Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-04
ProfessionnI burglars.


The principal haunts Of the profess
sional cracksmen of New York are
in the Sixth and Eighth wards, where,
in the narrow and foul-smelling streets
that lead to the river they find conge-
nial homes, or rather sojourning places,
for your genuine burglar rarely stays
long in single place. AS soon as he
has completed job which seems likely
to create trouble for him, he migrates to
some distant part of the city, or leaves it
altogether, until he considers it safe to
return. Formerly the most skiilful of
the craft were Englishmen who had left
their country for their country's good
and their own too. Now the American
can discount the foreign article.
Some of the neatest jobs in the safe
and bank line have been done by gradq.
ates of the metropolitan high schools Of
burglary. The English professors used
% be of the genuine Bill Sykes stamp,
low-browed, heayy-jawed scoundrels,
who never enjoyed securing the swag
without knocking out the brains of the
watchman. The American is altogether
different in style, but is nevertheless
lust as dangerous when driven into a
corner, as many policeman and detec-
tive has had good reason to know. They
depend more upon science than viO-
lence, yet when there appears to be need
of force they are not found wanting.
Some of them are men of fair education
and refined manners, capable OF earning
a good living in square way. But
criminals seem to be born as we'll as
poets, and no amount of education ap.
pears TO be Of effect in making them
honest
Contrary to popular belief, the pro.
fessional burglar is rarely ever addicted
to liquor. AS class, they are abstem-
ious, and some of them are thoroughly
teetotal. They need clear heads and
still tongues The aristocratic bank
breaker affects kid gloves, broadcloth
clothing and the opera, and has a thor
ough contempt for what he calls a
mean thief" as q Church of England
bishop has for a dissenting minister
His wife is always arrayed in purple and
fine linen, and gorgeous IN diamonds,
and his children attend fashionable
boarding schools. The former is almost
always privy to the affairs of her hus-
band, and is sometimes an exceedingly
valuable assistant in arranging the pre-
liminarv work of a difficult job She
can do the piping as we'll, ii not bet
ter. than a man, as she would hardly be
suspected of burglarious purposes. She
finds out the habits of the bank officers
and the watchman; what time the latter
enters and when he leaves the bank;
whether there is dog to be got rid OF,
and whether the adjacent buildings, il
any, are occupied by persons who would
be apt to notice any unusual noise In
the bank.
Every point that is important is thor
oughly known to the cracksman before
the attempt is made. The children are,
in nearly every case, ignorant OF the
antecedents and real characters OF their
parents. We refer solely to the higher
class of criminals. They are sent away
when not more than Eve or six years old,
10 another city or into the country,
where they are frequently visited oy
their mother. i
There is at present at a private and
fashionable educational establishment
for young Indies ia this city, beautiful
and talented girl OF l6 or IL years OF
age, the daughter of notorious New
York bank robber, who seven years ago
was tried for manslaughter, and only
escaped by the liberal use Of the money
be had been industriously boarding for
years. 1t must haVe cost him at least
$50, 600 to keep bis neck out of the
halter. OF this and other facts concern
ing her father, the girl has not the
slightest knowledge. To her he is a
prosperous lawyer, moving in the best
social circles, and she looks eagerly for.
ward 10 the time when she shall return
TO that home for good, which she has
never entered half dozen times since
she can remember. Instead of that she
will probably be taken TO Europe by her
mother. where her accomplishments and
money NAV find her a husband. II not,
sbe will return to find her father re.
tired from business and settled in Bos-
TON. Philaaelphia or Baltimore-that IS,
n he is lucky enough to keep out OF the
hands of the police all that time.
.The lower grade OF house-breakers
generally consort in the saloons along
Greenwich street. and in the dives in
tbat net of thoroughfares on the west
side, running from the river towards
Broadway. They are for the most part
a rufisnly set. Bsnk.breaking and safe
opening are above their capabilities.
They break into private houses and
carry away plate aud spoons, and every
thing else Of a portable character which
is Of value, ready at all times to kill or
main any one interfering with them.
-.;, of cars containing 9Oo tons Of