Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-03

back of the dials a small, peculiarly
manufactured ratchet, 80 that at every
reverse motion of the knob small
puneture is made on a plate upon
which it moves, or upon a disk OF
paper especially secured to it for the
purpose Of receiving these impressions
or ~punctures. A celebrated burglar.
in getting at the vaults and safes of a
noted bank, had two Of these eombi-
nation dial locks to open, and did all
bis work in one night.
1t lisa favorite plan Of some expert
thieves, in committing heavy bank
robberies, to ascertain by watching
where the cashier sleeps, cautiously
getting access to his room at night,
either through an unsecured window
or by turning with aippers the key in
his bedroom door, and taking wax i'm
pressious Of the keys to bis Office,
vault and safe. From these impress
siens exact duplicates are easily made,
and the thief then operates at his
leisure, making the attack when he
thinks the proper opportunity has
arrived to secure the greatest amount
Of plumber.
A method which has been in prac-
tice for a number Of years, and a very
successful one ia opening vaults, is BY
securing ar adjoining room aad getting
through the ceiling, floor or partition
into the vault. Ifths vaults are iron
plated, the plating is penetrated in a
very short time BY the use of drills
and thin saws. An aperture sufh
ciently large for the egress Of a single
man eau thea be cut through me
quarter inch iron in about four hours.
After access is obtained to the vaults,
the safes are opened BY any Of the nu-
merouS appliances suitable to the cir
cumstanees
Thieves travelling through the cOun-
try have q very ingenious, simple, but
effective way Of aEsertaiAiHg whether
there isa Watehman inside the bank,
without sabiesting themselves to auy
danger Of being noticed in watching
for this purpose. 1t is that Of putting
. small wedge between ths door and
the lamb in he eyeaiug after the bank
is closed, asd by observing if this
wedge still remains there before the
bank is Opened in the morning.
In the cases Of bank robberies, the
anal work is generally done between
Saturday night and Sunday morning
The tools used by professional thieves
are such as are commonly used by
mechanics, excepting the jimmy,
which, for the heavier work, is made
in several sections screwed together
when it is required for use, being then
about the size of the ordinary crow
bar.
In response to a request for some
cases of an unusual and peculiar man
ner, Mr.. Pinkerton talks freely. The
6rst of these is the story of
Some years since a decent-looking
mai called upon the cashier Of a large
bank in a seaport town. desiring to
rent the cellar and basement under
rsath the bank, for the purpose of an
oyster store. The stranger was ac-
cepted as a tenant, and the oyster
business was begun, and Aourished for
about seven months. The rent was
paid promptly every month, and that
was all the bank people expected. One
fine morning the banker woke up to
learn that the bank had been entered.
money, securities and all we're gone
a clean Job. The vault was burglar
proof, the safes the very hest, but
our honest oyster men had silently
worked their way up into both, com
mencing below and going through the
bottom Of the vault. Indeed, they
bad it all their eWh way, and had
taken their time, a. we'll AZ the con.
tents Of the vault, which they had
reached without much trouble. The
banker was, Of course, korrihed to
learn that the vault and safe were not
burglar proof.
A dentist applied to the omeers of
a bank in 4 large towu for rooms over
the bank. A rental was agreed upon.
and the rooms we're fitted mp in the
most luxurious style. Customers were
scarce, but the dentist always remark
ed "Commeneing hnsiAsss is always
uphill work, but patience will insure
success in the end The bAnk clerks
had their teeth treated and plugged
and their new ueighbor was pro-
nouned a master Of his business. The
dentist had visiting friends, who re
manned in his rooms very late at night.
but that vas not very extraordinary.
for he was Of a sociable disposition
For many months he struggled along.
At length one Monday morning, after
the bank was opened for the business
Of the day. the door Of the vault re-
fused to open. Upon examination it
was ascertained that the bank had
been robbed. The ceiling Of the vault
was found TO have been torn ont. the
pieces Of which had been carried ont
by the dentists friends. a eiroum.
stance which at once accounted for
their bulky pockets. The dentist and
his confederates had worked their
way through the floor Of his Office.
carrying away the debris as fast as
made. Copper-headed maIlets. chisels.
blow pipe and drills soon mastered the
inyulyernable steel burglar proof
safe, a little powder finished the
work. and the immensa traasuros waro
reached and carried away BY u
pseudo-dentist and his confreres, who
left for less exposed regions. having
succeeded in drawing, if mot the teeth.
the wool over the eyes cf the bank
people.
Two celebrated burglars visited a
pleasant interior Eastern town some.
time since. They drove into the town
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