Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-05-14
DEATH TRAPS.
A Bad Place for Burglars to Visit.

n b8O Il0C0 kOE ~
Several days ago it was reported at po-
lice headquarters in New York, that Geo.
Wolf, . gunsmith and machinist of No.
5S Courtlandt street, kept loaded pistols,
rifles and shotguns in his shop for the re
ceptiOn of burglars. The weapons were
kept at full cock and to the triggers were
attached wires which were connected with
every available entrance the shop. Should
any one break in through window he
would be Immediately struck by a
bullet from a large revolver. Opening
the door, or breaking in part Of it, would
cause the discharge of some weapon or
other Should the first shot be sufficient
to frighten or disable the intruders, he
would certainly be killed by bullets from
row of rifles which were pointed toward
the street at the level Of 4 mans breast
and which were placed at the rear of the
shop. Wires in the centre Of the store,
which the intruder could not avoid, con-
nected with the triggers. The informant
explained the position of number of other
wires and loaded weapons. Wolf, he
said, had been in the habit of so adjusting
the apparatus every evening when lie
closed the store. The ncishbOrs were
alarmed, fearing that the weapons might
20 off accidentally and shoot passers by in
the street. II there should be fire in the
building it would burn to the ground be-
fore any of the firemen would enter it, and
therefore a fire in it would endansor the
| whole block. A similar complaint was
sent to Superintendent Walling by the fire
department.. Detective Mulvey, Of the
| Church street police, was sent to see Wolf.
lie explained to him the danger Of having
loaded weapons so exposed, and suggested
the abolishins the system Of wires. Wolf
said he did not care whether it was dan.
gerous or not. He was citizen, the shop
belonged to him and he intended to keel
the wires and loaded weapons to protect
his shop at night. Thieves could break
into any shop and he would be no better
off than other people if he took the fire
arms away. Mulvey applied to Justice
Flammer at the TOmbs for 4 warrant
Justice FIammcr said he did not know OF
any law which would meet the case, but
he issued q summons for Wolf to appear
On being interviewed by newspaper
reporter, Mr.. Wolfe said the argument OF
the possible danger Of the contrivance t.
innocent people was nonsense. - If any
one gets shot, why then it's time enough
to stop me, not before He said the
same thing had been tried before in other
localities, and burglars had got shot, a
they deserved to be. Two years ago, he
said, policeman stepped up to the door
and struck it with his club to see ifit wa
fastened. The blow caused the pistol inside
to 60 off, ut which the officer and his com
pa,lion ran off as fast as their heels cOult
carry them. At another time 4 cat in pla!
touched the wires and discharged big &c
volver, greatly frightening the people il
the saloon overhead, who thought tn.
place was blowing up. On still anOthe
occasion thief tried to get in at the Goa
hole. His operations disturbed a wir'
connected with shotgun. The weapon
went off, blowing out the gas in the fan
light under the doorstep of the saloon, ant
frightening both himself and Il policeman
near by. Wolf laughed very heartily Owe
the recital Of the last incident. and con
clu,lcd the strange interview by saying
"Tll go to court with my lawyer, bu
they'll get no satisfaction out Of me. 4
for the police, they can go to the devil.
would not satisfy them SO much rs to tel
them what I've told you.''