Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-06-01

city and simplicity combined would be more
than match for the coarse intellect of bur
glar, and thus made my plans, which, you
see, answered very we'll"
"No doubt about that" we replied.
We'll now, come up to my room," he con-
tinued, "and sec the apparatus "
We entered his room; and there, close be-
side his pillow, was tin box, in the bottom
of which was key.
"This is nearly all the apparatus" he said.
" But you notice some thread fastened to the
key. Trace that thread, and You will find it
passes through that small hole in the sash
and from there it goes down to the backyard.
And now you will understand my plan. !
know that no man could approach the back
part of the house without walking up the back
yard, which is only four yards wide. | there
fore tied across the back yard, and about two
feet from the ground, some fine black thread
this was made fast on one side, but slipped
through loop and led up to my window on
the other.
The thread then passed through the hole |
had bored in the window sash, and was then
made fast to this key. Under the key pla-
ced the tin box you see; and over the key was
bar to prevent its being dragged up more
than six inches. Each night before | went
to bed just drew the string tight and fastcn-
ed it in the yard; taking care to free it before
morning, SO as to keep the plan secret. 1t
then a man or anything above two feet high
walked up the yard, the string was pressed
against, the key was drawn up sharply against
the bar, and the string broken; when the key
of course, fell into the tin box, making quite
noise enough to waken me.
Immediately the string or thread broke, it
would fall to the ground and the person who
! had done all this would not have felt anything
the resistance being so slight. must own
should preferred horse-hair to thread but
as it was the latter answered very we'll.
was fast asleep when the key fell; but imme-
diatcly awoke, and taking my lantern outside
my door lighted it, and came to you, for J.
knew that man onlyi IL the backyard could
have dropped my key.
So now you see how the burglars were trap
ped, for you know all the rest"
" Certainly you succeeded, and so VIC ought
not to be critical" we replied. but sup
pose they had entered by the front-window
instead of by the back how then I" by. a
You see this thread" he said, grasping
one that was near the door. ''Pnll it,"
did so and immediately tin-cup dropped
into the hand-basin. .'....
"1hat thread goes down stairs, and is fas
tened across the front window: but broke
that off as j went out Of room, so that it
should not impede my journey down stairs.
Thus could at once know whether man
was approaching the back-door or had enter
! cd by the front window; and. in either case,
think l could have captured him."
Simplicity had certainly been adopted in
the present case but the means had shown
themselves to be efficient
"People are usually very silly" continued
our friend, .when they hear, or think they
hear, suspicious noises of night The first
thing they usually do is to light candle,
which proclaims to the robber that he has been
heard, and must escape; then they 60 about
the house with this candle, and make great
noise, so that man may have plenty Of time
to get away, or to hide himself. Instead Of
this, if person were to listen intently he would
be able to hear any suspicious noises distinct
ly, and decide upon their cause, then, as he
must know his own house better than robbcr
he is best off of the two in the dark; and when
having armed himself, he has quietly opened
his door he may wait and listen until the rob-
bers are heard moving about when he may
take such steps as may seem necessary. If
every person was merely to plan what, was t.
be done in case of robbers entering his house
and then were to carry out this if the occa-
sion required it, burglary would be too danger
rous and unsuccessful a proceeding to be pop
ular or profitable, and might be given up for
a more honest means of obtaining livelihood
so that really we may consider ourselves to
have done the community a benefit when We
capture one of these gentry; whilst those who
allow their house to be robbed with impunity
jeopardize their ncighbors property"