Confessions of a horse thief
--Important to Horse Owners.--A few days since the police of Buffalo, N. Y., arrested a man who had stolen two horses from Niagara Falls. The property was recovered and the thief has since been in jail, where he has had leisure to write the following letter. We print it, as it contains many valuable hints, and to altogether a literary curiosity:Being, as you are aware, under arrest for the crime of horse-stealing. I deem it my duty to give people a little advice in regard to preventing their horses from being stolen. First, never put a padlock on your burn; it is of no more use in keeping a thief out than a straw. Put on all your doors good house-door locks; then carry your key with you, or, if you leave it in the house, put it in a drawer, or some place where it is out of sight. If a thief sees a good horse go into a barn that has a lock on with which he is not familiar, he will go to the owner's house and stay all night, passing him self off as a traveler — all for the sake of getting a sight of his barn-door key. All a thief wants is to see a key once, and from that one sight he will go and have one made. Second, always keep a little dog; one that will make a great noise. A small one is better than a large one. A thief is scared at nothing so much as a barking dog. If ever a strange traveler stays at your house all night, and you find your dog dead in the morning, you may rest assured he has poisoned it. In such a case the better way is to say nothing, but the nights following keep a diligent lockout around your barn, house, &c. Lastly, when you have a horse or cattle stolen, don't advertise; (I presume the editors won't agree with me here,) just telegraph to officers to tell them to watch for you. No one is looking out for advertisements as much as thieves. It is very seldom that any but officers catch thieves anyway, officers who make it their business know where and when to look, so don't advertise. This advice will be beneficial to all farmers if they will follow it. It is from one who is young in years, but knows well what he is writing. If this chances to be read by Christians, I implore them to pray for me. Oh I need your prayers. A Christian lady was in the jail this morning, but she neglected to call on me. I trust she may see this and call on me hereafter. A few words to merchants. When you lock and unlock your doors, don't hang your keys in sight. I very often see young men going through the streets, swinging their store keys in their hands. This they ought not to do. Many is the time that stores are robbed merely by their getting a sight at the key on the street or hanging in the store.
E. J.
