Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-06
cLNiitd Hefal5.

iorsueh hssthieving become OF other
countries. It's commonly. scknoWl-
edged amonsthe first police officers Of
the world, that, f,r a fine job, the
American thief is lar ahead Of he OF
other nations. Why should he be?
That is somewhat Of a mystery unless
TO the training be has received under
the tutelage Of the best Of English
thieves he adds the peculiar daring,
coo,ne's. cunning, nd kill that seem
to be inherent in the fully developed
American. but no matter for what
reason, the fact remains unchalleIged
that Ii stands at the head OF the craft.
A consideration OF his ways, gentle
and otherwise, will be interesting to
read. lie is divided into many fami-
lies. but first and foremost among
thieves is the bank burglar or thigh
iobyman." Hs is the king bee in
the criminal hive, and affects to be
aeentleman when he is not engaged on
a"lay." The history OF nearly every
large and wealthy city abounds in IN
stances OF the bank robbers daring
roguery. He comes aud leaves mys
~teriously, and his pre5enc, would not
have been felt had be not left kit
Of beautiful tools beside a wrecked
safe or bank vault, and taken in ex-
change greenbAcks and bonds that
mny be thousands, hut more often is
millions. This in his peculiarly spOr.
tive moments he might term a fair
exchange, and does; but no amount Of
sportiye 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 aud call a crowd of con
iederates-capitalists layers out"
and go betweens The first named
stake" the crscksman when he is
broke, furnish the iunds Tor his ex
petitions. and when he is in trouble
look generally after his interests. The
layer cut is the brains of the gang,
plans lis expeditions, often furnishes
the funds, and after a success sharel
the spoil. The "go between is be
who acts as agent for non negotiable
bonds or securities Of any kind, for
although these papers have no rea
value TO the burglars, the bank peopl,
are pinched by the same wise, and be
tween the two inccnvenienoes boil
are williRg 10 sacrifice something il
the interest Of harmony and the rest
Bank burglars tools sre generally 0
a very Superior order, gathered will
care and %peacemeal until the kit i
made up. A full kit Of the best orde,
is worth 5000 This may all 20 il
the event Of a failure Of a Job By dis
turbanee, and generally does 20 wheI
a successful piece Of work is accom-
plished, as the bootyis heavy eaOugI
10 carry away in itself, SO th,
tools are left behind. Mechanics O
a superior elIss exist in larger cite
who make a specially Of fashioninl
burglars tools. La the absence O
such a mechanic the tools are collected
IN parts, but as this is a risky way O.
obtaining them, it is avoided if posi-
BILE. Kits Of the tobyman's tools arr
kept On hand for hire, aud a good col
lection can be obtained in the centeri
of the business for from 500 to $500
These tool renters are generally too
makers also, but often the fence hal
them on haAd and it is part of tht
business Of the old craftsman L
keep them. Fifty per cent Of the
noted burglars are practical smith.
and thoroughly understand the temper
and capacity Of their own tools. Some
dmee a gang, each owning Implements
OF different kinds, pool their posses
SONS, aud thus make up a full kit
The tool makers have their specialties
Some are famous ior chisels, other,
for punches and jimmies, and one
maker has made a national reputation
for a sledge Of lead and copper thai
entirely supersede that formerly useC
OF steel, because Of the dull almos
nolseless, blow it strikes
The latest great improvement is il
drills that cut into the hardest slice
like 9 knife Into wood. especially tn,
double rachet drill Of Howard, thl
burglar, who was murdered BY hi
comrades, some years ago, for treach
cry. This drill is said to be able L
bore a hole through a solid block Q
steel as easily as does a gimlet 10 on
OF wood. Another tool called a SAT
opener, made on the principle CT tn
domestic oyster opener, win cut tn
front out Of a safe when once it gets
hold. But the most powerful an
destructive instrument used BY bur
glars is the safe drag, originally mad
IN England. Ii weighed at first abou
300 pounds, but American ingenuit
has got It down 10 a little over 100
weight, aud improved it's qualities. A
expert eau tear a strong safe LITERAL
TO pieces with this terrible machin,
VT the boss oracksmen Of the ues
past aud present, Bristol Bill. Ma
Shinburn, Jack Wade, Red Lear,
Scott, Dunlap and Edison, the laI
four famous for their connection wit
the great Northampton, Mass, ban
robbery a few years ago, and for whic
Dunlap and Scott are now "doiu
time" are the kiugs. WouderfI
stories OF the daring, skill, and COO
ness OF these men are chronicled
criminal annals, but they have gene
ally come to grief at last. Their in
mense plumber was recklessly waste
In all sorts Of spendthrift scheme
until they were forced to return TO II
old business to replenish their purse
This procedure illustrates their liyI
until an unfortunate movement thre
them into the clutches Of the law, an
they were settled. Millions on
could cover their stealings, and wal
was not spent in riot went to lawye
and confederates. Many iustanc
are told Of the extraordinary coolne
OF this GLASS in tight places. IN
quality is an absolute necessity to II
famous burglar. Here are three
those stories, all perfectly authenti
In a Western State, Illinois,
think, says a writer on the craft and
former famous detective, ~ wss ON,
employed in a famous bank robbel
case. The burglary had occurred 4
q bitter winter night in a building
q corner where the beats Of two D,
lieemen met, One of the policemeI
passing the bank, saw a man insid
The man was in his shirt sleay,
smoking a pipe. lie called the ofic,