THEIR BAD RETURNS

Evening Post, Issue 51, 2 March 1931, Page 7

THEIR BAD RETURNS

BURGLARS'POOR PAY

The; confession, of-Marcus (5. Basset^ described: /as, -the- -''American. B*** ; fles," reveals the difficulties,: hazards* and small Returns of;a burglar's life,, says .the '.'Daily Mail." ;■'.;.:. .'v";;.;. :.;■: ;:■ 'As in the: days .'Tagin," the thieves run all the risks but the "fences" (receivers of stolen property) take the profits. >v •■ ' Out of three robberies netting jewellery valued at £52,800, Bassett asserted that he obtained from the receivers only, £6720, in cash. . ; ,; ■ •':, This young inanj aged only ,33 years, began life as a student at the Bordentown (New Jersey) military academy, and later took up the study of sociology. Then came his first offence, for which ho found himself in Dannsmpra Prison. .While there he\took to shortstory writing;, and made quite a name. Some months ago.he escaped from Daunemora, and -was found by the poke* . recently in Buffalo, enjoying a Thanksgiving Day dinner with his sister. DEADLY PELLETS. In his pocket was a strychnine pellet, the purpose of which. Bassett exw \.; plained by saying: "If any of our'jobs . went wrong we did not like the: idea of ; ; going to the electric chair. ■ If ; wo stuckup a place and found that we were caught in a murder, we intended . to stick these pellets on our tongues, and all would be over in a couple ; of minutes." \ ' _ . .-■■' '.'■. Bassett confessed glibly to eight rob- ;; berics since last March, obtaining, jewellory and cash valued at nearly £60,000,. of which the "fences(•;got all but £10,- : 000.; His share of £0000, Bassett said,; went in night clvibs, gambling, and ia entertaining women. .'•»■■■:• An attempt to rob the Brooklyn ■■[■ branch of the National City Bank was i: foiled by the screams of a littlegirl. ' ■ While admitting the hld-ups already; accomplished, Bassett talked of his pros- ..'■■ pects, saying:'"l was .in Buffalo to : look at a big jeweller's. I also looked\ over some Brooklyn banks, but the r: sight of an armed policeman outsido •.•■ each one sent me back to Manhattan." ; Pressed to name his associates, Bas-: - sett answered: "If you wert to turn nio . \ free to-morrow I would not tell you who ;.; the receivers are. One of my pals has; reformed, married a good and pretty; ;: girl, and is living a respectable;lifel6ut 7. West." ■ ' ■ ■ ■ '■•■'' ■~"•■' 'ft/jv