Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1915 — BURGLAR BEN BOOSTS [ARTICLE]

BURGLAR BEN BOOSTS

By WALTER J. DELANEY.

(Copyright, I*ls. by W. G. ChapmanJ "Going to bury yourself in a dead country village?” asked Benjamin Rudd, alias Burglar Ben. “It's a shame, Mr Wilton! I’m of a discredited sort, but I’m your friend for what you’ve done for me, and 1 say It’s a shame i to see a man of your talent throw up the chance of a lifetime. ” “Why, I’ve demonstrated some ability as a lawyer, haven’t I?” challenged Adrian Wilton in his smiling, contented way. “I should say so!” cried his client enthusiastically. "The papers have been full of it. •Rising young criminal lawyer of the day!’ All you’ve got to do is to take a big office here in the city and the clients will flock to you. That’s your line. Didn’t you clear me, with five of the best attorneys in the city on the other side?” “That was because you were innocent, Ben,” reminded Adrian. “For once—by accident!” retorted the ex-burglar with a chuckle. “Anyhow, it gave me a scare and I’ve reformed square and straight.” At all events Adrian bade good-by to his grateful and would-be helpful client and returned to Fordham. Yes, the town had heard of his splendid record in the city, Nellie Wade especially, who had shown the newspaper clippings to all her friends. The town, however, had half a score of veteran attorneys, lock-rooted in the estimation of the people.

One morning Fordham awoke to the sensation of a half century. A skillful burglar had broken into the local bank at midnight. Bills of a large denomination representing $40,000 had been taken. There was no definite clue to the robber or the money. At the end of a week, however, the county sheriff received a mysterious tip by telegraph. It told him that the telltale handkerchief bearing the initial “R” and a false beard found in the bank belonged to a certain Benjamin Rudd and named his residence. It further stated that a Fordham restaurant keeper, if confronted with the burglar, would recognize him as a stranger with a mysterious satchel whom he had seen the evening of .the burglary. Adrian Wilton lost a good deal of his faith in the reformatory process as appertaining to Burglar Ben, when the next morning he was sent for by Rudd. The latter grinned at him behind strong iron bars. “Why, Ben,” spokp the young lawyer, “you have fallen from grace, it seems.” “Not the man!” declared Rudd positively. “I hire you to defend me. Get to work and make a record for yourself.”

Burglar Ben practically directed the case. He dictated the policy to pursue. Adrian was amazed at his clear and forcible outline of evidence. When the case came on, both his wife and child, a golden-haired little cherub of eight years, were in the court room. Adrian made good use of the evidence at his command. He proved that the false beard, worn by anybody, would so obscure the natural features that later positive identification would he difficult. He showed that the initialed handkerchief might have come accidentally into the possession of some of Ben’s former criminal associates. Then little Sura was placed on the stand. The date at which the bank robbery was committed was her birthday. Her father was at home, 200 miles away, when the crime was committed. For all this, the hard-faced fanners on the jury looked grim and prejudiced. It was then that Adrian came out in full force. He depicted the former life, the reformation of his client. He described his changed family life. He pointed to the weeping wife, to the innocent little child. Oratory, eloquence, sentiment —he swayed the audience with a master hand. Women were weeping, strong men looked grave and sympathetic. The thrilling appeal moved every heart After five minutes deliberation the jury returned its verdict — “Not guilty!” That evening, at the town hotel, Burglar Ben appeared at Adrian’s room.

“Can I ever be tried again for this burglary?" he asked. “No,” -- answered Adrian. “Then send for the president of the bank and the judge," he directed. “Why—” began Adrian, wonderingly. * - ,"i)o as I say. Gentlemen,” spoke Ben, as the -persons in question were summoned, “I have a confession to make. I did not rob the bank, but I directed the robbery.” “Ha!” glared the banker. . "Yes. I did it to put on his feet my best friend, Mr. Wilton. I did it to force an acknowledgment here of his great ability. I got an old pal to do the job, but—there’s the money, just as it left the bank,” and he handed over a package to the astonished bank officer. .7 The latter was so delighted at getting back his lost money that he laughed gleefully as a child. “A bright joke!” he cried. “You must be a loyal friend to Mr. Wilton to take the risk you did," r<marked the judge gravely. “It was worth it, though, I guess, for he’s a made man in this community." And then Adrian hurried to Nellie to plan for the future-marriage, a good -law practice, happiness, all, through loyal Burglar B«OggJX“7?# ‘