The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-08-13
A REMARKABLE BURGLAR
The Career OF q Talented Safe
Opener in America.
Picking the Look of Every Cell in the
Prison Where He was Confined.

In the course of conversation with
a New York safe maker, Star report
or asked:
"Do you think that expert mechan-
les in the safe trade ARE ever in league
with criminals?"
"rhere 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 looksmith
better to keephonest 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 a job away is consid-
cradle. I believe that men who be-
come professional criminals take to
that mode of life from choice rather
than from the necessity. l 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"
"How much will a 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 l find that the maiori-
ty of those whom we consider shady
are almost invariably foreigners. The
case Of August Kindt, the Belgian
bank burglar, offers the most conspic-
iouS illustration. That man is a 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? I should say l
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
a 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 princi-
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 filling 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 a strict watch
was set on kindt's house. More bars
were stolen, notwithstanding 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-
tives in leaping on a window-sill
missed his footing, and in trying tC
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 and went to work
in a machine shop, and might have
done WELL In few months, however
he was concerned in a burglary or
Notre Dame street. Part of the booty
was found at his house, and he wa:
arrested, tried and sentenced to i'm
prisonment in the st. Vincent de Pau
penitentiary.
"IIe sets his wits to work and soor
attracted the attention of the prison
officials by his remarkable indication
of talent. One day he requested al
interview with the Warden. lie OBJ
lained it.
"'Warden,' he said, this prison il
unsafe
"I guess it'll hold you securely
enough replied that official, grimly.
"If you'll give me chance" retort
ed Kindt, I'll show you that l cal
pick every lock in the building, safe
,ells and ALL
1.-The Warden had heard and seer
much of his prisoner, but for this rev
elation he was totally unprepared.
"I'n give you chance A tim
was agreed upon, and sure enough
Kindt picked every cell lock as easil,
as though it had been made of paper
The authorities were startled ant
alarmed. Kindt kept cool and asket
for the use of some paper and a pencil
|
"'What for| replied the warden.
"'To draw plan of lock that is t
be the best lock ever fitted into pris
on door, The paper and pencil wer
furnished him, and the result wa
that he produced plan by which
through the working of series o
levers from central action, all tn
cells on a single tier coull be opene'
or closed simultaneously. His plaI
was adopted, and in short time h
made an improvement on it by whicl
any one lock could be operated at will