The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, September 19, 1912, Page 2, Image 2
HE SET THE PA
THAT FI
Career of Black Princ
Crook.?Tells of
Has Served f
By wearing the navy blue unifori
of a hotel porter the Black Princ
Alfred has been enabled preserv
his incognito in New York ever sine
hrs return from the coronation s
London, until a few nights ago hi
fondness for showier attire brougb
him to the attention of three Cer
tral Office detectives, says the Ne^
" York Telegraph.
They picked him up at 8th avenu
and 41st street as he was wingin
along with the air of a cosmopolite
wearing a natty summer suit and cat
rying a slender red cane which wa
really too slight for one of his intei
national reputation to lean upon.
"As I live it is the 'Black Royal
ty,' " said one of the detectives. A1
three of them shook hands with th
much-travelled African mogul wnos
origin was on 10th avenue in Ne^
York city, and whose ability as
lone-hand "gun," or pickpocket, ha
made him the subject of gossip i
police circles all over the world.
They told him that it was sociall
incumbent upon him to come down t
police headquarters and make the ac
quaintance of the younger detectives
and they lugged him along somewha
facetiously while the greatest contir
ental crook of the darky race grin
ned affably and offered mild protesta
tions that his presence in New Yor
at this time had no "diplomatic" in
terest.
It has been about five years sine
this shiny-faced piece of human chai
coal did his "bit" of one year o
Blackwell's Island. His picture is i
the Rogues' Gallery at police head
quarters in New York, and his cyni
cal smile adorns the large album c
malefactors cherished by the author:
ties of many other cities for purpose
of identification.
Although it has been said that th
Black Prince was always on his goo
behavior when in New York, the n
.cords of the police department an
the recollection of senior detective
prove that the ability of his ments
forces is by no means commensurat
with the dexterity of his long, tapei
ing hands in the art of picking pocl
ets. He has been in trouble wit
the police many times. . He is s
fond of bragging about his greatnes
??: a crook and telling of his exper
ences abroad that careful detective
would not think of putting him ui
der the third degree, for the reaso
that he would talk himself into a
early decline and/pass away wit
tuberculosis of the vocal chords b<
fore his trial could be reached.
It is related of Black Prince Alfre
that he once went into an all-nigi
quick-lunch emporium and, whil
waiting to be served, discovered
"card of dope"?where some woma
of the underworld had left it besid
her plate.
The Black Prince thought thi
lucky find was molasses and lie d<
voured it with the gusto of his rac<
In about five minuses he was talkin
to himself volubly about his detern
ination of going out and breaking a
the crap-shooting joints in Hell
Kitchen.
The Blick Prince was called th
African Prince by admirers ot h
own race, when he first began
career of crime in New York, and b
essayed to be the best dressed "coon
in Hell's Kitchen, his rigm name
"Alfred Woods,, his favorite alie
James Ragsdale, also Alfred Le:
<ialem, alias Alfred Lax^ale.
He would permit his own kind 1
call him "coon," or a negro and tat
' 4t all good part. But when arreste
by Central Office men, it was his hal
4t to inform them that he was a "co
bred gentleman." The Black Frin<
has always boasted of his acquain
ances among the "white folks." Ar
it is a fact that he was so well recei'
ed among the thieves of the Cauca
ian race and a certaih dissolute clai
Of white women here and abroad th:
he actually came to believe that 1
had a social status far above that <
bf the ordinary negro that robs
chicken roost and goes regularly 1
prayer meeting.
* Although he generally work*
alone the Black Prince was alwa;
fond of the companionship of whi
"guns," or pickpockets. He hui
cut wiin mem ai rux 5 saiuuu at 001
street and 7th avenue, New Yor
which was torn down about five yea
ago. He was a good 'story-tell
when it came to relating incidents
travel, and his experiences with tl
police in foreign cities. Central C
fice men would drop into Fox's pla
just to see if the Black Prince wou
uncork something that would gi"
them a clew to some other intern
tional crook.
His Ebony Highness was regardi
as a great wit, adventurer, gamble
high roller, pal and "gun" witho
*
CE
iW CAN FOLLO
e, the World's Great
His First Offense,
dany Sentences.
n j assistance.
:t* j It is said tnat tne eminent n
e j of his thievish crew is now abor
j years old. But he di not look j
lt; nearly 60 old when picked up
3 j turned out the other day. His
on Blackwell's Island was for ate
l~ ed larceny in the vicinity of
** j street and 8th avenune. Imc
J ately on being released he wer
e Boston, where he fell again for a
g tempted pocket-picking. He se
i, j another sentence of about a year
- j then went abroad,
s j The Black Prince has been kr
-1 in New York altogether for a p(
i of about 15 years, but he is e<
[- i ly abhorred in most American c:
[1 His most cautious and succe
e work has been to hustle around
e hotel porter's suit, frequenting
v road stations and steamship ]
a ings, riding in street cars earl
s the morning and late in the a
a noon, when persons are gomj
work or going home,
y The costume was for a long
o his best disguise against police
1 picion. The pickpockets of the v
5,1 race invariably try to assume a
.t and business-like address,
i-! would imagine that a good-nat
1 negro in a porter's jumper c
l- ' alone turn a trick that generall;
k ! quires at least three expert pr
l- | sional crooks.
But the Black Prince needet
e "stall," or pusher. He was ac
-1 still is an adept. A "stall" is u:
n for his nerve and ability as a s<
n j per. When the "gun," or prin
I- in the pocket-picking job mak
i- mistake through nervousness or
if iety and is discovered almost in
i- act, it is the duty of the "stall" t
is terfere until the "gun," or "wire
he is also called can make gooc
e escape.
d The "stall" begins to cover th
: treat by blocking the pursuit oi
d passenger who has set up a how
is "Here, look where you're goi
il: roars the "stall." "Whose foe
e you think you're stepping on?"
By the time the reason of the
[- motion is explained the principal
I
h dropped off the car. Then tne "s
;o or "stalls" apologize to the passe
>s | and one by one they ring the bell
i- j alight in good order.
:s j But the Black Prince never c
1- to employ "assistance." In the
n place his long, tapering fingers
n deftness of touch have enabled
h to get away with many a "p
5- (pocket-picking) or "rock" (diai
used as a shirt stud) with the g
d j est ease and unconcern. And the
it course he has found it more p
ie able to work alone, for in that
a; ne does not have to cut the pro<
n . among pother thieves,
e The Black Prince has been rej
i ed by police authorities all ovei
is' United States as the ablest si
3- handed "gun" this country has
3. produced.
g i On rare occasions the social
l- j of the Black Prince led him to
11 in," hustle, with one or sever,
's! the white comrades in crime. To
j in" means, in the parlance of thi
te to help constitute a "mob," or
is engaged on a business errand, i
a of the white friends in this ras
ie! element in New York have t
T-> XT' ^ ^ ? TVTolrmov T ,C
ru-uu.) nags, uuuic , "v
is! Johnnie Roche, Jack Regan, She
is ! A1 Blair, Tom Malone, A1 Ande
{-1 alias Little Al; Kid Duffy and a
others with whom he exchange)
:o periences and compared notes, 01
:e a hand at odd times when the:
id pealed to his professional pride.
0-1 The Black Prince has enjoyet
1- j reputation of never deserting a i
:c J ber of his "mob" when such me
t- j would fall into the grip of the p<
id j He has always sent for a lawy
v- j look after the defence, and has
s-1 plied his unfortunate associates
5s! every possible help in an endeav
at | beat the "rap," which is a cr
is | term for an official complaint,
of! case of conviction and sentenc
a fhas always remitted "necessity
to | ey" at regular intervals during
j term of imprisonment.
?d i At one time the Black Princ
<-*s I fred was reputed to be worth
te 1 000, and he was regarded as su<
lg animated '"sport" that the pre
th j tors of rival gambling houses i
k, Tenderloin sent carriages for h:
rs order to obtain his play. Thi
er ways arouses him to the ke
of pitch of vanity, and he would c
le fully lose as much as $1,000
>f- night.
ce The detectives' bureau here di
Id pretend to have any case again?
ve prince of darkness dude, but tool
a-1 down stairs as a sort of habitua
I mality. He went along with<
5d ; murmur. The same thing hap]
jr, | to him 20 nights in a single m
ut j Before the passage of the vag
I MATCH HEADS POISON CHILD. |
' i
W Little Frances Phillips Dies After B
Eating Them.
Sumter, Sept. 12.?Frances Phillips,
the two-and-a-half-year-old
:est daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. R. I
Phillips, of this city, died at the
Sumter Hospital Wednesday afternoon
at 4 o'clock, after having eaten
the heads from the matches in a box F
with which she had been playing. 11
The funeral services were held this I
abob afternoon from the residence on 11
tt 48 Bartlette street. I
:o be. The little girl had already eaten I
and niost of the match heads when disterm
covered, but she was not thought to
mpt- be in a dangerous condition at the
34th time, although she was taken desaedi
perately ill a short time afterwards.
it to Although everything possible was
n at- done, her little life could not be
-rved saved.
aud RICH WIDOW KILLED.
lown Dashed from Buggy at Asheville and
Skull Crushed,
lual
ities- Asheville, N. C? Sept. 12.?Mrs. C.
ssful e Armstrong, a wealthy widow of
in a Vicksburg, Miss., who had been B
rail" spending the summer at Henderson- II
land- ville, was instantly killed and her rj
y in son, Reuben, 22, painfully injured in B
fter- a runaway accident here to-day. |
' t0 They were driving near the Southern
Railway station when their B
time horses were frightened by an incom- | ]
8US' ing train. The young man jumped I
/hite from the buggy and seized the |
neat bridles, but was dragged some dist- I
Wia0 ance and thrown against a telegraph |j
ured p0je ^irs Armstrong was thrown ^
ould from the buggy, her skull being
V re~ crushed. Death was instantaneous.
ofes
FALLS ON OPEN GATE.
1 no """""""""
, . Bnck Mason in Sumter Suffers Se- "
id is
seful rious Injury.
'rap Sumter, Sept. 12.?Ulcy Croots, a
young brick mason from Lexington,
6S ci
N. C., was seriously injured here this j
the morning when he fell from a shed
adjoining the room in which he was
P in staying, on a partly open gate below.
as ^ I
1 his boc*y was torn open for severai |
inches near the groin, and a great
many stitches were needed to sew un
6 r 6.
. the wound. The young man was ret
Q0
' ported late as getting on nicely, with
... the probability of recovery in sevng"
eral weeks.
?t do i
law it was the custom of the Central to
com- Office to order crooks to headquar- 1
I has ters on the slightest pretext, whentall"
ever found in a crowd. As a rule, =
nger the defendants were discharged next ]
1 and morning for lack of sufficient evic,
enest an excellent "roadster" or guide, and C
:heer- another of one year, were meted out
in a to him in this city, and finally, in ii
1907, he was sent from here to Bos- E
d not ton for a term of three years in the
;t the Charlestown State prison. n
tt him Through his experience as a tourist S
1 for- he is esteemed by fellow "guns" as c
>ut a an excellent "roadster" or guide, and b
;)ened can tell them the dates of county
onth. fairs all over the United States with- ?
c
rancv out consulting his diary. ^
clence to hold them. In times past
rared this was brought about by what was
first known as the three-link system, the
and thief, the politician and the copphim
per.
oke" But in recent years the vagrancy V1
nond act provides for a maximum sentence 0
reat- of 100 days in the work house in such r(
n> of cases. Section 898-A, of the penal ir
rofit- code of New York State, provides a
case maximum penalty of one year in pris;eeds
on and $500 fine upon the conviction S1
of any pickpocket or other criminal w
?ard- found loitering in railroad stations, ^
* the ferry terminals, on steamboat land- S(
ngle- ings, in street cars, on omnibuses, ?
f i
ever etc., and acting in a disorderly manner,
which means pushing or jost- sc
Dility ling. 01
"fill The Black Prince talked unreserv- 1S
il of edly to newspaper men on the occa- p'
"fill sion he was last "stood up" at police
eves, headquarters. ? 01
gang "The first trick I ever turned," he h
Some said, "was in Australia in 18.83. On w
cally a race track I touched a bookmaker u
>een: for 35,000 pounds the day he landed e]
ister, the Melbourne cup. Then I went in- ir
ldon, to the business, and my money went
rson, that way. Two years later I told the n
l few bookmaker about it. but he was a
3 ex- good sport, and he wouldn't 'squeal.'
lent fin von see I never done any time for s<
7 ap- that big trick. I have been all over
the world since then."
1 th? "Prince" Alfred wears a frock ^
nem- coat, a silk hat and a red necktie a
mber when the season is right and also 11
olice. carries a varied assortment of sticks k
er to with gold and silver handles,
sup- His first arrest was made in Melwith
bourne in 1888, when he was senor
to tenced to three years' hard labor and F
ook's ten lashes. He is not so proud of si
In the lashes. In 1891 he was sentenced s<
e he at Sydney to six months, the follow- o
mon- ing year to a like term and the year ci
I the after that to seven days. tl
In San Francisco in 1896 he got ii
e Al- six months, and the next year in 1<
$50,- Sacramento seven months. After t
:h an serving another year in San Francisco w
)prie- -he was sentenced in Cincinnati to n
n the six months, and in 1901 in St. Louis a
im in he got two years. Then in Hoboken t<
ic ni_ in i QOn rirpw another six months.
We Claim to be Specialists- j
To learn to do anything supremely well requires years of >
I constant training and study. We have had these years 5
. of experience, which enable us to buy the best value in 8
clothes at the lowest possible price and to sell these clothes 1
to you?intelligently, conscientiously and economically. j ?1|
II
Michaels, Stern & Co. Suits and Overcoats at g
$15.00, $18.00, $20.00, $25.00 and up to $35.00. I.; ' '||g|
I KLAUBER'S 11
mi Kii n i?i 4
j xne store 01 yuaiity. jg
'i ignonn1 'c=iy |
BABE, ARE YOU MAN OR APE? | 'jb|
"S5r""" " Do You Know How This ' 1
Baltimore, Sept. 11.?On Babe, a | AO UofTIO |"A R<> r
ite little monkey that grimaces at 1 V<11UC IU DC .
icitnrs at the Biological Laboratory r? . r l l 1 _ _ _ L*_L
E the Johns Hopkins University, tj| First a price was nxea, Deiow wmcn uu
jsts the responsibility for determin- really GOOD tea Can be sold. ;
lg whether his race is, or is not, re- . . , ,
ited to the human tribe. 1 Next, all teas selling at this price were cupped and
There has hardly been an hour tested for quality.
nee he came into this world several q Fma|ly, , blend was perfected, at least 25 per cent better than "M
eeks ago t <.t e as no een un ^ best erf these tested teas, and the result was called
er the close surveilance of learned
jientists. In the effort to forge
abe int6 the missing link between ^ K A TAT B M A ' '&M.
le ape and man, Dr. John E. Wat- III f\ ITbJ H /%
>n, director of the psychological lab- T V*r JL JL AX Tl JL I JljL
ratory, is the moving spirit, and it , ,
i under his direction that all the ex- to match the superb coffee by that name.
eriments are being made. ^ It is now offered to you with every assurance that it is, In- }
"* A nrdrva ord won (>ftn ffAt it
Before Babe drew his first breath aeea, a reaiyr xuw ?i< ^uiw ?iuwwm<?? ^? D
r life in the laboratory his parents weU ** V0TAN COFFEE of only one dealer in this town; via. *
ad been watched for months. They _ __ _ _ _ A ' nn
ere intelligent apes and were nat- \AJ D HFRNflllN 1%T RRfJ
rally presumed to be the proper par- A ^ lljl\lliyV/i 1 %Xm MJMWJ+
ats of a probably more than usually itelligent
offspring.
But Babe is being trained in hu- ' *
tan ways, and presently, when it is 18 |ii|
jasible to take him from the care of |s S?
is mother, it is planied to make his |g riHl gg
ihooling* still more elaborate. If || g A A A I AjR flj AA A - A ||
; is found that tie can be taught to ?| I Bg I I I A M| At A^ At 9 ^
o things human-like, every effort I 1 1 F I A I 'I I J AAA Jl Y B Mi
rill be made to develop his mind i? * A * AAi Ar A ga
long lines that will fairly tax his ?? 11 *
lental capacity to assimilate human g1 | j | j j
He Couldn't Catchee. | ? We don't claim to have the best ||s
A young American tourist in the 1 H Horses and Mules ever brought to M I
'ar East was delighted when his li ^ i * wi * fix *
, A 3 5 g l this market in our stables at this ? - 3 5
teamer touched at Hong Kong to gg IT gjg
3e a Chinese woman in the costume 8 ? time, for we have had some mighty p||
f the country, silk trousers and all, | x 13 g g
ome on board the ship. She was 3 ? <1\? good ones heretofore, but we do w & g
first Chinese woman he had seen || Q cIaim these to ^ just
as good as any I |jl
i the native dress, and, rushing be- igg Sjja
)w, he got his camera, determined || . we have ever handled, and if you will TJ* jjj {
o take a picture. Advancing to IS M . _ _ , Li ?g 0
.... . . . I * come and look we know we can ^
uthm a few feet of the little wo- gx gg
lan, he leveled his camera at her ||| ^ please you. See ours before buying j Qj ~ ?
nd began exclaiming loudly in ama- u . ^
sur "pidgin" English: 19 is aI* we ask* I |i ^
'Me take picture. Can catchee? ?? I ii '
The Chinese woman looked at him g| ^ ig
a deep disgust and said in perfect gg
"You can catchee, but you may || W |LT ID ^ fr
ot," and, turning, she walked away. i$ III Iml l{ I I
he had been graduated from Rad- || ||vl?llftl I I I 1 1 ll I HI
liffe the year previous.?N. Y. Tri- || JL 1 mLAwJ Aw mJr # ^ jp
??r^rss;?.I BAMBERG, SOOTH CAROLINA. 1
ent. off. write f; g. mertins, g " f
LUguaut, Ufl. I
1
i ^
lift*, air.