Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-08

Some time since on q by-street of this city,
ter days, sccosted belsted GLOBE REPUBLIC
man. and asked almost piteonsly for dime to
buy something to eat. The news gatherer
was softened to tie extent of luuch at an
all-night restaurant in the vicinity. The man
seemed inclined to be communicative, and
after the short rePast vas over he div ulged
himself as q broken-down burglar; not really
a burglar. but "spotter" for the gang. "rve
been in almost every large city in the United
States, and also spent a season Of forced exile
in Australia" he said, 81 was for ten years
the advance agent of gang Of burglars with
headquarters in New York, and branch report
ing offices at Chicago, Cincinnati, ST. Louis,
Kansas City and New Orleans. | once shook
hands with Jesse James in Kansas City, and
could have captured him several times,
but he did not belong to our gang, or our
style Of thieving. Anyway, it would have
cost me my life to have done 80 much out
side work, or given 90 much evidence that
could be bought to do an act Of treachery.
Well, am one of the last of . very sue
cessiul gang of burglars and can say that
not one Of them have Jared as well as have
in The world. and you see what am.
Ny boy, he continued, il had one single
relative on the green earth that could go to
now, and feel that M last days would not
be altogether unblest with some friendly care
for me, think | would be as happy as |
could expect, and l don't expect much
heaven knows.
Our gang did some little work here once,
but owing to some miscalculation nothing of
value was obtained. spotted the job my
self, but that is all | will tell you about it.
You see the gang had a regular system OF
operation, and no written communication
except on strict matters of salary or such
things, was ever allowed. said l was the
advance agent well. had my route laid out
for me and took it without any change in
the programme for the years work. l had to
watch the work myself to know whether the
C acksnen who followed me were up with
my "spot" or not could find this out BY
The newspapers, though it was sometimes
b ard to determine whether it was my point"
that was "cracked" or some other gangs
work. but generally succeeded very well, in
hat particular. Now, my plan OF "spotting"
has 80 many deviations aud so many changes
to suit the locality or the circumstances that
al 3lv h. laI MA A
porter for paper is said to be able to scent
the news someway and 60 and get it. Well,
suppose must have been a good "spotter"
tor always "got onto the spot" very easily. |
Some way could tell a man who kept bis |
nuney i, his house rather than in the bank. !
Safes likely to contain money had to be
watched pretty closely tor some days, to
De sure of il. We sometimes missed |
he "time" when the safe should bet |
cracked for the Doodle, but
when our gang misssd.in such . way, the
newspapers were very sure to say, that if it |
lad occurred the night before large amount
# money would have been secured. So we
generally know about when to strike. Now,
f course, had 20 have some pls1 of COM
nunication with my '.tenders, as they who fol-
owed me were called. My hotels, tor they were
ways assigned me on the programme, which
vas known by my "tenders," and they also
ad key to certain letters of the alphabet
nd numerals which meant great deal to US,
ut not tran.atable by anybody else Well,
then my "spot" was made, went to city
got the page on which the name
ne party or firm appeared, counted from the
,p down to it and took the number; if the
age was SO and the number from the top
0, and the "spot" safe, | would 60 to some
lace at the hotel, generally in the private
partments, and scratch on the woods.
0. 40 and under this would place my own
rivate letter, F. Now had another system I
letters only, which l could write any
here, and anybody would take them for
,me FOOLS initials. Tbose. initials l could I
Sc when registered at the hotel :
II my own name, and l followed
IA. plan one year ago. This would make
necessary for me to 20 to some other hotel
rst, and register my name with the new ini-
ais at the hotel prev ously designated. Well,
lis plan made me look for such marks about {