The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-07
THE "KING OF CROOKS"
MARK sHTNBORN, THE NOTORIOUS
BANK ROBBER, UNDER ARREST.

His Extraordinary Career-BurgIa-
ries by which Fortunes Were OBJ
tained-Escapes From PrisOn-Life
in Belgium as n Millionaire with
the Title of Count.
From the New York Tribune.
Mark Shinborn. whom Robert Pinker-
ton speaks OF as the most remarkable
bank burglar ever known in police his
tory, was arrested on Friday morning. at
Seventh avenue and Thlrty-hfth street,
by Pinkerton detectives. under the charge
Of Detective Butler. on a charge Of robbing
the First National Bank Of Middleburg,
n Y, on April Is last. Shinborn's career
has been in many respects extraordinary
nd his life offers a striking instance OF
human perversity in devoting exceptional
skin, ingenuity and cleverness to criminal
uses
shinborn, who is a man Of good educa-
ton. came to the United States in 1860
a fugitive from Germany On his arrival
in this city he made his home at the prin-
cipal hotels, at that time in Broadway. be-
tween Canal and Houston streets. and
quickly acquired notoriety as an inveterate
gambler It was not long before he be-
came copnected with some of the notori-
GUS criminals who frequented the sport
ing resorts in that part of the city. Most
Of these crooks" gained wide notoriety
as bank burglars, but with the excep-
ton OF one or two. are now either dead
or in prison in this country or in Europe.
shinborn chose as his regular associates
IN crime George Bliss and Fairy" Nc
Hulre, and occasionally, as they required
another man, they would make a selec-
ton from this party Of criminals. Shin
born has had a confidential agent and
go-between a bright young Englishman.
who had arrived in New York some years
previous and taken an interest in some Of
the gambling houses. and whose acauaint-
ahce Shlnborn had made at one of these
houses. He afterwards used this English
man as go-between in negotiating back
the securities stolen in the various bank
roonerles he was connected with. In do
ing this Shinborn made a fortune for him
self, as well as his confidential agent
ana when the former was forced TO flee
from the United States in 1869 both he and
ms agent were very wealthy
IN oruer 10 perfect his knowledge of the
mechanism or combination locks and the
working OF safes, Shinborn for, some time
took employment, under an assumed
name, N the works of the Lilly Safe Com
pany. In 1866 the Lilly safes and vaults
We're considered among the best and most
secure made, and had an extensive sale
throughout the United States. The COM
Dlnations made at that time wore not DC
perfect as they are today. and ShinboTn
discovered that a person with acute hear
ing by putting his ear to the safe ana
turning the dial, could discover at what
numbers the tumblers dropped into pIaoe
lie also discovered that by knocking Off
'he hinges OF the ordinary Lilly safe. and
uSii ,;s d powerful Jimmy" the door could
easily be pried Off It was by the know.
ledge which he gained at that time and
through the work of himself and bis
associates, that the Lilly safe as n source
OF protection was eventually driven opr
OF me market. 1t was said at this time
ia :, Siilnoorn could study out combina-
ton II he had time to do it,
When Shinborn fled to Belgium IN 1871
ne Is said to have taken with him no loss
than Sl,UOOOO as the result of exnioits
When America grew too hot to hold him
ne selected Belgium as his place of ref
uge because no treaty of extradition ex-
lsteu with that country. After living oui
etiy retired in Brussels for a Few Years
ne purchased an estate and an interest
IN large silk MILL and also the title az
count" The news reached this country
that he was living as Count" Shinborn
in Belgium. After Shinborn had taken
up his residence in Belgium he discontin-
ued his connection with all his previous
criminal associates, and, in fact
outside Of his young English
confidential agent, he allowed
none of his old associates to know where
he had gone. 1t was only by accident in