The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-03
The aahita 1ailu eagle amednesdaY or,ro gune 1881.
HINTS FROM A BURGLAR.
AN INTERVIEW WITH A MAN WHO
DOES HOUSEKEEPING.


Him Why He Did Not Fire in Retur..
''Don't Try to Catch a Burglar''-How
They Work in Gangs in RobbinS House.
Some time ago the house Of Henry
Kahn, on Home avenue, was entered by
burglars. Mr.. Kahn, lying in bed, with
a bullseye flashing in his face, fired two
shots at the visitors, who left the prem
ises without carrying anything with
them. Il read in the papers of the cap
ture of gang of burglars" remarked
Mr.. Kahn, land concluded 10 pay visit
to 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 a little game of cards was go
ing on, in which the participants seemed
deeply interested. a fine hooking man
was near by. watching 1t. 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.
II don't remember" was the answer.
az 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 $1,000 in good stutf-jewelry,
and perhaps some money. II was worth
going after and taking some unusual
chances to get"
BIr. Kahn explained TO the reporter
that the commonplace, businesshke man.
ner of the burglar was incompatible and
altogether fascinating. He asked him
how they went about the job.
HOW HE PROCEEDED.
SIN the first place." said Horton, "i
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. l
first went into the room where 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 signal
from the outside that somebody in the
house was up.
when l was told this went to your
door aud lay down and listened. lay
there fifteen minutes, but didn't hear
anything. l 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.
l turned the knob, put in the light and
then you fred
Mr. Kahn asked why he didn't leave
then, and not wait for a second shot.
"Oh," said the burglar coolly, Il had
no occasion for leaving. We felt per-
fectly secure. l sat down in the hall
thinking you might come ont. had
two guns heavier than yours, and hest
tated for some time whether or not 10
give you a slug any way"
Mr.. Kahn remarked to him that if he
had come into the room be might not
have had everything his own way.
Il 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 ne is shooting. l
was in no danger, and you We're. Ionly
left because | thought it best 10 avoid
serious trouble, and so when you fired
your second SHOT we went away"
POINTS FROM 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, 81 have always
been a successful business man. was
lawyer for some time, with n good
practice, but became involved IN a lit
tie affair that withdrew me from prac-
tice Then / took up burglary. 1t is &
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,
4 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 20 give
advice as TO the way in which people
should act when called upon by burglars.
Make a noise" he said; las much noise
as posi- bic when you can. Don't try 10
catch burglar. A burglar who knows
his business is never taken while 40
work-always after the job is done, and
be is trying 10 conceal or dispose Of bis
swag"
During the conversation be ssid that
he alone had gone through the safe Of Z.
Rauh, Of South Pennsylvania street
He was told that he had overlooked "a
sleeper" something Of value ne might
easily have taken-in this case diamond
earrings worth 800 that were in an en-
velop,e that he had thrown aside with
other papers
Il beg your pardon. said the burglar.
al was AZ the job three hours / didn't
overlook anything. / went through
everything with great care, ard there
was no such sleeper a. you mention. /
didn't want 70 destroy the papers that
would have done me 10 good, and would
have given NJ. Rsuh unnecessary trog-
be. | take pTids IN my profession and
do ny work thoroughly. l am pretty
sure didnt overlook anything IN that
seh a-Ir9fzuaroftz Jorrral