Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-02-05
ADVICE BY A BURGLAR
On How to Make Houses Secure
Against Thieves.
An Ex-Burglar, Writing in the Light of
Experience, Gives Some Ideas Which
Architects Might Adopt with Profit
Opinions of Gail Ross.

Things have come to a pretty pass
when an ex-convict in sheer disgust
feels called upon to instruct American
architects how to make houses burglar
proof, says the Chicago News. But
such is the state of affairs, as the fol-
lowing interesting communication will
attest:
ITO THE EDITOR: II you will consider few
words from one who has been a burglar and
housebreaker, will say something apropos OF
the LIndblom robbery in this city few days
since.
"The first thing that strikes an operator
from abroad upon his entrance into American
cities is the utter absence Of any thing like pro-
lection for your houses. Your architects seem
to have lived all their lives In some retired
pastoral village where every one is honest.
They do not seem to understand that one chief
part Of their work should be to build burglar
proof houses-a thing which can be done so
easily that they ought to be ashamed Of their
ignorance.
Suppose Mr.. Smell had provided his house
with light, handsome openwork iron-or bet
ter steel-doOrs and windows, fastened with
strong chain locks, or Mr.. Lindblom had pro
tected his windows with ironwork, do you sup
pose any thief would ever have entered themf
These 'gillies,' as they arc called, are common
all over the old country. When was doing
time in an English prison 1 remember how o
prisoner used to dilate upon the verdancy Of
the Americans in not using the same.
LAS q health measure one would suppose
that the builders would put in these guards so
that every thing could be opened to the fresh
air at night. But above all they ought to re-
move the temptation Of exposed valuables
from US weak mortals. Ex-CoEvICE
please excuse bad writing from hand Grip
pied by pistol shot in St. Louis ten years ago"
This indictment of American builders
for not constructing houses on the burg
lar-proof plan is a matter demanding
some attention. Therefore it has been
thought good idea to obtain an inter
view with a burglar and see how the
profession" would look upon the ex-
convict's reform notions.
But first to catch the burglar
There stands at 234 Honore street an
old, two-story, drab frame house, the
front door of which opens on a level
with the ground. 1t is one of a row of
six tenements, like many other barrack-
like buildings that were hastily thrown
together Immediately after the great
fire. 1t is here that Home of Indus
try, refuge for discharged convicts, is
located. 1t was established about six
years ago by the reformed burglar,
mike" Dunn, and is presided over by
Rev. A. c. Dodds as superintendent. In
the rear of the home is broom factory
where the ex- convicts are put to work.
The home has room only for those who
desire not to return to their former
guilty occupations.
A jerk given to the old-fashioned bell
knob brings to the door stout woman,
who scans the caller critically from her
deep-set brown eyes: Come in, climb
those stairs and go back to the open
door at the end of the hall"
Rev. Mr.. Dodds is found in his narrow
Office, seated by window overlooking
the convict workshop. He has thirty
ex-convicts at work, several of whom
have been well known to the police as
bad criminals. He turns to his book of
record and finds that he has several
burglars in the shop, but he does not
like the idea of having them inter
viewed.
'Any one of them, no doubt, could
relate interesting stories, but l don't
fancy they are at all anxious to do so,
reasoned Mr.. Dodds.
However, he finally whistled down a
tube and commanded the foreman to
send up Gail Ross from the cutoff
| bench.
what a name for BURGLAR unused
the reporter, and before he could form
any idea of a person to fit the literary
| cognomen a shadow darllened the glass
door and a short man forty-two years
old, the very image of Editha's burglar,
entered, bowling.
Mr.. Dodds explained the reporters
mission and the man signifed his will
ingness to talk. He spoke with the hint
of a Scotch accent and his language a
college professor could not have dis
counted.
''Of course Gail Ross is an assumed
name, is it not?'' asked the reporter.
''Of course it is not, :" quickly retorted
the burglar. ''Why should have an
assumed name? That name was worth
much to me at one time. 1t is worth
more now, for it is about all I have
left except bad cough and an en-
feebled constitution
mo doubt it seems strange to you
that burglar should sail under such a
literary name, but why should it? Twas
not always burglar, and for that mat
ter don't consider myself irretrievably
one now. When grew up my name
seemed TO look so well whenever
wrote it that it inspired me with an
ambition to see it in print 1 thought
how could best set about getting my
name before the public, and began
writing verse. My rhymes were printed
in New York publication, and some
Of them even broke through the quar-
antine and got in the magazines.
imagined was surely on the road Il
fame when got that far, but-whisky
you know.
'sAll this has little to do with burg
lar-proof houses, but even burglar ha'
not necessarily lost his self-respect com
pIetely, and he likes to find an excuse
for being what he Is I just want t.
say one thing, and then I'll give you mi
ideas about how houses should be con.
ntr.1eted To leap ont the profession