Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-02-17
AMERICAN BANK BURGLARS.
Men Who Break Into Banks-How They
Opcrnte-TOols Costing $1,000.

Men Who Break Into Banks-How They
Operate-Tools Costing $1,000.
The methods of the American thief,
the Chicago. Times says, are very COM
prehensive and skillful, more so than
are those of the profession, for such
has thieving become of other countries.
1t is commonly acknowledged among
the first police officers in the world,
that, for fine job, the American thief
is far ahead of he of other nations.
! Why should he be? That is some
what OF a mystery, unless to the train
ing he has received under the tutelage
of the best of English thieves he adds
the peculiar daring, GOODNESS, cunning
and skill that seem to be inherent in
the fully developed American. But no
matter for what reason, the fact re-
mains unchallenged that he stands at
the head of the craft. A consideration
of his ways, gentle and otherwise, will
be interesting to read. He is divided
in many families, but first and fore
most among thieves is the bank bur
glar or "high-tobyman." lie is the
king bee in the criminal hive, and
effects to be gentleman when not en-
gagged on day" The history of
nearly every large and wealthy city
abounds in instances of the bank-rob-
ber's daring roguery. lie comes and
leaves mysteriously, and his presence
would not have been felt had he not
left exit" of beautiful tools beside a
wrecked safe or bank vault, and taken
in exchange greenbacks and bonds
that may be thousands, but more often
is millions. This in his peculiar sport
i've moments he might term fair ex-
change, and does but no amount of
sportive wit can persuade the bank
officers into thus regarding the visit.
Bank burglars are not in the habit of
working alone.
They travel in gangs and have at
their beck and call crowd of confed-
erates-capitalists, "layers-out," and
''go-betweens." The first named
"Stake" the craftsman when he is
broke, furnish the funds for his expe-
ditions, and when he is in trouble look
generally after his interests. The
"layer-out' is the brains of the gang,
plans its expeditions, often furnished
the funds, and after success shares
the spoils. The "go-between' is he
who acts as agent for the return of
non-negotiable bonds or securities of
any kind, for although these papers
have no real value to the burglars, the
bank people are pinched by the same
wise, and between the two inconveni-
ences both are willing to sacrifice
something in the interest of harmony
and the rest. Bank burglars tools are
generally of very superior order,
gathered with care and piecemeal until
the kit is made up. A full kit of the
best order is worth $1,000 This may
all go in the event of a failure of a Job
by disturbance, and generally does go
when a successful piece of work is
accomplished, as the booty is heavy
enough to carry away in itself, so the
tools are left behind. Mechanics of
superior class exist in larger cities who
make specially of fashioning bur
glars tools. In the absence of such a
mechanic the tools are collected in
parts, but as this is risky way of OBJ
tanning them it is avoided if possible
Kits of the tobyman's tools are kept on
hand for hire, and good collection
can be obtained in the centers of the bus
mess for from 500 to 5000. These tool
renters are generally tool-makers also,
bus often the fence has them on hand,
and it is part of the business of the old
craftsman to keep them. Fifty per
cent. of the noted burglars are practical
smiths and thoroughly understand the
temper and capacity of their own tools.
Sometimes a gang, each owning nipple
ments of different kinds, pool their
possessions, and thus make up a full
exit" The tool-makers have their
specialties. Some are famous for
chisels, others for punches and jim
mics, and one maker has made ma
tional reputation for sledge of lead
and copper that entirely superseded
that formerly used of steel, because of
the dull, almost noiseless blow it
strikes.
The latest great improvement is in
drills that cut into the hardest steel
like knife into wood, especially the
double racket drill of Howard, the bur-
glar, who was murdered by his COM
rades some years ago for treachery. |
This drill is said to be able to bore a |
hole through solid block of steel as
easily as does gimlet in one of wood.
Another tool called safe-opener, will
cut the front out of safe when once
it gets hold. But the most powerful
and destructive instrument used by
burglars is the safe-drag, originally |