Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-01-30

Ava AAVAoy'
"It is a curious md suggestive fact"
said Superintendent Campbell, OF
brooklyn. while talking to a reporter
OF the Eagle "It is curious and sug-
gestive fact that crime is graded by
by the amount OF money IL can pro-
cure. Thus forgery, in which by a
few strokes OF the pen a man may OBJ
tain "a fortune, is counted first and
highest, OF course, not considering
murder
Next comes burglary, where, with
greater trouble and risk, Il fortune may
still be procured in u few hours Aud
so on.
"Of late years burglary has ceased
to be crime, and has now become, as
it were, a business, a profession re-
curing nerve. skill and system. Con-
sidered as IA business, 1t requires a
number OF tools, or ut least IA cons slider
able number OF variations upon Il few
implements. Now. I've got specimens
OF good many burglars tools here,
all of which were taken away from
criminals caught operating in this
city. I've few minutes to spare, and
it will be of interest TO you to look
them over p"
This" the Superintendent explain
ed, bringing into sight two feet in
length iron instrument. which looked
like an enlarged ordinary tack-liiter,
lis the burglars characteristic imple-
ment; without it he is lost; with it he
feels 'at home almost anywhere. 1t
is that famous Instrument, a jimmy.
There are two varieties of this tool in
ordinary burglariOus operations. Inc
small jimmy, which is used in what
the burgl r facetiously styles light
household work, such a. bursting open
bure drawers and the like. The
other, OF which this il "a sample, is
used for heavier work
This is drill, another favorite tool
with burglars" the Chief went on,
picking up what night have been taken
by the uninitiated for mammoth cold
chisel.
Here's wedge" This time the
Superintendent singled out an or
binary wedge shaped piece OF ma
hogany. This Is greatly in use by
burglars. 1t il in fact peculiarly
characteristic burglars tool. In their
slang it is called an alderman 1t is
used TO pry open doors, or rather to
prepare the way for other tools to pry.
The alderman is generally the first
tool inserted by "a burglar under door
when he sizes it up by increasing the
size of the wedge, till fin lily the door
is at his mercy. Why sIch an in
significant but dan gerous tool as this
should be called an alderman perhaps
not even thief could tell. Next we
have here u sleIge-hammer. This
forms an important though simple
item of burglars kit And here's
} two styles OF that terrible weapon. u
billy" One of the latter appeared
to be dimutive policeman's club. and
the other long, slender canvas bag OF
. shot with cord handle attached.
"The slung shot, the Chief remarked
holding up VIII It looked like the butt
end OF a horse whip, or loaded cane.
I suspended by leather cord, ICON
tributes an interesting share to
the burglars outfit, and enables
that valuable member Of society
, to defend his precious life il at
trcked in the regular discharge OF
his profession. The brass knucxles
further contribute to the same desira-
J BILE end. Worn over the hand, these
weapon in hand 10 hand encounter
Skeleton keys form a most important
part OF a burglars stock in trade.
Some OF these are single and others
are double. They are used a grea,
deal by that branch Of criminals known
as hotel thieves who come under the
general head OF burglars.
Here's pair OF ippers-simple, or
In a,ff h.,
with the aid OF these nippers on the
outside OF door the key may be
turned on the inside.
"Given these TOOLS" Superintendent
Campbell continued, returning them
carefully to their place Of safe keeping,
sand little powder. possibly pluck,
> patience and no principle. and burg.
, lar has all ne needs to IN ke or take 4
fortune he en- only first find IL.
3 There is this recommendation about d
< burglars professional career; he takes
, big chances at huge gains. True he
risks de tn il detected in his operations.
4 and has q certainty OF Il heavy sentence
r IL captured, but he argu IS on the other
o hand, he may in one night capture the
f, results OF whole lifetime OF toll.
' Continuing. the experienced head o
the DfOOhtNU Oll rOTC0 edlQ Ludb
o as in other trades and professions, Sc
in burglary. the work was systematic
ed and divided. and much was done
before anything appeared to have beer
: accomplished. Burglares. like cam
o paigns. had to be planned before they
= coull be executed. One set OF mer
:, did the thinking, while another set die
the working.
: gang OF burglars, like a company
OF actors, have their advance agent
; a man who goes before them. pros
poets the place whore the robbery il
to be committed and prepares the wa!
G for the working force OF the gang
a This scout or advance agent is Away
very clever man and generallypossess
% esa gentlemanly appearance and socia
!. qualities. He will, if occasion re
r quires it, assume the gnise of labor
!, err and obtain employment about tn,
. bank, or he will become a menial o
y be any body, or do anything which
will accomplish his purpose. IL banl
"a in city like Brooklyn or New York i