He served a sentence for burglary at Sing Sing prison in New York before appearing in the South African Republic in 1898. In Johannesburg he operated a network of cafes, cigar shops and police-protected brothels.
He was imprisoned for burglary at Sing Sing prison in New York prior to arriving in the South African Republic in 1898. In Johannesburg, he operated a network of establishments, including cafes, cigar stores, and licensed houses of ill repute.