The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-07-18
AMATEUR SHERLOCK.
LEAVES FROM HIS NOTEBOOK ON
SIGN PICTURES OF BURGLARS.

The amateur Sherlock Holmes has
added another chapter to his little note
book which records the significance Of
trifles that are important clews 70 the
doings Of the criminal classes. Spots Of
ink, cigar ashes, marks on the finger and
the particles of dust in the folds of an
umbrella are all eloquent to this observ-
ant seeker after truth as revealing
times, places and occurrences in which
people may have been engaged. There is
q whole literature on the muds of New
York and vicinity. their color and con-
sistency and the various degrees OF at
mospheric moisture under which they
will be reduced 10 fluid state, while
toothpicks and matches as characteristic
of various restaurants and localities are
full of meaning.
Now it appears, by what the amateur
Sherlock Holmes has been revealing in
a moment of confidence, that the dead
walls Of New York, Stops Of houses,
basement entrances and area gateways
are the signposts of the criminal classes,
and that what look like the rude scrawl
ings of boys are in reality the secret
symbols by which burglar communicate
with each other.
Chalk marks under the edge Of one Of
your front steps may mean that your
house has been spotted and will DO bro
ken into on certain date A rude draw
ing on the area ratings may TO the en-
hghtened eye of the initiated mean !:
"This man has burglar alarm on his
second story windows and keeps revolv-
er under his pillow. but the silver is in
the buffers pantry on the first floor, and
the house may be entered through the
second basement window, where the
latch is broken"
The fraternity which has developed
this sign language TO such high degree
Of perfection shows considerable ingenu
ity in its design, but no attempt is made
at accuracy Of drawing, as that would
attract attention. The sign pictures Of
the burglars are made TO look as much
like the rude scrawls Of schoolboys as
possible.
Three figures were found scrawled on
the gateway of one house The informa-
ton thus pictorially conveyed was TO the
effect that the house was tenanted by
lady, one woman servant and boy page.
That he was boy page was indicated
by buttons on his coat, and the servant
was indicated by a short skirt, dotted to
resemble q print dress
Another picture in the notebook Of
the amateur Sherlock Holmes was more
easily deciphered, as it showed merely
fierce bulldog guarding the house, q
warning TO all members Of TIE frater-
nifty. The next sign, taken from house.
in the suburbs. was more mysterious and
complicated, bat upon study 1t finally
resolved itself into the announcements
that the man who lived there went out
10 business at In the morning and re-
turned at in the evening.
Another picture gathered by the anna
teur Sherlock Holmes during his pains
taking Investigation Of this subject
showed accurate information. as was
subsequently discovered, upon the part
Of the sign writer as TO the interior Of
the house. II indicated that there were
three electric bells on the windows, and
that one woman servant was employed.
A crude drawing taken from under the
edge Of a stoop indicated that the ssrv-
ant there had been squared, and this
house presumably was Just ready 70 be
bUrglariZed- Some Of the booty expected
70 be secured. together with warnings a.
10 possible difficulties 10 be met with,
were indicated by sign pictures q silver
spoons, coin and plate. together with
the statement that the place was /" Al,
but there were significant sketches q a
dog, a revolver and electric bells 20 put
the thieves upon their guard as TO what
70 expect
Frequently the burglars, says the
amateur Sherlock Holmes. pat these
sign pictures On houses renlOte from
those 70 which they refer. and IN this
case the identity Il the latter - revealed
By mysterious symbols This was the
case with a rude drawing q house dis
covered On a street corner IL represent
ed a tai house with . line barhe1 with
an arrowhead leading % the ro1s from
the stree. and indicating ths. the lsst
method % inGTess was thrOCzh the rocf
The street AID number q iris hoEzse
~ere also shown ~ suocsszion ~ M
m9als which only the initiated oo1a
uriRstA-sd
Dat ct frightened VIXEN yo1 SO
AhaIk marx On your froni stop q area
eatswsy. The probabilities are TIA. |
uey a.s merely the i6iOtie scrav.s q
ho-x A. the sane tine sIausne them !
alosely. ard II they ses-8 % Tosai % bug
f.z-I0us inteat O design j; might nos - /
. bad idea 20 report the matter 20 ihs !
prlsce The later VIII probably lzSgs |
- you zDous t5sszsslvs-- having not !
yt- 6eTeJored many Shs-lock H0lrnszs !
s-oTsrsitl.s, &c; tie III ;1zs 10 sissss |
azse ben ootioet VIII. Il she Euys- !
,ar.Cos usy. aooa he kro<a - ibs ersaE- !
.rszls. ard thee sn,ers'rls-n; seasFy r2s5 /
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