From Boniface to Bank Burglar; Or, The Price of Persecution: How a Successful Business Man, Through the Miscarriage of Justice, Became a Notorious Bank LooterWhite, George M. (George Miles)
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From Boniface to Bank Burglar; Or, The Price of Persecution: How a Successful Business Man, Through the Miscarriage of Justice, Became a Notorious Bank Looter
White, George M. (George Miles)
Bank robberies -- United States; Criminals -- Biography; White, George M. (George Miles)
“I was wondering whether you were one of the bunch captured,” remarked
Billy Matthews, whom I went to see at 681 Broadway, the same day I
arrived back in New York. I related, in all its details, the story
of the gang’s exploits, from the moment we left Steubenville, not
forgetting our abortive attempt on the West Virginia bank, how we had
been surprised by the deputies, nor neglecting to tell how I used, on
the train, in self-defence, the little woman and her sweet babe.
“The newspapers printed a pretty full account of the robbery,” Billy
went on, “and I guessed, from the description of the prisoners, that
you had managed to keep out of the pinch, and I knew that Eddie Hughes
had. That fellow’s a hard one to catch when he keeps away from dope,
and he hadn’t been using it for some time when he left here with you.
If ever he comes to grief, it will be the poison that’ll do it.”
How prophetic these words were I shall relate in another volume. We
talked considerably about Hughes, conjecturing as to whether he would
come back to New York, Billy finally expressing the opinion that he was
too wise, owing to the feeling of the police toward him. Hughes had not
“squared up” the last “trick,” and now he possessed too much money.
The remainder of the week I occupied in preparing myself for another
journey to Steubenville, but under vastly different circumstances.
When, early in the following week, I found myself there, stopping at
another hotel, the observer would have seen what appeared to be a
highly respectable business man, attired in the newest cut of cloth,
and wearing a shining beaver. It may have been unwise to thus clothe
myself, some of my critics will possibly aver, having in mind the
gentleman burglar of to-day and the mission that took me there the
second time; but in those days that slick, smooth knight of the jimmy
we hear so much about now was unknown except in sensational novels in
yellow covers. The authorities who were after me would not be looking
for any one but the hard-up, trampish-looking individual I was when the
Cadiz bank was looted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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