The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-09


In September. 1876. Howard moved to SOL
Greene avenue. Brooklyn. and assumed the
name Of George Herbert. He hired a cosy cot
tage. remote from other houses. His landlord
was James McCaffrcy. 25l Navy street. Mean
while Draper had twice been compelled to move.
As Mooney he occupied 1897 A Madison street.
but his landlord. William Flanagan OF 421 Fiat
bush avenue. suspected his rea character. and
would not allow him to remain more than six
weeks. He then moved 20 l76 Patchen avenue.
The Brooklyn directory for 1876 gives his
name as follows: William Henderson, cotton.
l76 Patchen avenue. No licensed carman was
employed in these removals. Draper as is
customary with burglars. hired n truck drove
1t himself was assisted by Johnny Dobbs.
Red Leary. aud other thieves. and returned
the truck to its owner. All this was done
to conceal the change Of residence. Wher-
ever Draper lived. his home. unlike Howards
was rendezvous for the most desperate
burglars. Mrs. Howard says that when sho
first visited the house on Carlton avenue the
tab seemed to have boon set for u regiment.
Among others there at that time she de-
srib"s Big John LoQry Kate German. Johnny
DOths, and Jim Brady The house then faced
open lots, ana suspicious characters were stink
ing across these lpfs AT dusk.
Mnlie living at Sol Greene avenue Howard or
Herbert bought u Valentine & Butler combina-
ton lock. Draper was with hun. They took the
lock up STAIRS, ana HeOrEe asked Mrs Howard
for some screws. She found tho screws, and
altrrwurd discovered that tho lock had been
fastened on block Of wood. For days and weeks
her husband ana Draper were experimenting
with this lock, II was kept ia closet in room
on the second floor. The lock had a combinn-
ton dial aud handle. II had four tumblrrs
anu the notches IN them had to he a.igucd before
the door OF IA sai0 could DO opened. Howard
devised plan by which these nntchcs could be
aligned on sale door 10y boring hOle under
the combination dial and working the tumbers
with wire. II IL now known nj Police Head,
quarters that when this secret was discovered
Howard and Draper planned the robbery Of the
Manhattan Savings Institution. Blrcckcr street
and Broadway New York BY deit manage
ment one of their cOnfederntes secuFsd a mental
were admitted. A hole was bored in tue door
Of tire vault under the combination dial, and Il
stiff iron wire was inserted. Three OF the four
tumbers were in use ut the timO. Two Of
position. Tho thrd could not DO moved,
and the burglars did not discover where
their calculations were at fault. They
putticd the hole inted the putty, swept up the
steel illngs. and abandoned the undertak ing.
fancylng that they might discover their mistake
and in tho future complete the job. In the
morning the vault door would not open. The
bank officers sent for Mr.. Butler. He opened
the door but found II tiicult to work the COM
blnation. lie had no suspicion that burglars
door to his factory IN Brooklyn. When the lock
plate was removed by William Massing. a
workman, the putticd hole WAS discovered.
Mr. Butler said that II IL had been bored n
little l9wor tho tumblcrs would have been
aligned and the door opened. Some months
later Howard and his confederates made an D..
other attempt on the vault. but failed. The
officers OF the bank acknowledge that the
lock was out OF ordOr second time. but are
retcent when asked Tor particulars. After tho