The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-03-24
DANGER IN A CAB.
INSCRIPTIONS Drivers Invent a New
Method of Isobbing Their Passengers.


In the arts, sciences and industries, i'm
proyements and inventions are keeping
pace with the march of time. One of the
important and profitable industries. especi-
ally in the large cities, is that of robbery.
While not considered respectable, or even
safe, it provides bread daily to tens of
thousands who devote their time, talents
and energies to improving and perfecting
plans by which the unwary may be made
their victims The latest invention of the
kind which has been brought to the atten-
ton of the police is device of remarkable
simplicity, which requires, however, nerve
and recklessness in carrying into execution
A Cincinnati cab driver, whose name is vet
unknown, is said to be the inventor. md
his first victim, whom he robbed of valu.
able watch and several hundred dollars,
was wealthy stock raiser from Toledo,
named Chamberlain. On leaving the rail-
way at Cincinnati he entered cab and in
structed the driver to take him to hotel
designated. 1t was in the nighttime, and
next morning, instead of finding himself in
his bedroom, he woke up IN a deep gully
on the outskirts of the city. His pockets
were rihed and all his personal effects of
value taken away. He reported his loss to
the police, to whom he said that after en-
terlng the hack he heard a strange noise re-
sembiing that made by air escaping from a
tube, and soon afterward lost conscious.
ness. The detectives put ON the case ex.
pressed the opinion that the traveller had
been drugged by n sleep-producing gus
which was forced into the vehicle through
pipe extending to the inside from the
drivers seat.
A prominent New York physician, When
questioned as to the possibility of dragging
and robbing passenger under such cir.
cumstances said " 1t is strange story,
but there is no reason why such thing
could not be done, although such case
never before came to my attention. A
wary and experienced traveller could not
be made victim in this way, rs he would
detect something wrong and call halt im-
mediately, but those who are little intoxicat-
ed, who are unused to travel or whose minds
are engrossed with business matters, might
easily 5e overpowered.n
What sleeping gases could be used 70,
She purpose? p
Those usually used to produce uncon-
seriousness previous to an operation are
ether, chloroform or nitrous oxide, COM
monty called laughing gas. This gns is
administered through n tube placed directly
in the mouth, which could not be introduce
ed without the subjects knowledge or con-
sent. So laughing gas is out of the ques-
ton. Ether or chloroform could readily
be injected into carriage by means of very
simple apparatus placed under the drivers
seat, aud distributed by tubes running
through the upholstery of the vehicle Tho
difficulty about using either chloroform or
ether with success arises from the fact that
both send out strong odor, but this would
be liable to escape the attention of intoxi-
Gated or unsophisticatei persons.
A detective attached to Inspector Byrnes'
'ss.sszkfaass-. .k.-J
take 70 drug hack in this city would not
be likely 10 escape Sing Sing. The trick
has never been tried here, and | don't be-
lieye il ever will on any extensive scale, al
though it is quite practicable"