for
breaking jail. In this manner was broken up one of the worst counterfeit
gangs of the West. Whisky has trapped many a criminal. There are but
very few that do not "indulge." In fact, I cannot now recall a single
professional criminal but would take a drop if he could get it. They
must have whisky to nerve them for their iniquitous business. When
the crime is committed they drink again to soothe their wounded
consciences.

YELLOW BACK LITERATURE

A boy was brought into the hospital one day while I was there, whose
history is worth relating, as it shows the fatal effects of bad
literature upon the human mind, and to what sad results it may lead.
This youth had become suddenly ill in the mines, and had to be assisted
from his place of work to the ward for the sick. He was very ill for
several days, but began to grow convalescent. An opportunity presenting
itself, I got into conversation with him, and he told me the history
of his crime. He was an orphan. At the death of both his parents in the
East he had come to Kansas to make his home with an uncle. This relative
was very kind, and after a time adopted the boy. He had a pleasant home,
and his prospects for the future were bright. How often is it the case
that the sky of the future becomes overcast. This young criminal was
a constant reader of the Life of Jesse James, and kindred literature,
until he made up his mind to go on the "war path" and become Jesse James
No. 2. With this in view, he provided himself with two large revolvers.
One night, after all the household had retired, he crept stealthily into
the bed-room of one of the hired men and stole seventy dollars. He
goes to the barn and takes one of his uncle's horses and starts for the
Indian Territory. The uncle was awakened an hour later on account of
some unusual sound at the barn, and going thither discovered that one
of his best horses was gone, and also that his nephew was away. He got
together several of his neighbors and started in pursuit, and the next
day, about noon, the youthful thief was overtaken and surrounded.
The uncle rode up to him and began to question him as to his strange
conduct, when the boy drew one of his revolvers, and, pointing at his
uncle, shot him dead. He was going to play Jesse James to the last. When
he saw his uncle fall dead from his horse, now realizing what he had
done, the bravado spirit forsook him, and he began to quake with fear.
The neighbors closed in upon him and