Newspaper Page Text
TiMBS-BNTBRPRISE, THOMABWIp LE, OCTOBER 14, 1904.
*£ Superstitions of Criminals.
Lawbreakers Have an Astonishing
©read of Religion and Awe b'f the
' Bible—Deathfbr Those Who “ Squeal.”
gttlUIXALS ftffc peculiarly
superstitious. Everylydy
v. ho knows auytiilnjr about
them and their trays knows
that. Many of their su-
perstitions have beeu invented and are
peculiar to themselves. They are not
Mhose common to ordinary humanity.
'They liavo a unique distinction. And
•of nil criminals none are so filled with
superstitions as pickpockets,, and the
stttaxijrc feeling of dread, graduates to
'*** imposing safe “buster.” bank
nr.rglar and petty, thief, the latter class
* oing least fearful of results on ao
count of their peculiar superstitions.
Xo better place exists in the world
to study the peculiar superstitions of
•‘crooks'’ than within the walls of the
.prisons where these featherless birds
■sire caged, and the few. following lft-
•cidents gleaned from a retired old
keeper of Sing Sing Prison
cepted ys tru<> ar.d will serve to demon-
• strata how, criminals are governed
rnorr or less by some occult influence,
y ‘CROOKS” AND THE BIBLE,
* Ordinary "crooks” have a most as
tonishing dread of religion and regard
"he Bible with a superstitious awe and
'.great reverence. If a “crook,” there
fore, can further his Ideas by using
the Scriptures, he considers he has
found asafe and sure mascot. The
Bible is put to all manner of uses,
iminy times in a way which would call
•down wrath from Heaven itself. Many
of the thieves who have been “Jugged”
use the leaves of the tracts and Bibb's
which have been given then; by mis
sionaries to make fires .with which to
boil coffee.
‘ According to the old prison keeper,
lie often saw 1he leaves of the Bible
used in that- manner, and It was a Ioiir
time before he became aware of the
reason, aud why it. was sought after
more than any other kind of paper,
any quantity of which could be had
foe the asking
“Those .follows keep their secrets
■well to themselves.” lie said; “and It Is
only after they are thoroughly confident
that t r .iry are speaking to friends that
1ho y' are willing to Impart rfny In for*
inpilon to those outside the pale of the
Maternity.
*'£ befriended a long term prisoner
on an occasion when ho was about to
bo brought up to explnin*an infraction
of the rules of the prison, and my in*
torferenco in his behalf saved him
irom severe punishment. I was his
friend after that. lie told me the se-
•oret of burning the leaves of the Hi-
‘The Bible Is the best book In
Lbe world/- lie said, ‘aud it puts a bet
ter bead on the coffee.’ That was nil.
“It Is not alone for heating coffee
thav they want the Bible. They be
lieve that if they can call in the Bibb
to help them out in any transaction
they are sure to win out. I recall an
instancy of the kind vividly. A man
was imprisoned* for burglary. He was
a necrose, sullon fellow, and cigarmak*
«*r by trade. He attended services in
chapel regularly, and had the op*
pearunce t>f being deeply Imbued with
religious fervor. Finally he declared
that, he had been converted, and kep;
a copy of the Bible with him at ail
Buies, He read Jt in Ills cell, and car
ried it about with him so regularly
that It cnme to be looked upon as par.
?£ him.
"CONCEALED CIOARS IN BIBLE.
3» CHARLES R. PRICE’.
t “It was while lie became a convert
that a wholesale cigarmaker contract
ed tq have liis goods made by convict
labor. Our religious long timer was
V-ut to work in the factory. His Bible
was with him at all times, and noth
ing suspicious was ever thought of the
occurrence. But cigars soon began to
be missed in appallingly large quanti
fies. At the end of each day they
would melt away as if by magic until
the situation looked serious, and filial
ly the contractor was forced to dis-
.•outinue the contract or face ruin.
lAThe leak did not stop, although
2very man was put to work to discov
?r the culprit, and every man was
searched before he left the shop. De
spite all these precautions, the thief
was not discovered till long afterward,
lie was our long termer. He had hol
lowed out the inside of the Bible, leav
ing about an Inch margin for the wall.;
of his box. In that cavity he packed
away a fine lot of clears every night,
nobody even suspecting the demure
and devout cigarmaker. At night he
divided the weeds among the other con
victs and they smoked them on the sly.
lie explained he was sure the trick
would win, because lie had used the
Bible. It did. too.
DEATH TO SQUEALERS.
“It is death to the jail bird who
squeals’ on another. Criminals of a
?ert:iiu class feel thnt in prison they
ire bound to keep their hands in at
stealiug; otherwise, they say, when
their terms expire they will be rusty
at their business and do bungling jobs.
The result Is they steal while in con
finement. They never let an opportun
ity pass, no matter whether the arti
cle stolen is of the slightest value to
them or anybody else or not. They
merely want to keep their hands in.
The more difficult the Job the better
they seem to like it. In the latter in
stance. if .successful, they feel that
they arc not then, and will not be, a
dlsgrcc-? to the fraternity when they
are iv if ascii.
“It is not ibe natural devil that Is
within them, but a veritable and estab-
listed system of superstition.
“No tirlmlnal would assume that his
Machinery would go on working as
well as ever after his time was up.
His cunning would desert him uuless
he kept the machinery oiled by con
stant practice in jail. It Is not only in
Sing Sing, but In every prison in the
land where these Jail birds are gath
ered together that the officials have ft
never ending series of theftd to ttto-
ravel.
“I remember an instfthce wheft thft
trusties in the pantry were bothered
niftiest to death by thefts of the but
ter. Spies were stationed and eyetf
known trap was laid to enteft the pur-
lofner, but the disappearance of the
butter conttniied and the stock dimin
ished fts rapidly ns ever. It seemed
if some invisible hand was at work.
Maybe it was. By accident a big stftck
of butter was discovered lb a barrel
In n corner of ft shanty inside of the
grounds. ' •
'•The thief had, apparently, no earth
ly use for the butter, but he stole it
Just to. keep his hand in.. He was
never discovered. And so It Will ton-
tinue so long as such eriniinais are
confined. They ntt a set of perfect
wlxnrds. t)ne would be not only as
tonished, but absolutely non-plussed
at the way those fellows can steal
when it would bo considered Impossi
ble for them to hide their useless loot.
THE SUPERSTITION ABOUT PIC*
TURKS.
“No burglar. If ho possibly con
avoid it, will have the photograph of
a person looking at him from ft wall,
dresser or mantel while hft 16 carrying
on his work. He doesn't want eyes
resting Upon him while he Is operat
ing, and If he haft plenty of time to
carry on operations, every picture or
photograph will be found turned to
the wall after he leaves. It makes no
difference to him whether the picture
or portrait is that of the living or Of
the dead.
Burglars are great believers in all
sorts of spirit communications between
the next world and this one.”
As an exemplification of that fact
related by the old prison keeper, after
the burglary which took place nt Third
avenue and Thirty-fourth street not
so very long ago. It was discovered by
the Central Office detectives that all
the large engravings, a group of pic
tures of the members of tlio firm and
one of a Grand Army encampment,
were all turned face to the wall. It is
the invisible presence of witnesses
thnt they dread tbo most, and what
ever suggests or resembles this must
be removed before they can operate
with a feeling of comfort.
Burglars entered the home of an
aged recluse several years ago In West
chester County, and after binding the
old man and gagging him. they were
In the act of looting the house when
their glances fell upon the pictures of
the Saviour and Blessed Virgin in a
corner of the room. This unexpected
bodyguard of the old recluse so dis
turbed the robbers tbnt, although they
mustered up sufficient courage to turn
the pictures to the wall, the incident
proved to be too much for their nerves.
At least, they compromised with tbo
devil. Under the pillow on the bed
were n roll of bills and a gold watch
and chain. They took the cash, left
the Jewelry and made no further ef
fort to search the house for the fortune
the old man was reputed to have.
SKELETONS SCARED HIM.
“I remember one crook,” continued
the aged keeper of criminals, ”a daring
young devil, who spent a short term
during the latter years of my life at
Sing Sing, who planned to enter and
rob a store In Nassau street. The deal
er sold jewelry and optical goods. In
the rear of the store he had a number
of small skeleton figures suspended
from the ceiling. In the eye sockets
of each skeleton were brilliant stones
representing diamonds. They were
merely advertisements for his busi
ness. The young burglar to whom I
refer entered the store by way of a
rear window one night, and the first
things that confronted him were the
swinging skeletons. To use a little
slang, he fell in a,fit. The grewsome
looking things appeared bad enough in
the daytime, but they looked so weird
at night, and^ the brilliant eyes from
the reflection of the electric lights in
the street had such an impression on
the young fellow that, he told me af
terwards, the first thing be did was to
smash the skeleton advertisements in
to fragments before he began his work
of looting the place.
“The Incident so unnerved him that
he made a miscalculation, which re
sulted in bis arrest and conviction. He
got off with a light sentence because |
of his youth and influence, but he con
fided to me that anybody who took the
pains to bang a skeleton around any
room In the house was safe, so fsr as
he was concerned. The precaution
would be just as effective as surround
ing the bouse with a cordon of police.
He said to me that he would have noth
ing to do with any place where skel
etons were banging around, and I be
lieve him. *
“Those are but a few instances of
thousands bearing on the superstitions !
of criminals. They are probably suf- i
ficlent, however, to serve to show that j
there is scarcely one of the crooked j
fraternity who has not his individual <
and peculiar superstitious belief and I
fete” " J
A QUICK RECOVERY.
A PromUsat Ofttde* bf the ttebeccai
WritaA td £ftahk Doaa'I Kidney Pill*
•wotHj.*; •
b. E. Bunignrduer, a local office!;
of tlie Rebeccas, ot
Topeka, Kane., Room
10, 812 Kansan are-;
jlaej writes; “I used
Doan's Kidney Pills
during tbs past year,
tor kidney trouble and
kindred ailments. 1
was suffering from
pains In tbo back and
beadacbes, but fonnd
after tbe use of one
boa of tbe remedy:
that tbe troubles
gradually disappeared, 1
(0 that before 1 bad
Bnished S second
package 1 trim well.
I, therefore, heartily
endorse your remedy.”
(Signed) idR8. 0. E. ilOMGAIlDNER.
A FREE TRIAL—Address Foster-
Mllburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y. For sale
by all dealera. Price, BO cents.
Advertising «• a Pine Art;
.As fill illustration of the Japaneie
advance In tbs art of advertising can
anything be more complete than this?
"Our wrapping paper Is. aa strong
as the hide ot an elepiiaat, Oo.ds
forwarded with the speed of a can
non bait. Our silks and Satins ara
KS idft St the cheeks of a pretty
Woman, as beautiful as a rainbow.
Our parcels are packed with as much
care as a young married woman takes
of her husband."
(AM9-04)
CURED In one night bv
ROYAL‘FOOT WASH,
Removal oftOfi of feet, arm pits, etc. Stops
chafing, no at drugflsts or postpaid from
EATON DRUG CO., Atlanta. Oa. Monty
SLOAN’S
LINIMENT
I KILLS
I PAIN
i for FARM
I factor®
family use
l AN ENTIRE
1 MEDICINE
CHE5T
OH EARL S SLOAN.
615 At B ANY 5T BOSTON MA55.
WHY GET SOAKED
, /,/, / / 7 WHIM 143
HARDWT STORM?
K FOR A30VE TBADE HASH BtWtfC Of IMITATION*
CATtLOOUIS MIC
IHOWINO ruu. UNI OT 0ARMCHT8 AND HAT*.
A. <1. TOW Ell CO., BOSTON, MAS*.. U.S.A.
TWINtANAPtAN OO , 1TP„ TORONTO, CANADA.
Glove Wearers.
"It It i peculiar fact that the
Southerners have small Hands. 1
i-areiy sail a size okef id; add tn«
average slzee are from 7 to 9. In the
North toe average else la from 10
td 12. Another peculiar faftt Is that
east of the Mississippi I sell, the
dreseed ktds, while weet of the rivet,
even in St. Louis, the demand It tor
mochas. I vary seldom sell a smooth
ly dressed glove west of the Missis-
stppt. Styles have changed, cities
have changed, Milwaukee has.chang
ed and men have changed during the
12 years I have been selling gloves,
t have travelled out ot Milwaukee
fourteen years and never before was
Interviewed about tbs business.
Amohg the cowboys the geunlet for
merly reigned supreme, and nothing
fceuld be sold theih but a finely drees-
oa gauhtiet of tile beat biickskln,
which Is plain, but as carefully mads
as this finest Imported kid from
France. The cowmen are extremely
particular about their gloves, and
wear out a good many pairs. They
are as particular about their gloves
as the Northerner Is about his white
shirt or stand-up collar."—Milwsukci
Wisconsin.
FITS permanently cured. No fits or nervous
ness after first day's use ot Dr. Stine’s Orest
NerveRestoror.OStrlal bottleend treatise free
Dr. It. H. Kr.isK.Ltd., 1)81 ArohSt.,Pblla., Po.
PIso'iCurelor Consumption Is an Infnllibli
medicine for coughs end colds.—N. W;
Samuel, Ocean Grove, N. J., Feb, 17,1907.
JAPAN'S CONSTITUTION.
Having failed to get practical results
In producing rainfall by use of explo
sives, tbo same Fronch experimenters
ore now trying to ward off hailstorms
by explodlog bombs In advance of
approaching storms, with results so far
encouraging, the Massachusetts
Ploughman stater.. A successful de
vice of this kind would be a treasure
tor tbe tobacci growers.
How It Differs From the ^(Institu
tions of Occidental Nations.
There Is an Important difference
between tbe Constitutions of West
ern nations and thdt ot Jdpdn. The
former aro tho outcome ot popular
uprisings against the tyranny of rul
ers—In other words, ot a demand, ns
ot natural right, by the people. Con
sequently, even In monarchical Eu
rope, constitutions are drawn in such
terms as to lay the greatest stress
upon popular rights, while at tbe
Bams time curtailing the power of the
sovereign.
The Japanese constitution, on the
other hand, emanated from tbe Em
peror, tho fountainhead of all power,
Before the people dreamed of popu
lar rights or of a Parliament, the
Emperor had already marked out the
grand policy of establishing consti
tutional government In the future,
because of his evident desire and
purpose to elevate the country to an
equal place among the civilized na
tions of the world, not only because
he wished It, but also because that
course was In strict accordance with
the national policy bequeathed by
his ancestors.
Following that policy, our constitu
tion wai drawn up with close adher-
cnco to and careful preservation ot
the fundamental principle ot tho Im
perial Government from time Imme
mortal.
In form, however, It Is similar to
Western constitutions, with this dif
ference, that the text of our oonitl-
tutlons contains only the fundamen
tal principles of state—namely, the
prerogatives cf the Emperor; the
rights and duties of the people; the
powers of Parliament; the powers
and duties of ministers of etate and
Judiciary and finance.
These are all embodied in seventy-
six articles. Matters of detail, such,
for example, as provisions relstlng
to the rules and proceedings of Par
liament, the laws for tbe election of
members, the national budget, etc.,
are separated from articles enunciat
ing fundamental principles, and are
embodied In laws supplementary to
the constitution and enacted at tbe
same time.—The Century.
WORLD'S FAIR ST. LOUIS.
Louisville and Nashville Railroad.
If you an going to the World's Fair you
want the hast roots. Tho L. A N. Is tho
shortest, qnlokest and bast line. Three
trains dally. Through Pullman Sleeping
Cart and Dining Cam. Low Bate Tickets
•old dnily. Gat rates from your local agent
and nak for tioketn via L. A N. Ktorovas
Allowed it MAMMOTH GATE.
All kinds of lnformntlon furnished on ap
plication to J. O. HOLLENBECK,
Dint. Pass. Agent, Atlanta, Qe.
NEARLY DONE.
"How long has the minister been
preaching?" whispered the strange;
who had wandered Into the church and
aat down away back.
"About thirty years, I believe,” re
piled tho other occupant of the pew.
"That being the case,” rejoined the
stranger. ‘I’ll stay. He must bf
nearly dond."—Tlt-BIta.
Famous for Catchy Titles.
Tho Fall Mall Gazette useu -o be
famous for tbe catchy titles ot Its
leaders. J. Nlcol Dunn, editor of the
Morning Post, who used to be con
nected with the Pall Mall Oazette,
has recently let the secret out as to
how these titles were found. Every
morning there was an assembling ot
the staff, and each member would
write on a slip of paper hit sugges
tion for the day'a leader. The slips
were collected In the office top hat,
and after a discussion the most strik
ing was selected. One day, as Mr.
Dunn tells, the selected slip contain
ed the words; "Can’t think of a title
to-day," whtet^ Ingenious title duly
appeared at the bead of the leading
article.
INEXPENSIVE.
"Why la moonlight so conducive to
romance?” said tbe sentimental young
map.
“Well,” answered the practical
girl, "for one thing, when you arc
using the moonlight you arn't Inter
rupted by remembrances of parental
worry about gas and electric light
Mils."—(Washington Star.
BOT A prominent club woman, Mrs. Dan- _ ,
forth, of St. Joseph, Mich., tells how she
was cured of falling of the womb apd
its accompanying pains and misery by
Lydift E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compounds
“Dear Mbs. PinkilL8!—life looks dark indeed when a Wflnan
feels that her strength is fading away and she has no hopes of ever
being restored. Such was my reeling a few months ago when I waa
advised that my poor health was caused by prOlspsus or falllng ef the
Womb? The Words sounded like a knoll to me, f felt tha* my siu had
set; butlydla 13.Makliam's Vegetable Command < eame »
an elixir of life; it restored the lost forces and buht me up w-tilmy
good health returned to me. Fat four months I took the machctao
daily and each doso added health and strength. I am so *han*ftkTfor
the help I obtained through its use.”-Mm. Florknoe DaiifoRW,
1007 Miles Ave., St. Joseph, Mich. .. ... •• -
A medicine that Iras restored so many women to heatth ano
can produce proof of tho fact must bo regarded with respect, xms
is the record of I-ydla E. Plnkham's‘Vegetable’Compound,wU*
cannot ho equalled by any other medicine the.world has e er pro-
duccds Here Is another casoi—
"Dear Mns. PuntHAM:—For years 1 was
troubled with falling of the womb, irrejgular
and painful menstruation^ leucorihceo t bea
domi pains, backache, headache, pazy v aud
fainting spoils, and stomach trouble. • %
«I doctored for about five yeuu but did
. not seem to improve. J began the
medicine, and nave taken ajyen ottle» ox
Lydia E. Plnkham’s Vegetablei tc npound,
three of Blood Purifier, and also 'sed tho
Sanative Wash and Liver Pills, are..am now
enjoying good health,and have gtunr now.
w I thank you very much for w.a# yon
^ have done for me, and heartily reoom-
mend your medicine toaU
women.”—Miss Emma Sktdeb, 21- Fast
Center St, Marion, Ohio.
“FREE MEDICAL ADVICE TO WOSnOT.” _ J
Women would save time and much- ilckncaa lf they m old
write to Mrs. PJnkham for advice as soon as any dfstnmdng'I>-
toms appear. It is free, and has put the"**udl of women on . iff
^kaifcPtokham never violates tho confidence thMontenstou to
her, and although she publishes thousands of tcstimonLalii
women who hate been benefited by her “d’ 1 ' 0
never In all her experience hae * ,, epublUhed»ucho letter witho .
the full consent, and often by special request of the writer.
A m aba FORFEIT u we cannot forthwith prodooe th« or!fln*l•“* i, * B * tuWB
$5000 w “ 0ll,,l i!, , du SSSEZL. tT»*. *«
1
DRS.
GENTLEMEN, WE CAN CORE Y0D?
20 yearn of succeNafnl prnctloftj* • pretty
good record, Don’t yon think 7
OUR SPECIALTY I.S GURIN6 "TO STAY CURED"
Diseases Peculiar to Men>
Consultation and Examination Traa. ^ j
Write or call. All correspondsnoo treated eonfiddntlnl. J
LEATHERMAN & BENTLEY,
Cor. Marietta and Forayth Sta.. Atlanta, On*
\uiuym scjncmr*
Shorthand Dtyi., F. O. Orfehtos. BookkMpinf
Dopk, D. I. fihntuut.tr. Cats!ofM ftH. _
B. O. CrUhton, Prop., KUer Bldg.. Atlanta, Oa.
CONSTIPATION
kuffor«J Tilth chrcnl* ccn*
• tlm* 1 ha-1 to take on
once every Ythonr» beforj
n my bowels. Happily I
. jawb<b*run I raffmiwitl
rtlpatlon and daring thU tlm* 1 b*
Injection of warm water
tried Case art u.
.SaKiiF
_» yo« r am 1
cab as* mia
Beat For
The Bov/e Is
j ^ aa ineoov/eis **
kwgwwWfFww.
CAN0V CATHARTIC
WANTED
i.ooo Hen and Women to Try $6.001
Worth of Sample* Free,
fiend no money. Only send your name to
Wy C. HUG HEN. Atlanta, Ga.
ilNHUAL SALE, TEH MILLION BOXES
lva!?,*i:2a Thompson’* Eye Water
Malsby & Co.
41 Sonlb Forsyth St, Atlanta, 61.
Portable and Stntlonavj
Engines, Boilers,
Saw Mills
AND ALL KINDS OF MACHINERY
Complete line carried In itock for
1UMMDU TI MptntnL
S.n MeeMnery. I-oweh Price, nna Ben
Write as for catalogue,.
etc., before buvlne.
-Ices,
Plantation Chill Cure is
To cure, or money refunded by your merchant, so why not try It? Prloe 50c.
