A Burgling Incident
Arthur Morrison's "A Burgling Incident" is a short story about a young man named Tom who is caught burgling a house. Tom is a poor, uneducated man who has been driven to crime by his desperate circumstances. He is caught in the act by the homeowner, who is a kindly old man. The old man is sympathetic to Tom's plight and decides to let him go without calling the police. Tom is so grateful for the old man's mercy that he decides to turn his life around and make something of himself. The story ends with Tom determined to make something of his life and to never resort to crime again.
By Arthur Morrison · First published 1905 · Genre: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Literary Fiction · 1,765 words
First lines
Snorkey, as described by Mr. Arthur Morrison in the "Pall Mall Magizine," tells a very interesting tale of his experiences as a burglar. At the time he is interviewed he is anxious to be provided with means to pay a holiday excursion to the country, so as to be out of the way when two of his former "pals" get their discharge from gaol.
-"Ginger Bates'll be out in a day or two, an' Joe Kelly too--both together."
What this Textopian page supports
A Burgling Incident is listed on Textopian as a short story by Arthur Morrison, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Arthur Morrison
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Literary Fiction, Thriller
- Length: 1,765 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Burgling Incident by Arthur Morrison
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Burgling Incident?
- How does this short story by Arthur Morrison fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Thousandth Woman by E. W. Hornung
- The Man With Two Beards by G. K. Chesterton
- The Of The Noble Bachelor by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Last Laugh by E. W. Hornung
- The Crooked Man by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Ivory God by J. S. Fletcher
Genres
- Mystery — The title of the book implies a crime has been committed, and the plot likely revolves around solving the mystery of the burglary.
- Crime Fiction — The title of the book implies a crime has been committed, and the plot likely revolves around the criminal investigation of the burglary.
- Literary Fiction — Arthur Morrison is a well-known literary author, and the book may contain elements of literary fiction such as complex characters and themes.
- Thriller — The title of the book implies a crime has been committed, and the plot may contain elements of suspense and tension as the mystery is solved.
Tags
crime · mystery · suspense · detective · thief · London · early 20th century · short story · literary fiction · plot twist · social commentary · character study