Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1910 — CRIMINALS DREAD SLEEP. [ARTICLE]

CRIMINALS DREAD SLEEP.

Malefactors Frequently. Reveal Dark Deeds Under Its Infneoce. Criminologists say that the greatesl terror that afflicts that fraction of humanity suffering from an uneasy conscience is not dread at the police by any means, nor awe of any other acknowledged enemy of law defiers. What the criminal dreads is sleep, which is, it appears, the friend 61 the righteous only. To men with the knowledge of dark stored within them, sleep is the most treacherous of foes. The countless poems that have been written In praise of It very naturally appear as so much cold-blooded mockery to such as are in hourly dread of betraying themselves under its influence. An untold number of crimes have been confessed by their perpetra tors during sleep. Is it any wonder, asks a writer in Science Siftings, that thoSp conscious of irregularities of conduct prefer to remain awake? It was not long ago that a wellknown detective happened to be traveling in a sleeping car. The detective who chanced to be occupying a lowei berth, heard the sleeper above him burst forth into a long-winded confession regarding several daring jewel robberies wherein he had taken part." Much impressed, the officer kept an eye on him. Further inquiries proved that the confession had been an exact record of what had taken place. Many years ago a common lodging house was the scene of a sleeping criminal’s confession. The room was occupied by himself and one other — a young sailor. While the sailor was lying awake he suddenly heard a curious and ghastly laugh issue from his companion’s lips. The laugh was fol lowed by a long and rambling descrip tion, of a murder he had committed horrible in its details. The sailor crept downstairs and informed the landlord of what had occurred. The latter at once summoned a policeman, who recognized the sleeper as Jhe man “wanted” for the crime in question.