Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-10-25
AN ARTISTIC BURGLARY.
A Church Member Tells How He
Might Have Done It.

elation to me which have attempted
to record hereunder.
When he had finished his tale l came
to another conclusion.
"You may talk as you like" said my
friend, "of the abilities Of Campion or
any other detective, and the very much
over-rated intelligence with which
some men are endowed. There is,
however, q great deal more Of 1t, as.
sure you, in the novel than in real
life. Now look around YOU" con-
tinued Mr.. Ollacram, land consider
how many Of our great crimes are
brought to light Why, not one
tenth Of them, II we were dependent
ON this wisdom and sagacity Of Police
man XXX. II the criminal brings in
telligence to his Job the force is Inn
mediately at fault"
eyes," he continued, II am an au-
thority upon the subject, have been
burglar myself"
lOul tXCldlincu Ill hOAiOhs
Then, rising from my seat, almost
started upon run. He was a man
whom l had esteemed and respected,
and one Of the very pillars Of my
church. Mr.. Ollacram laughed quietly
at my excitement. His GOODNESS was
irresistible, and | could only excuse
him on the grounds that he had gone
suddenly mad.
"You may stare" replied Mr.. OLA
cram, smiling, but assure you there
is nothing out Of the way in my as
sertion. Sit down again calmly and
will tell you short story.
I'm the early part Of my life was
an artistic burglar, and made con-
siderable sum Of money at the profess
sion. The authorities never caught
me, and l will tell you further that
they never even suspected me OF o
crime. The reason is simple. thought
out my plans well before put them
into execution. invariably laid little
traps for the police who were to fol-
low on my trail, and Sherlock Holiness
the prince Of modern story detectives
would as surely have been landed in a
quagmire had he come on one OF my
burglaries, as he WIS in his adventure
over the yellow Face
reseated myself on the very end OF
the form and listened to the following
| revelations:
an those days dismissed the ques-
ton of morality from my mind alto
gether. ignored all restraint except
the restraint of public observation and
public opinion.
my part was studied from the be-
Cinning, alternative situations pro-
vided for, and, once planned out, per-
mitted myself to make no deviation
ut was in this way that carried
out the burglary in the residence OF
our mutual friend and neighbor, Chum-
leigh, in Browns terrace"
sThe houses in the terrace were all
alike, and as lived in one OF them
with my parents | was perfectly fa'
miliar with the features of the Others
| could go through them by night as
well as by day. Mr., Chumleigh was Q
respectable merchant, whose wife had
recently died, leaving him with three
children, the youngest of whom was
an infant of but few weeks old.
His wife during her life had been q
very fashionable woman, and was al
ways very lavish in her display Of jew.
elry 1t was this jewelry thatattracted
me. concluded that these articles OF
value would still be found in the room
on the third floor, lately occupied by
that lady. Ialso came to the conclusion
that Mr.. Chumleigh now occupied q
different apartment. | therefore de-
termined to gain access to the room in
which Mrs. Chumleigh had breathed
her last trusted myself to be able
to do the rest
~ sent our maid servant on one oc-
casion to the housekeeper, requesting
her to let my father try Mr. chum'
leigh's latch key, on the plea that our
latch key had been mislaid and we
were consequently unable to open the
door. In few minutes the girl re-
turned, | had obtained the impression
in wax, and the latch key, with many
thanks, was back in the custody OF Mr.
Chumleigh's housekeeper. Tomanufac'
ture similar key was not work Of
great trouble to me, and ! thus OBJ
tanned the means Of quiet access.
. "As have said, always arranged
my burglaries with preconceived
idea. Accordingly | now picked W
an old pair Of boots that had seen theil
! best days on the feet Of costermon
ger, doubtless, and a cap that would
have been kicked by workhouse mes
senger. also obtained surreptitious
ly the awl, hammer and Irvine, Oh
waved end from a shoemaker who
lived in the country.
81 next supplied myself with uset
envelope, bearing a postmark, and {
portion of country newspaper Wit
these articles in my possession fel
satisfied, as an artistic burglar, that
could outwit the most skillful detec