Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-28
HINTS FROM A BURGLAR.
An INTERVIEW WITH A MAN WHO
DOES HOUSEKEEPING.


They Work in Gangs in Robbing House.
Some time ago the house of Henry
Kahn, on Home avenue, was entered by
burglars. Mr.. Kahn, lying in bed, with
bullseye flashing in his face, fired two
shots at the visitors, who left the prem
tses without carrying anything with
them. Il read in the papers of the cap
ture of a gang of burglars" remarked
Mr.. Kahn, land concluded to pay visit
30 the Jail and see if my burglars were
there. Jailer Emmett received me
graciously, and boy behind the bars
took me among the prisoners. In one of
the cells little game of cards was go
ing on, in which the participants seemed
deeply interested. A fine looking man
was near by, watching it. The boy
whispered me that he was Horton, the
burglar, the man was looking for.
DO you think you ever saw me be-
fore?' | asked him.
Il don't remember" was the answer.
Il live on Home avenue" suggested.
oh" said he, with some appearance
of interest. Your name is Kahn. Yes,
paid you visit the other evening""
You left rather suddenly"
''Oh, no; we left quite leisurely. There
was no hurry You see we were some
what mistaken about your place. We
had been told that we might pick up
$1,000 or $4,000 in good stuff-jewelry,
and perhaps some money. 1t was worth
going after and taking some unusual
chances to get"
Mr.. Kahn explained to the reporter
that the commonplace, businesslike man
ner Of the burglar was incompatible and
altogether Fascinating. He asked him
how they welt about the job.
HOW HE PROCEEDED
I'm the first place." said Horton, 81
stationed a man at the door of your
sleeping rooms, and that man never left
the door from the time we entered the
house until we went away. One man
was stationed below and another
across the street-four of US, you see. |
first went into the room where a lady
and a little girl were sleeping, but didn't
arouse them. Then | took look at the
servant girl but didn't wake her. When
came in the hall again the man at your
door said he had heard whispering in
side and that there had been a signal
from the outside that somebody in the
house was up.
"When | was told this went to your
door and lay down and listened lay
there fifteen minutes, but didn't hear
anything. finally decided to go into
your room had looked over the house
and thought the valuables must be in
your room, as they were not elsewhere.
turned the knob, put in the light and
then you fired"
Mr.. Kahn asked why he didn't leave
then, and not wait for second shot.
"Oh," said the burglar coolly, 81 had
no occasion for leaving We felt per-
fectly secure. sat down in the hall
thinking you might come out | had
two guns heavier than yours, and hest
tated for some time whether or not to
give you slug any way"
Mr.. Kahn remarked to him that if he
had come into the room he might not
have had everything his own way.
81 beg your pardon, said the burglar,
neither myself nor any expert burglar
with dark lantern need have any fears
from pistol shots. The lantern properly
flashed in ones face disturbs one so he
doesn't know where he is shooting.
was in nc danger, and you were. Ionly
left because | thought it best to avoid
serious trouble, and so when you fired
your second shot we went away"
POINTS FROM A BURGLAR.
Mr.. Kahn remarked that a man of his
courage and appearance-a fine looking
man, with good address, who could
make a success at almost anything
ought to be in some other business.
''Oh," said the burglar, Il have always
been successful business man | was
a lawyer for some time, with a good
practice, but | became involved in lit
tie affair that withdrew me from prac-
tice. Then | took up burglary. It is a
fascinating profession, and in it | have
had my full share of success" He said
this with his face turned squarely toward
the questioner. He has a high forehead,
a sincere and honest expression of coun-
tenance, blue eyes, wavy, iron gray hair
and fine physique. He is about forty-five
years old. Horton then went on to give
advice as to the way in which people
should act when called upon by burglars.
"Make noise" he said; 'sas much noise
as possible when you can. Don't try to
catch a burglar. A burglar who knows
his business is never taken while at
work-always after the job is done, and
he is trying to conceal or dispose of his
swag."
During the conversation he said that
he alone had gone through the safe of E.
Rauh, of South Pennsylvania street
He was told that he had overlooked "a
sleeper" something of value he might
easily have taken-in this case diamond
earrings worth $500 that were in an en-
velope that he had thrown aside with
other papers.
81 beg your pardon said the burglar,
Il was at the job three hours. | didn't
overlook anything. l went through
everything with great care, and there
was no such sleeper as you mention.
didn't want to destroy the papers that
would have done me no good, and would
nave given Mr.. Rauh unnecessary trou-
BILE, | take pride in my profession and
do my work thoroughly. L am pretty
sure didn't overlook anything in that
job. "-Indianapolis Journal.
REVERE OF A BACHELOR.