While on a sick bed in the prison hospital of the Kansas penitentiary, the author talked to a former thief of horses and other goods…

The ex-thief was an assistant of the prison physician and tended to the sick. He was highly appreciated. He had stolen nearly two thousand horses until he was caught. The author writes: “In Kansas City he had a suite of rooms fitted up in elegant style, and kept a mistress. Upon this woman he squandered all his money, obtained honestly and dishonestly.”

The author wrote the ex-thief’s words: “One day on the streets of Kansas City I accidentally met an ex-convict whom I knew while in Jefferson City penitentiary. He was penniless and somewhat shabby. He suspected me of crooked work, and wanted to go with me on a ‘horse raid.’ At first I refused to take him with me, as it has always been my rule to go alone when in the crooked business. He persisted and urged me to let him go along. At last I yielded to his appeals, and we stared from Kansas City. I have never been back since. My ‘pal’ was cuahgt on this trip and offered to turn State’s evidence if he could regain his liberty. He was allowed to do this. I was tried and got a ten years’ sentence. He went free.”

“What became of the woman?” I asked.

“When in jail in Leavenworth and in need of money to pay my lawyer, I wrote her a letter informing her of my trouble, and begged her to send me some money. She forgot to answer that letter, and I have never seen or hear from her since that time.”

He said: “When I get out I am going to lead an honest life and take care of my money. It does not pay to get money by crookedness. Such money never does one any good.”

Having imparted this information he bade me good night and went over to another part of the ward, where he took his place beside the cot of a dying convict.

-See The Twin Hells by John N. Reynolds, published 1890. A copy of the book can be read for free on the internet at a couple of sites.