Clarence Goodacre’s fingertips

 

Clarence Goodacre’s fingertips

     Once more into the treasure chest of Sheehy family history and another of the rotten apples who snuggled in with the fine folks we knew and loved. Grace was one of the four Kenmir sisters and at one point  her older sis known as Aunt Edith chose a charming gent named Clarence Goodacre as her inamorato. He seemed nice when visiting and wore the typical loose fitting suit when courting but his dark secret was that he was a convicted hotel thief and did time in the big house for his felonious pilfering. Mister Goodacre billed himself as a publicity writer  but sneak-thief would have been more accurate. Greg used to muse over the term "second-story man" as used in regard to Goodacre that really only meant he entered his victims rooms by windows above the ground floor. In the depression many a fellow resorted to means of supporting themselves outside the law and Clarence felt it was an easy way to make a living. Yet, hotel thievery or being a second-story man was a very risky occupation with all types of peril attached. You could run into or awaken unknown occupants and get beaten or shot for  your larcenous intentions. I even bought Greg a copy of "You Can't Win" which is a terrific non-fiction account of the adrenaline fueled thievery of a guy named Jack who literally robbed victims who were sleeping with their dough under their pillow. The genre is literally called Tramp-Lit. and it is purported to be the favorite of William S. Burroughs Typically the sonic's itch never read it and it sits on a shelf at Francis to this day. Clarence Goodacre was not around for long and  dear old Aunt Edith cut him loose and sallied on without this albatross around her neck. Goodacre was also a racist whose other tape title will not be included here but somehow he married twice more and made it to 1970 before going up to Dante's 7th pit where thieves burn for all eternity.