years behind prison walls. He
has reformed ana ngw Is telling the
world that there's nothing IN the
CIo0k game ~ the end.
Between 'jobs' Fenton used 20
Ioaf IN this town IN quiet way
when the police OF new YORK. Chi
cagO. Pltts0lrs and a lot OF other
cities were hot on his trail.
'Razor" Fcntou's speciality was
picking pockets. though ne often en-
gagged IN ether alleged nefarious
activities.
lie estimated tina. during his
crook" career he had cleaned up
more than $500. 900. His biggest sin
&c JOB netted him 100000 and his
sccond-best job $4,000. The pres
ent King Of England helped him. un-
consciously 20 make the $4,000
touch. ne asserts
There are various grades OF
arist0cracy among the crooks said
Fsuton. we. who figured we were
the big fellows in the game. trav-
eled south with the ,aCatiOnists
and returned with them in the
spring. In the summer we worked
the biggest seashore resorts. We all
ways followed the money around. no
after where it went and, believe
me we made those who could afford
80 pay for our vacations.
u seo where the Chicago police
say that only % pockets We're picked
g. that city during the first week OF
this month. I used 20 pick that
many every day In Chicago when i
was doing business there.
Il used 20 20 10 Hot Springs. Ark
for a month every year. and 1 had
no trouble in picking enough pockets
10 keep myself at a swell hotel.
How King Helped
THE present king of England un-
knowingly aided me In robbing a
man Of 10000" said Fenton. when
he was a duke. in 1901, he visited
Canada The papers were full OF
stories about the great reception
planned for him. In Chicago we were
also planning to receive him. ] went
70 Quebec 10 get a line on things.
When be reached Montreal we de-
cided 10 visit one of the banks. with
the idea OF selecting a victim. 1t
didn't take us long 20 pick a man
who we knew had A considerable
sum Of mnoey on him. We took up
the trail. A reception for the duke
was scheduled that day. While ne
went past i'm his carriage, this man
somehow got an opportunity &c
speak 70 him. and while they were
conversing I robbed him Of 100000.
T. was so easy IL was a shame 10 do
#. But in spite Of the size Of the
haul It profted me nothing in the
lend.
But you say. what did you do
with all the money!
'uH tell you. To begin with, 1 had
the teaches to feed The first was
the crooked lawyer. He doesn't ask
you how. or when, or where YOU got
the money. All he wants 10 know is
that YOU have il. and then he tries 70
get as much out OF YOU as he can.
Then I had 10 square myself with
the 'ixer'-the man who has a pull
with the police and the courts.
There was the bondsman 20 pay
the fellow who puts up a piece Of
worthless property he wants TO get
nd Of and which he offers the court
as security for prisoners appear
ance when the trial comes up. The
professional bondsman is a generous
fellow 20 himself He viii let you
escape with your shirt providing It's
well worn and of no further use.
Then there was the great under
world 20 help support-the saloon
keepers the einmius. the cabarets.
and the like. because that IS the
game of the underworld. and II you
are a member OF II you play the
game that way Ali this kept me
broke Those people got the money
] stole. ] didn't set one worthwhile
thing out Of 10.
What was worse. 7 paid twice
over for that deal. NY brother false
Is identified as myself was sont to
prison for a term, and is months
later I was brought hack and did
time on the same count.
THE man who steals IS robbed Of
the best things he has. II YOU count
3only the money. a man who has been
81 a legitimate business for 90 years
wuold have something 20 show for e
~ he had made the money in the
length Of time 7 did. After beinE in