The National tribune., 1894-10-18
BURGLARY BY TELEPHONE.
A Chicago Inspector of Police Relates Re-
markable Story.
IChicdgo Herald

/
| IChicdgo Herald
at is a well-known fact that no other
section of the population avail themselves
more readily and speedily of the latest tri-
umphs of science than the criminal class, "
said Inspector Bonfield recently. The
educated criminal he continued, skins
| the cream from every new invention, If he
can make use of it. No safe has yet been
constructed that keeps out the shrewd and
determined burglar, and that's the way in
everything. But ] don't recall a case in
which this truth was more brilliantly dem
onstrated than the Maxwell case"
"What case was that?" queried an old
newspaper man present. l don't recollect
of ever hearing of it before"
"No, l suppose you DON'T" said Mr.. Bon
field, musingly. "The fact of the matter is
it never was a case that properly belongs to
the department, but l can speak of it now.
You see it was at the time when the tele-
phone had just been introduced into busi-
ness and private use George Maxwell
that's not his real name, but it will do as
well-was at that time one of the most sue
cessful spectators on the Board of Trade,
and was currently reported to have some
time ago tipped the scale which marked the
million. He was a young and handsome
man, and he had just married a charming
woman. 1t was an out-and-out love match.
I A score or so of messages were dispatched
every day during business hours. They
contained such important queries as: 2:35
p. m. How are you now, lovey?' And re-
plies like this: 2:35 p. m. / sigh for you.
How is my sweetest?' Well, to save ex-
| pense and to increase the facilities of COM
munication, Mr.. Maxwell connected his
Office with his home on Ashland avenue by
private telephone wire. He was one of the
first men in Chicago to do so. About five
out of six business hours were now spent by
| him at the hello
Zone day just before the close of bust
ness there was ring at the telephone. The
devoted husband, with jump, was there.
What does my sweet pet wish?' he muir
| INJURED.
"'Pm no pet. You mistake me, sir {"
came the reply, in an unmistakably mascu-
line voice, a voice gruff and rasping, but
very distinct.
"'Who are you, then p asked the aston
| ished millionaire.
Pm Thomas Jefferson Odell, the accom-
| plished burglar, if you want to know
"' Repeat, please gasped the other.
"'Odell, the burglar came the answer
over the wire.
'''The devil!' exclaimed Mr.. Maxwell.
"'No, only one of his faithful servants.
But, now, listen. / have no time to fool
away. / and two of my pals have gained
access to your house. The cook, the cham
bermaid, and your wife are lying here bound
and gagged. The niger coachman has been
disposed Of Some bundles of oily rags have
been iudiciously distributed about the house,
ready to be ignited.
"' You bloody sconndrel!' shouted the
agonized husband, whose eyes were bulging
during this recital.
"'D Don't excite yourself. Now, sir, here
is my proposal. If you should disappear
from the telephone without acceding to it,
/ shall set fire to the house. It's no use ap-
plying to the police, for we'd be too quick
for them. You will see, Mr.. Maxwell, that
you are completely in my power. The only
sensible thing you can do is to listen to my
proposal and to agree to it,
oh, l wish l had my hand at your
throat, you Internal villainn shouted the
millionaire, mad with rage.
6 But you know You haven't, so what's
the use Of talking that way Let us talk
business instead. / need a loan of $4,000
cash. 1 need it at once. If you are in
clined to lend me that sum without guaran-
tee shall leave your house with my pals in
exactly the same condition in which l found
it,
You are running me- groaned Maxwell.
And l don't think have that much money
in cash in the Office safe
You'll force me to commit an atrocious
deed came the remorseless reply.
"'All right, then-yes, I'll pay, but to
whom?
1t is now sis exactly. At this very
moment my pal has entered your Office to
receive the money. You will pay him and
he will tell you the watchword agreed to
between us, which you will telephone to me
at once
MIR Maxwell turned around. A stranger
of pleasant mien, dressed in the hight of
fashion, stood before him. Said the visitor:
/ have called to collect a little matter of
900 for a friend of mine, Thomas Jeffer-
son Odell.'
"'Correct!' replied Mr.. Maxwell, who
went to the safe, took from it two bundles
containing $4,000 each, and handed the
money TO the stranger. The latter ascer-
tanned that the amount was correct, then
placed the money inside his two breast
pockets.
"'And the watchword,' queried Mr.. Max
well.
"'Do right and interfere not joyfuIly
shouted the burglars confederate, with a
great deal of dignity, and strobe out of the
office with all the grandezza of Spanish
hidalgo.
"'Do right and interfere notl' ioyfully
shouted Mr.. Maxwell through the telephone.
And now you'll leave my premises, Mr.
Odell, won't you? And as for my wife,
Have no fear, Mr.. Maxwell replied the
man at the other end. You have to deal with
burglar aud gentleman
Mr.. Maxwell locked his Office, got into
his buggy, and drove to his house at Maud
S. pace. The more closely he approached,
the keener his fear of a catastrophe became
But as he stopped at the gate he noticed
nothing out of the way. He sprang up the
stairs two at time and entered the pretty
boudoir of his prettier wife. She was quietly
reading.
How you must have suffered, my ANGEL"
he cried and sob shook his voice.
The young wife looked up astonished. |
Suffered? I?'
"'That burglar, you know-it must have |
been awful. Oh, you poor darling!'
Why, George, dear, what is the matter?
You speak in riddles
But didn't he gag you?' he asked.
"'Now, see here, George, wish you would |
talk sense. What do you mean?'
"After Mr.. Maxwell had finished the reci- |
tai of his adventure, he asked: Wasn't |
there somebody here using my telephone?'