Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-27
THE wATCHMAN's LIFE.
Sergt. Moran Talks About Bank
Robbers and Burglars.

]
Robbers and Burglars.
Once in awhile an article appears in
papers about some one who has been
asleep for two or three weeks and who lie
puzzling the skill OF the local physicians.
Last night on Bryan street, a MORNING
| NEWS reporter met man who has not slept
| wink at night for several years. Every
night this same man can be found within
a block of Dray ton and Bryan, and more
efficient Waterman than Sergt. Moran
| never guarded bank. He has five under
| his care and from dark until daylight he
is on the LOOKOUT for burglars and ire.
"They are sharp fellows these bank
| burglars" he remarked, "aud they don't
| attempt job unless the chances are in
their favor. Cracking banks as profess
sion has pretty we'll played out because
there is too much risk attached now adays.
A burglar can't drop from the clouds into
steel-lined vault however smart and eX-
pert he may be-"
why is it the professional burglars do
no not hit Savannah occasionally +?
Atlanta, Macon and Augusta have been
worked successfully within the past
year"
I'VE have been honored with visits
from Them" was the reply, "but they so0u
found out that they were being Swallowed.
During the Centennial last May five of
the 'perfesh' came here and got board not
block from this spot. i reckon they
thought they would be close 10 the banks
and see If there was any chance for a sue.
cesstul piece of work.
"From the time, though, that they got
on OF the train until they left they we're
looked after, and they were not slow to
discover the attention that was being
paid them. One sneak-thiet job was at
tempted on safe in midday, but it failed,
and after a short visit, three of them
bought through tickets over the Savan-
nah, Florida and Western for New Or
leans. Professional burglars take a run
through the South every winter. Atlanta
seems to be sort Of branching-off place.
Some come down this way and others go
of toward Texas.
chow can we tell when they are in
town! Wei, We find it out some way or
other. Watching does not consist of
looking after the buildings and nothing
more. A Waterman should observe every
person who passes along the street. The
people in town do not need any attention,
but the strange faces are the ones to be
noted. In city OF this size a stranger is
readily recognized. | can almost tell
thief or burglar by his walk, without see-
ing him. There is something about them
and their movements that gives them
away InOs6 iSlIOWS L WAS OF
said when they went away that there was
not money enough in Savannah tor them,
and every minute they were here there
was enough money in any of the bank
vaults TO nave made the whole gang inde-
pendentiy rich If they could only have got
it out"
''All of the banks have burglar alarm
connections | suppsseT queried the re-
porter.
Yes, but they do not amount to much
against professionals wits if he knows
tue wires are there, and he is pretty apt
10. He has way of fixing the wires.
They do first rate for the vault doors and
for stores and private houses. A cashier
might forget to lock one of tie vault doors,
and then the alarm wires are great
thing. All OF the banks except one have
men sleeping inside where l can see them
as l pass. A sleeping Waterman is In a
dangerous place If burglars ever get In
side OF a building. The average burglar
does not intend to run much risk, but il
he is cOrnered he will fight desperately.
''The fronts OF buildings are not protected
now like they used to be by iron shutters
and grstings 30 close that you couldn't
see through. The best protection in the
world is light. No burglur will under
take job in a place that is lighted up
like HamiltOn's, where anybody passing
along the street can see everything in
side.