A CAREER OF CRIME.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1222, 31 July 1885, Page 3

A CAREER OF CRIME.

The capture of a burglar who had a rather remarkable career was reported by the New York correspondent of the “ San Francisco Bulletin” 01 May 24 as follows:—“On April 29 the safe of Smith and Co., at 45 Park place, was robbed of all it contained, and on last Thursday night S. B. Horton and 00., 69 Frankfort street, suffered a similar loss. Inspector Byrne knew that Gustavus Kent (alias French), who has escaped from impisnnment several times, was released from Sing Sing about a year ago. The Inspector knew that French was in New York,and suspected, from the means employed, that Kent might be the man he wanted. He detailed Detectives Lyon, King, O’Connor, and Slawson to watch Mr Kent. These officers learned that Mrs Rose Kent, a daughter of Kent, * who lives at 415 Fast Twelfth street,’ had in her house many of the articles taken in robberies. When Kent was told of the finding of the bonds, postage stamps, and othes things at his daughter’s residence he confessed to the buiglaries. Kent is a Belgian, 46 years old, and boasts that safe looks are no barrier to him. In 1869 he was sent to Sing Sing for robbing Wheeler and Parsons, of Brooklyn, several hundred dollars’ worth of watchcases. On February 7, 1871, he out the bars of his cell with some fine saws, smuggled in to him and escaped. On October 27, 1872, he was rearrested for burglary in Hackensack, N. J., but was turned over to the authorities here to serve his term out. While in prison this time Kent contrived the lever lock, which would unlock all the cell doors. The prison officials were pleased with his invention,and recommended Kent’s par Jon, but Governor Tidden would not let the man go free. At this Kent refused to surrender his patent. In 1875 Kent again escaped by the help of a man in charge of the cooper shop. He made his way to Montreal, where he quite as promptly tried to rob a pawn shop. He was caught, and got three years. While in Canada he sold his lever lock to the authorititiea, where it is now in general use in the prisons of the Dominion.”