Year: 1879

LAMB being provided with the navy revolver


furnished by ths tkfeuce.' The two men in


the store we're so long without giving d
signal that at last FREEMAN was dropped down


the hole to search for them. His visit nearly
| cost him his life at the hands of the surprised


burglars: The description of the work inside


WIS graphic. During the whole time they


were there the private watchman on the
| outside made his regular visits to the door,
and, finding it locked, went away again; those


inside seeing him distinctly each time, and
those outside lettering around watching him


and getting drinks in ueighboring saloons


The thieves insids had given the signal


that they were ready to come ont, but


those outside had failed to see It, Finally


they went out, had the wagon brought to
the hnck door, all helped to 1oad up tho
silks in hurry, and then they drove by q


circuitous route to State street. It was then


half-past O'Clock. FRKEHAN left tie wagon


and went to FRKDBEnG's, notified him the


goods were at hand, and was told to drive up


to the front door, he asking if the burglars


had 'sguns." When the Silence" was reached


the two men On the wagon each took 8


bundle of goods and carried it into the store.


More goods were brought in. DENNIS got


va!ise from FR1EDBERG, and was in the wagon


6tfingit with handkerchiefs, and FREEMAN was


going to the wagon with another, when he saw


what he supposed wasan officer, and FREEMAN


sneaked: away. The officer went towards the


wagon. LAMB and DuRPuEx, who had been


in doorway, appeared and walked towards


the wagon. FREEMAN was then crossing the


street and heard shot. During the
journey from the scene Of the burglary TO


the ''fence, FREEMAN asserts that IA,B car
ried the navy revolver; and the ball with
which the officer Was killed Was one of larger
calibre (42) than is carried by ordinary pistols.


We are not discussing the question of
LAB's guilt, nor whether it was proven that
he did the actual shooting. We ara directing
attention to the pitiable, degraded, besotted
life of professional criminals. All these men
we're lifelong thieves. LAMB added intem-
perance to hiscrimes. FREEMAN was weak in
body and in mind, and generally worked as an
assistant and under the control Of stronger
mind than his own. His picture of this
conspiracy to rob, ending in the murder of the
officer, his own immediate and instructive
aversion for LAND, to whom be. had always
evident despair and sense Of abandon
ment by his associates, though not the work
of an educated or over-intelligent man, is
nevertheless powerful and instructive one.
The changes from plenty Of money to abject
want; from freedom to Imprisonment and to
severe treatment in prison; from the hope
Of rich reward from thefts to the attempt to
hide from pursuing justice, are told as
mere matter-of~fact experience. and not |
from any purpose to be sensational or senti- |
mental. Except in the instructive desire to |
get sway from LAMB, after fhe murder, there
is not trace of sentiment OF feeling in the |
whole narrative of FREEMAN. It is 9 color !
less, direct, naked statement Of fact, unem-
bellished in any particular, but none the less
graphic because realistic, none the less intense
because lacking in sentiment. It is q recital
that on its face negatives tbs suspicion of |
fancy or imagination. There is nothing in
he bald recital to excite sympathy for the
nothing to inspire admiration
here was no evidence Of courage, manliness,
IT any relic OF moral feeling; there was
nothing to captivate the imagination, OF lead
.ven the most boyish ambition to wish to
>e one Of tho craft. It was the plain,
history Of q conspiracy to
'urglarize and steal for the sake of getting
money to spend in drink, and idleness, and
RI


Without thought higher than vulgar theft,
nd pawnbrokar, older in years, mora i'll
amous than his hirelings, a man above
vant, surrounded by a family, yet SO intent
IA gain that to secure it he counseled rob-
'ery, theft, and, if necessary, murder.