Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-08-12
A REMARKABLE BURGLAR
The Career Of a Talented Safe
Opener in America.
Picking the Lock Of Every Cell in tn
Prison Where He was Confined.

In the course Oh q conversation Win
New York safe maker, a Star report
er asked:
"Do You think that expert mechan-
les in the safe trade ARE ever in league
with criminals?'
"There are black sheep in every
business" was the reply, "but if there
are any they are very few indeed. In
our business it pays skilled locksmith
better to keep honest than to go astray,
taking the risk which he necessarily
runs into consideration. The pay is
not only good but the chance Of re-
ward for giving job away is consid-
cradle. | believe that men who be-
come professional criminals take to
that mode of life from choice rather
than from the necessity | think it
is largely in the blood. Of all trades
none pay better wages to skilled labor
than ours. Competition is keen and
brains command good figure"
GLOW much will combination
locksmith earn?"
"All the ways from $25 to $40 a
week, not to speak of certain fees
which they have the opportunity of
receiving. In my experience of men
in this business I find that the MAORI
ty of those whom we consider shady
are almost invariably foreigners. The
case of August Kindt, the Belgian
bank burglar, offers the most conspc-
iouS illustration. That man is gen
ius; thoroughly well educated. speaks
several languages and might, had he
been so disposed, have accumulated a
fortune. But crime seems to have an
irresistible fascination"
Detective jackson of Sing Sing told
the writer the following particulars in
regard to Kindt:
"Do know him? | should say |
do, as well as any burglar in this coun-
try, and far better than many. Kindt
came from Belgium some seven years
ago, and obtained employment in
Il watch case factory in Jersey
City. While there he invented sever
al improvements in tools, and was
rapidly promoted in the shop. Three
or four weeks after his arrival several
bars of silver were missing from the
managers safe. The door was found
locked, and there was only two men
who had the combination, the prnci.
pal and the manager, neither of whom
suspected kindt. A close watch was
set, and one day it was discovered
that kindt on coming to the shop had
some silver filing on his clothes. The
workmen were in the habit of chang
ing their clothing both on coming to
and departing from work. The above
aroused suspicion, and Il strict watch
was set on kindt's house. More bars
were stolen, not withstanding the com
bination was changed and it was fl.
nally determined TO raid kindts house,
A close search was made, but nothing
was discovered, until one of the detec-
tivcs in leaping on II windows sill
missed his footing, and in trying to
save himself from falling grabbed
hold of the sill, the top of which gave
way. The space below was almost
filled up with silver in various shapes,
watch cases, bars and nuggets.
"kindt was arrested, but subse-
quently succeeded in escaping to Mon
treal. There he disguised himself,
changed his name aud went to work
in machine shop, and might have
done well. In few months, however,
he was concerned in burglary on
Notre Dame street. Part of the booty
was found at his house, and he was
arrested, tried and sentenced to i'm
prisonment in the st. Vincent de Paul
Pententiary.
"lIe sets his wits to work and soon
attracted the attention Of the prison
officials by his remarkable indication
Of talent. One day he requested an
interview with the Warden. lie OBJ
Laned it.
"Warden,' he said, this prison is
unsafe.'
81 guess it'll hold you securely
enough, replied that official, grimly.
"lf you'll give me chance" retort-
ed Kindt, III show you that l can
pick every lock in the building, safe,
,ells and ALL
"The Warden had heard and seen
much of his prisoner, but for this rev.
elation he was totally unprepared.
"I'll give you a chance A time
was agreed upon, and sure enough
Kindt picked every cell lock as easily
as though it had been made of paper.
The authorities were startled and
alarmed. kindt kept cool and asked
for the use of some paper and pencil.
"'What fory replied the warden.
"'To draw plan of a lock that is to
be the best lock ever fitted into pris-
on door The paper and pencil were
furnished him, and the result was
that he produced aplan by which,
through the working of series of
levers from central action, all the
cells on a single tier coull be opened
or closed simultaneously. His plan
was adopted, and in short time he
made an improvement on it by which
any one lock could be operated at will
without affecting the essential features