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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 1919)
THE BEE: TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 23, 1919. STOCK EXHIBIT HERE INSTEAD OF KANSAS CITY Ak-Sar-Ben Governors Tell Chamber of Commerce Com mittee Plans for Exposi tion Grounds Ready. John W. Gamble and J. E. David son, members of the board of gov ernors of Ak-Sar-Ben, presented plana for the new Ak-Sar-Ben ex position grounds to members of the good fellowship committee of the Chamber of Commerce at noon yes terday. Mr. Davidson, chairman of the finance committee of the Ak-Sar-Ben Exposition Co., told of Ak-Sar-Ben's plans to make the exposition grounds the finest in the country.. "We purchased 130 acres at Sixty third and Center streets for $68,000 and have since been offered $130,000 for it." said Mr. Davidson. "A con tract, will soon be let for the erec tion of a huge steel and concrete grandstand, which will xost $200,000. Winter ISO Race Horses. "A race track has already been completed which is said to be the festest in the country. More than ISO race horses will be wintered at the exposition grounds this year. "As a result of these plans for exposition buildings, the American Royal Live Stock association has in formally announced that it will have its exhibits here instead of at Kan sas City, Mo., as it has done in pre vious years. This is the largest live stock company of its kind in the country. "A drive to sell $1,000,000 worth of bonds in the exposition company will start October 26, and last a week. Business houses and banks lready have promised to subscribe amounts which total $231,000. Guy Crarrrsc will have charge of the drive, acting at chairman oi-the sales committee." Bonds Will Pay. Both Mr. Gamble and Mr. David son expressed the belief that bonds sold by Ak-Sar-Ben Exposition Co. would pay dividends in the course of two or three years, especially if horse racing can be established on the basis it is carried on in other cities. Preparations for an inter state fair, the largest ever helo are being rushed for next fall. Charles L. Trimble, manager of the exposition company, told mem berof the good fellowship commit tee that Omaha would realize more advertising through the Ak-Sar-Ben exposition than through any other medium. Commissioners, Says Council, Should Know Their Departments City commissioners must be pre pared hereafter to explain all mat ters relating to their departments when they appear before '' c city councilr-committee of the whole. R. N. Towl commissioner in charge of the department of public improvements, was criticized by Chairman Ure and Mayor Smith at the council meeting yesterday . for not being ready to explain certain matters in connection with proposed sewer improvements. "If I attended to all of the details of my office I would not have time to attend these important council meetings," retorted Mr. Towl when he was quizzed. "I have a sewer program here covering an estimated total of $2,700,000.'.' "Have you given that program as much attention as you have some of these other matters?" asked Mayor Smith. "I should say that I have," re plied the commissioner. The commissioners agreed that Mr. Towl should be able to explain documents which are sent from his department to the council commit tee of the wholeJ "Don t Go to Detroit!" War Department Tells Discharged Soldiers "Don't go to Detroit P'this is the gist of a warning just issued to all discharged soldiers and sailors by Col. Arthur Woods, assistant to secretary of war. Widespread circulation has been given to a report among returned service men to the effect that this city ii greatly in need of men and that they can readily find jobs in the automobile industries. As a result thousands of ex-service men have ?one there, thereby taxing to the ut most Detroit's housing facilities. "Don't make for Detroit just be cause some chance acquaintance happens to tell you that there are plenty of good jobs there for the asking," is Colonel Woods advice. "When you get there you will in all probability be disappointed in find ing that Detroit is working over the problem of caring for its own re turning men." Employment figures show that of rill the men applying in Detroit for employment 95 per cent are from cut of town, and the reports of the welfare organizations show that practically all men applying for linancial help do not live there. Pershing and Staff Donate $10,000 to French Orphan Fund Washington, Sept. 22. General Pershing's last days in France con tained an incident which h disclosed in a report just reaching national headquarters of the American Red Cross from Paris. It was a gift of 94,625 francs, over $10,000. from General Pershing and the officers of his staff to the Red Cross to be devoted to some deserving work among the mothers and children of France who suffered in the war. ' . A letter accompanying the dona tion stipulated that the money be placed in the "Stars and Stripes' war orphan fund." which, assisted by the Red Cross, has "adopted" thousands of French ch'Mren whose fathers were killed is bat Us. "Gentleman Burglar, " Yielding to Impulse to Tell of His Escapades, Writes Letter to Bee, Attributing Success to Fact He Hasn't a Girl Bandit Who Has Eluded Authorities for Many Weeks Declares He Has Evaded Discovery Because He "Works Alone" and Has Been "Wise Enough" Not to Fall In Love Fears a Sweetheart Might Gossip In Some Unguarded Mo mentLauds Bravery of One of His Fair Victims. Tht "gentleman burglar" ', has finally yielded to that uncontroll lable impulse of all criminals "to talk," and, as he himself explains, having no "pal" or woman criminal partner, referred to in thieves' argot as a "fly moll," he unburdens him self to the entire public through a letter written to The Bee. The letter is a revelation in sev eral respects, showing that he does, as matter of fact, possess many of the attributes of the gentleman, viz: Sufficient education and learning to express himself clearly and indulge to a certain degree in a comforting philosophy of life, betrays a sense of humor in his accounts of some of the escapades in which he took part, and a biting sarcasm in his handling of the police. "What is a Gentleman?" "Why do won call me a gentle man burglar? and what is a gentle man?" he asks. And continues: "A wealthy man is called a gentleman, because he is rich; a poor man of culture and learning is likewise a gentleman, though he be out at el bows and his linen frayed and torn. I am not rich, and neither am I des titute thanks to a sleepy police force." His continued success in evading discovery he attributes in part to the fact that he works alone and has been "wise enough" not to fall in love with a woman, expressing the fear that "sooner or later the love of one or the other would grow cold, and in an unguarded moment she would gossip." This betrays not only an unchivalric attitude, but a lack of confidence in his own con stancy, for only through that could he hope to hold a woman's love steadily. His Letter in Full. His letter in full is as follows: "Omaha, Sept. 17, 1919. "Managing Editor, "Omaha Bee. "My Dear Sir: "Perhaps I am displaying an over due temerity in writing you. but I cannot resist the opportunity or temptation, rather, to throw a bomb into the laps of Messrs. Rin ger and Eberstein the very respect able and 'efficient' commissioner and chief of police of Omaha. "Perhaps I had best disclose my identity before writing further and still the curiosity that must obtain in your mind as to your correspond ent. "Here goes "I am the Gentleman Burglar. Safely Above Suspicion "Such, at least, is the sobriquet your newspaper writers and detec tives and other police officers have accorded me despite that they have thus far failed to apprehend me or come within 100 miles of learning who I am or anything else about me. They rail at their incompetency and at my peccadilloes, chief of which is an inordinate desire to get the most out of life and living in the easiest way. "Why they dubbed me 'Gentle man Burglar,' I do not know. "What is a gentleman, I ask you? "There are many the term fits and perhaps, in a way come inside the meaning of the word. A wealthy man is called gentleman because he has money. A poor man of culture and learning likewise is a gentleman though he be out at elbows and his linen frayed and torn. "I am not rich, neither am I des titute, thanks to a sleepy police force and a more or less versatility. I have a little learning, some culture and know my way about. "Why, you ask, do I prostitute my true instincts and training and edu cation to a life of criminality, to entering homes of respectable citi tens at dead of night and making off with what s not mine. No Feminine Chatterboxes. "Damned if I know, to be auite frank about it unless, perhaps, it is the excitement that goes with the work. You see I play a lone hand. No 'fly moll,' no anything but me. My wits and skill against all man kind and when I win, and so. far I always have (I just touched wood) a sense of pride and satisfaction en velops me in the knowledge that a task set has been well done. My talent, be it only that of a thief's, is not buried against a day of reck oning, but is made manifold. When I face the Higher Tribunal I can show I did well of the gifts vouch safed me at birth. "As to the ethics of the profes sion O damn ethics. Evil is a negative quality and illogical and logic and ethics are bedmates, so why worry. Let Titus Lowe (I go to hear him occasionally), and the other parsons decide the question. I lay my success in my trade to the fact that I work alone. Nor do I play with women. Did I love a maid, sometime during love's ecstasy I mrght be tempted to tell her things of myself better left unsaid. Later she or I might tire of each other and the temptation' to. reveal these things even though given un der the pledge of secrecy could prove too strong any my undoing would be sure. "So I remain a celibate and take my fill of love through reading what great authors have to say of it. Don't you think I'm wise? Omaha Suits Him. "I find Omaha just suits me. I spent some time here prior to the war and had I not felt the impulse to enlist might have begun opera tions long ere I did. "When fighting ceased and I was mustered out I returned here, am still paying room rent here and in tend to remain indefinitely. I have met some nice people, in a social way, enjoy the cuisine of the Ath letic club and other clubs I oc casionally frequent and though the city is yet hut in a formative state when it really grows up and attains true manhood you will have a real town. "My work is devious. I go into strange places and have queer ad ventures. Only the other night I entered a home that had all the outward appearance of housing many valuables. I 'jimmied' a back window, came through the kitchen into the drawing room and went to the buffet. I found some good sil ver, a purse with a little money and was congratulating myself on a prospective rich haul when I es pied a work basket, on the dining room table. I rummaged about it in hoping I might come on a ring or two, for women hide valuables in funny places and discovered two let ters from a collection agency. The letters categorically demanded pay ment of long overdue bills. "This set me to thinking. The "Poor Husband" "I replaced the money in the purse and some other valuables I had chanced upon and left as I had entered. "I guess the poor beggar who called himself head of that house hold was in sorrier fix than I. An extravagant wife, I presumed, try ing to play the society game without adequate resources and poor father with his nose stuck close to the grindstone to make both ends meet. Again there may have been recent sickness. I had noticed a couple of dolls in a corner. That meant children and heigho; one shouldn't allow one's feelings to predominate in my profession but there you are. "I certainly did enjoy my conver sation with Mrs. Kearney of Mercer boulevard. I did not know what was the lady's name until I read it in The Bee. That was a rather good story your reporter wrote of the affair. I know a couple of news paper men, but not many. There's a police reporter they call Pat. I've seen him occasionally, but never had opportunity to talk with him. "But to return to Mrs. Kearney. She's got more spunk than most women. She didn't seem the least bit non-plussed when she awoke and found me near her bed. Mr. Kearney only had $10 in his pockets and I didn't get much else of value in that household, but I did enjoy my vis-a-vis. Is she the woman who said my eyes were blue. I guess I'm getting a little mixed up. Anyway they're not. I mean my eyes. It's impossible to tell the color of my eyes for I always wear a mask when working and the cap I affect is so well pulled over my forehead I defy anyone to positively identify me on the street after hav ing seen me in my "charade" cos tume. "Kearney No Hero." "Mr. Kearney wanted to play an heroic role I know, but a sharp re minder from me when he made a motion that might have meant get ting out of bed stooped him. One of the Omaha papers said I had a gun in my hand. That is an error due no doubt to the reporter's imagination or the excitement of those I met that early morning. I did have an instrument in mv hand. but it was not gun. I never show hrearms when I deal with women on my prowling. Don't mistake me though. I always go well armed. "Though Kearney's pants only yielded $10 I was well repaid for my work. The young daughter dis played as much spirit as her moth er. I dare sav she considered the whole thing in the light of a big adventure. "For once the police made a good guess when they ventured the opin ion it was I who robbed the home of 404 South Thirty-ninth street. The jewelry I got wasn't worth $1,000 though. Some of it was spuri ous, just plain paste. "I was of two minds whether or not to continue my speculations at 2117 Lothrop street when I dis covered a tiny baby in the room with its mother. But the mother didn't seem to mind me when she saw I had no desire to harm her or the baby. I didn't get much money Here's the address on the enve lope of the letter written to The Bee by the "gentleman burglar." Can you identify the handwriting? The letter is typewritten. then- but the jewelry helped a lit tle. Ringer a False Sport. "When the police recently ar rested that poor chap and tried to put my crimes on his shoulders I really felt badly and was going to write you then. However they let him go so I didn't. Fie, fie, Mr. Ringer. This railroading innocent HERE IS A CHANCE TO CUT H. C. OF L. TO 20 CENTS DAILY Dr. Allen, Who Introduced Peanut Diet Years Ago, Is a Convert. Chicago, Sept. 2. rfere is an op portunity for every person to re duce the high cost of living and at the same time reduce his board bill to 20 cents a day. Dr. Thomas J. Allen of Eureka Springs, Ark., is the exponent of the new diet. Dr. Allen, one time president of Eurora college won fame several years ago when he won the appelation of "peanut fiend," because he subsisted 60 days on a peanut diet. Dr. Allen, who is a convert to a new diet, believes variety will out do the peanut in satisfying the "in ner man," so he has concocted ways men to jail is not sporty at all. And I understand you used to be a pretty good sport. "I intend to remain here this win ter and from time to time shall drop you a line or two. "I occasionally engage some of the detectives in conversation and know a few reporters. Little they wot they are talking with the Gen tleman Burglar. "Ta, ta, Mr. Editor. "You shall hear from me again. "Yours, etc. "THE GENTLEMAN BURGLAR." and means to solve the high cost of living. "1 find I can do much better work, physical and mental, by liv ing on a simple complete balanced ration of two or three articles of food," said Dr. Allen. "For the last five months my food has cost me less than 20 cents a day. "For dinner today I had half a loaf of whole wheat bread, about six ounces of whole wheat and half a pound of raisins. A loaf of good bread and a quart of buttermilk made from skimmed milk by means of a dissolved tablet, with two ounces of corn oil made a meal that any working man can enjoy. On such a diet I can walk from 10 to 20 miles a day and do the most in tensive mental work. "I eat but two meals a day, elim inating breakfast. In the morning I take merely a cup of cocoa with out sugar, eating nothing else until noon. I eat a cake of yeast before each meal. "I expect to go on eating this way for the next fifty years. I am satisfied it is my diet which has pro longed my life. If any one doubts the practicability of the near-mono-diet, I am open to a challenge of any sort that many serve to estab lish it." Light Overcoats Out Omahans shivered when tliey awoke yesterday morning. It was a real sharp morning for this time of the year, comjng after the warm spell. Light overcoats well: i:i evi dence early in the day, and furs were popular with women. The weather forecaster says it will be warmer today. rostworuW When you're sick a trust worthy druggist and trust worthy drugs are as neces sary as a trustworthy doctor. The Meyer Brothers Drug Company has devoted 67 years to perfecting drug purity. 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