Truth About Gentlemen Burglars.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 5 June 1914, Page 2

Truth About Gentlemen Burglars.

HOW LITTLE DETECTIVES

KNOW

Alphonse Bertillon, famous for his methods of identifying criminals, has, in a recent paper, scotched some fallacies in what has been termed criminology. For instance, he tells us that the gentleman burglar is a myth. The world's thieves and crooks constitute a very exclusive social group, to which, with rare exceptions, only those are admitted who have proved themselves worthy of the privilege.

The reason, we are told, is simple. When a man of good birth covets his neighbour's goods, his first thoughts do not fly to the use of the "pince-mon-seigneur," or " jimmy." He takes up shady finance, which is likely to be more profitable than breaking into people's houses, while the risk of punishment in case of failure, is considerably less. In all countries crimes against property and the person are visited with the severest penalties, which no doubt exercise an intimidating