A CRUEL PERSECUTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1566, 9 October 1912, Page 8

A CRUEL PERSECUTION.

KEFORMED BURGLAR'S CON- ■ FESSION. ' The story of a reformed burglar, who for many years has been looked up to as one of the Qnakor City's most prominent merchants ami politicians, was recently one of the principal topics of discussion iu Philadelphia. The story comes from the luan himself, and he tells it in order to explain his resignation of the office of. alderman, which he has held with honour for several years. ' " . .. '■ . • ' • , The Alderman, who has been known under the name of William Burke, says- thn "Daily Chronicle," informs' the' world that, his real nnine is Benjamin Tripp, and that he is .in ex-convict.' Many years ago he was sentenced to a term, of ."rniprisonnieiit. for burglary, but oit'lhe'ex; piry of his sentence he reformed, and determined to lead an honest life. . He came to. Philadelphia, and; assuming the name of Burke, ho married, and started in business as a merchant. "I found that honesty wee tho best policy," he declares, and hq prospered exceedingly. He began to take an active interest in politics, and took a prominent part, in the exposure of the recent graft scandals, being the most, trusted lieutenant of. Sir. Blankenburjj, the Mayer of Philadelphia. A few, years ago, however, Nemesis, in the' shape of an ex-convict, who : had known him in the Boston penitentiary, overtook him, and Mr. Burke—or rather Tripp—was subjected to the "most cruel persecution. . ■ His'former prison acquaintance blackmailed him persistently, and the alderman declares that ho can" no longer, stand tho str.v'n. He has accordingly resigned office, and declaring that there is, nothing of which he. has any ron-son to be ashamed in his life, since ho officially expiated, his crime, he prefers to tell the whole story to the. public, 'and end once and for all the persecution to which ho has been subjected. " . . ■ .This frank confession. has' caused a tremendous sensation,; and a'.number'of 'prominent citizens, including several of his colleagues on • the council, urged him to reconsider his decision; .' Ho declared, however, he. could net hold up his head again in a political office,'and that ho had-tj'mle made up his'mind to retire from , public life. •