THE PROFESSIONAL THIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1433, 20 June 1868, Page 7

THE PROFESSIONAL THIEF.

A. USAF FEOM THE DIARY OF A NEW OBIEANS EXCHIEF OF POLICE. MT especial pot among thieves, and by far the most dangerous of the craft that ever pneaed under my notice said the ex-chief, was undoubtedly Frank Humphries. It was on a cold, damp night in December, .many years ago, that I first met with this celebrity Tho clock in my office was languidly ticking on towards midnight; dosing with the fatigues of an unusually busy day, I only awaited the night report of the detectives before retiring to rest, when a knock at the door aroused my half-slumbering senses to the nresence of a dapper, handsome little fellow, about 25 years of age, who, in a voice of singular sweetness, pronounced my name; " Mr. , I behove f Hastily arousing myself, and handing him a chair, I inquired whom I had the honor of addressing- " My name ia Humphries," he replied, continuing in res Donee to tho look of wondering perplexity tb/it crossed my face. "Frank Humphries, the thief. Indeed! hure was a long-felt deeire at last gratified, the name and fame of this distinguished hero of the uiofession being a household word with the police all over the country. In answer to n>y inquiry as to the object of his visit, he informed me with the most charming confidence, and frankness bordering unon impirience, that it was always his custom, i when Siting a city professionally or other*ue, to I immediately call on and pay his respects to the chief rf police, in order that he need not be unnecessar.lv annoyed during hie stay. On this occasion hie visit i was only in traneitu, he not intending to do any "work" but the following March he proposed visiting New Orleans in hia professional capacity. Of course, during his short stay Master fcrank was duly " shadowed," but true to hie promise, he took hie departure without indulging in any of his dangerous propensities. Previous to this, however, and ta'obedience to his invitation, I had Visited him ™ his boarding-house, and had there, been introduced to his wife, a pretty, lady-like person neither lacking in refinement nor accomplishments, before whom we conversed wi.h the utmost suavity of his profearion and Lμ deeds. She evidently had the same pride in the achievements a* the lord himself and neither of them were the least abashed or reticent at the relation thereof in the presence ot the majebty of the law, which, in virtue of my office, was there duly repreFented. _ During the interview I ascertained the tacts (all afterwards fully substantiated) that Mr Humphries was a man of wealth, worth at least $100,000, owninK and working one of the moit magnißcent grain farms in the State of lowa, well stocked with blood horses and fine cattle, and rich in all the modern bul expensive labor saving machinery; that he wet much respected and liked in his immediate neighborhood, and in short, bad every inducement; that coulo noseibly exist towards leading an honest life. But the fatter he openly professed his inability to do etotag that he could not reeist the excitement attendant

upon hie dangerous profession, feeling a sort of va-poleon-like faith in his " lucky etar," and an abiding " confidence in. his superiority over his natural eneiniesthe detoctives. It was with nn interest amounting: almost to regret that I bade adieu to the gentlemanly Frank, but in the Jhily routine of the multifarious duties attendant upon the offico I then filled, he soon passed almost out of my recollection. Late one evening: in the following March, ITrenlr again made his debut in my office under almost indentical circumstances, only thij time with the notification that he had come "to go to work," and had selected steambouts a* being likely to prove the mosi: remunerative of plunder. With this information, however he coupled a proposition that if the police would not annoy him with arrests under the Vagrant Act, the only logal method, by tlio by, of proceeding against such adventurers when not caoght in flagrante dtlceiu, be would indirectly return to the chief's office, all papers, watches, jewel!ery, .to., that came professionally into hie possession, contenting himself alone with his money, at the sum-) time holding himself liable to tho rigour or, as, he expressed it, the butt end of tho law if in any way detected. Of course, such an understanding with a thief was entirely out of the question, and instantly repudiated. It struck me, however, that here was a good opportunity for tebting the legality and streng'h of 00-n----mittals under ihU at other ilwn the public or my own expense, and therefore offered Master Frank a fair fight to settle the question as a finality at once. This I had long been anxious to do, because such committals had heretofore only served to be prolific of about equal annoyance to both tbe thieves and the police, and waj totally worthless aa a preventative toward the former plying their trade, a writ of habeas corpus invariably sotting them looee on the community within two days of their arrest. Frank, after deliberating, consented, magnanimously asking me to select him a lawyer, which I acceded to ; and forthwith ordered him to be locked up. To this ha demurred etating that his wife fully expected him. home that evening, and he wa3 loth to cause her any unnecessary alarm, but promised to be on hand early in the morning. Morning saw him truo to his promise and after showing him to all the force, with a description of his style of work aad intentions, an exhibition, by the way he seemed to great'y enjoy, he was taken into the court-room, and duly committed by the recorder —for three months as :i vcgi-ant. Then camo tha le>;al battle, and a long tough, fight it was. tie washext day brought before one of tho courts on a writ of habeas corpus, and die charged. I immediately arrested, and had him recommitted. Then out. again—then in. It mikemy head ncho, even now, said the ex-chief, to thin B of the details of that combat: how we went from onfe court to another, through cue proceeding to anothere until, at last, we brought up in the Supreme court, whero Frank boat me and was freo. In taking a good humoured leave of me he referied to the promise that it was to be a fair fight, and now that ho had won, ho was not to be ann-yed by the "Vagrant Act. To thi3 I was forced to apeent, and making another exhibition of Master Frank, whom I felt sure of hearing from in a few days, and initiate every possible arrangement for watching and protecting tho steamboats, I calmly but anxiously awaitod tho result; all my officers feeling that now I had come a trial of skill—Greek had met Greek.

Throe dnys afterwards the steamboat Vicksburg anive.d aud reported several heavy robberies during the trip down. Frank was arrested and brought beforo :ne, but not the elijrhteat evidence could be obtained ugainat tho model of meek innocence he now appeared. In vain every engine of police ingenuity was set to work. Shadows vrere placed upon his tract, detectivea in disguise sent on board the boats, ltobbery after rjbbery was daily reported at the office. On one occasion I went on board the Yicksburg myself, directly upon her arrival at tha levei!, about 9 o'clock at nifrht, and placing officers arounJ her £>uaril3 remained until morning in order to detect, the during thief. Nothing occurred during the vigil, but 0:1 returning to my office in the morning it was only to find that the boat had been " gone through" under our very eyes, and a larger share of booty than usual secured. Tired out at our want of success, and being willing to uecord Master Fiank tho palm in the way of skill, I then determined on another and more summary course. I sent for the innocent lamb, and, taking him into the cell at tho station-house, proceeded to wear out a couple of cants over him, ending with the assurance that a stay of hours longer in the city would secure a repetition of the punishment. This had tho desired effect. The robberies immediately ceased, nnd Frank was no longer Eeea in the city. Three years after this I received a latter from a prisoner in the parish piison asking me to call and see him. I did so, and found myself oncu more face to face with my old enemy, who had been arrested for some depredation, in which he exercised leas than his usual skill upon a Mobil9 boat. He informed me that during the interval he had tilled a " pal " in St Louis, and that $500 reward had been offered for hia apprehension, and believing his chance of escaping better on the latter charge than that on which he was incarcerated, he desired that he might be sent there for trial, and that he wished a very deserving office* of tho force, for whom he maintained the greatest respect, to rnako the i ffidavit, and thoreby secure the published reward. This was accordingly done, Frank Humphries was duly forwarded to St. Louis in charge of a reliable officor, and thus his career in New Orleans was brought to an end. " And did you never hear from him afterwards, W6 " Oh, yes," "said the ex-chief, " twice. This wag the first letter,' , handing me over a delicately tinted note. ._..,, , o " St. Louis, May—lß—. •i jj ear They beat me on the trial; had no idea they could swear eo hard. Judge B. has accommodated me with 20 years in the penitentiary. Steamboats are safe for that period, if the ' riffle' I intend taking at the Legislature don't work. Accept regards. —Youra, Fkank Humphkibs." Several months rolled round and I received this : " Penitentiarv, Jefferson, Mo., December 11. «j) ear The'riffle' don't work. Please accept the accompanying horse from my farm. He is of blood stock, and goes well under saddle. As I am not likely to have any work for him durrai? the term of hia natural life he may not only bo useful to you, but also remind you of } our old friend, " ITbauk Ht/mpitoieS. " Very handsome of him," we exclaimed, " after—" " Hold " »aid the ex-ehirff, " there is only one thing remaining to be told, and that is-he didn't send the horee."