The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-08-28
: A Burgl.r's Career.

est burglars with whom detectives ever
had to deal, was sentenced ut Montrose,
Pa.. recently, to eight years solitary
confinement in tho Eastern penitentiary
at Cherry Hill for the robbery of the
United States Express Company's safe
at Susquehanna, Pa., and to one half
years imprisonment for an attempt to
escape from thcMontrose Jail. The safe
robbery, which occurred in June, 1883,
netted $4,000 in cash, the money hav-
ing been forwarded to pay the hands in
the Eric shops at Susquehanna.
Proctor was known as a after" or a
burglar who makes it his business to get
impressions of keys, and afterward
fit them to the locks where
q burglary is contemplated.
He was born and brought up
in Portland, Me-, where his father was q
respectable machinist, and of whom
young George learned the trade. In
1873 he had become foreman of tue
Portland boiler works. Ho took to
gambling and fell in with eastern bur.
glars, who discovered his mechanical
ability, and to make use of that induced
him to join them. For year or two
he was successful in the "business, but
in 1876 was caught robbing q safe at
Lowell, Mass. For this he was sem
fenced, in February, 1877, to four
years in the Massachusetts state prison
at Charlestown. Proctor had received
o good education, and was au accom-
plished musician. He obtained the
position as organist in the prison, and
was so general favorite with the off,
cials that he was granted special
privileges, one of them being the
range Of tho corridors. He took adj
vantage of this to make impressions Of
keys to locks OH his own cell and those
Of the notorious bank burglars, Charles
Bullard, serving twenty years
sentence; William Cole, ono Of ten
years; H. Jordan. ono Of years; james
McWilliams, one Oft years, and Charles
Gleason, one Of nix years. He operat.
ed also on tho prison door leading di-
rectly to tho street. Proctor and Bul.
la.d worked seven months to perfect
their plans. On tho night of Sept. 80,
1873. Proctor unlocked the doors for his
friends and all quietly walked away.
Gleason alone was left. Proctor had
become suspicious of MIN, and dcceiv.
ed him as to tho time fixed for the dar.
ing fight.
= Proctor ana Buiiard left ttsir COM
panions when in free air, walked out
side of Boston, boarded train, and
came to this city, stopping at small
hotel in the Bowery. Bullard sent
for friends, money was forth
coming, and the two went to
Montreal. Here Proctor was known as
Steve Briggam. Soon they went to
Toronto, where Proctor was engaged
in the robbery of the safo in the rail
way ticket Office at Brockville, Ontario,
and Athabasca, Quebec. In each case
Proctor got the confidence OF those in
charge, and securing impressions, du.
plicated tho keys of the safe. For year
Proctor worked US mechanic in tic
safe works ut Toronto. He was plau.
sible fellow, was advanced, and soon
was put on the road rs salesman. This
was too good an opportunity to be lost.
when he sold safe he would fix the
combination for the buyers. Then in a
short time Bullard and another burglar,
named Martin, would come along and
full safe of night would DO empty of a
morning. Proctor was suspected by
the firm. There was no proof, but his
services were dispensed with. Bullard
was arrested in Toronto for robbery,
convicted and sentenced.
Proctor left tho Dominion, went to
work in the shops of the Erie road at
Buffalo, and was soon promoted to mas
ter in the boiler shops at Susquehanna.
His share of the burglary here was
sl3,0 900. He wrapped it in an old shoe
md buried it in his garden, where it re.
manned for year. Then, thinking
that no suspicion could attach to him.
he dug it up and went to Buffalo.
Here Proctor blossomed out as spec
ulator in oil, putting his money in three
different banks. He met many of the
prominent brokers, and in due timo
was proposed and elected member of
tho City Club-one of the most promi-
nent clubs in the city. He was very
friendly with Mr.. Chase, of the firm Of
Chase 4 Comstock, large fur
ALeEs, WHOSe SCOre nc frequently
visited, and is said to have got
the combination of tho safe. At any
rate, he had fitted keys to the store
door, to be safe if tho market went
against him by helping himself from
their stock. He had also fitted keys to
tho Office of Donaldson & Abeel and
Irish g. English, suctioneers. His fam
lily remained in SusqueLanna, and he
spent every Sunday with them, travel
ing on passes stolen from the desk ofF.
NJ. Wilder, master of motive power of
the Erie, to which he had keys. Pin.
kerton put q watch on the man. He
lost all he had in oil. He was arrested
and placed in Jail for the Susquehsnna
robbery and confessed his guilt. Here
he succeeded in making keys that would
release him, but they were discovered
in time. Afterward he made q des-
perate attempt to break jail, but failed.
Armed for an Emergency.
In the Winter of 1881 General Grant
A