The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-05

a man whose whole hand was missing.
The false stump, which he made OF WOOD.
so that II would hide his hand. and from
the end Of which hook projected. like
Capt Cuttle's." Is one Of the most IN
genious c0ntriVances in the museum
/ His ladder is another. Ii Is made OF
wood so that IL folds up c9npac.ly and
forms a bundle in appearance precisely
similar 10 a package of vase sticks
which any poor person might be seen
carrying about London without attract
ing attention. Indeed. he 7-obably as
sumed that this bundle helped him 10
| look the part of an honest worhinsman
"a part which he ever played, for he
announced after his arrest that he had
never hiddes that ladder in his life.
He always carried II frankly under his
arm. When opened IL Is long enough TO
reach from the ground 10 tho second
story OF an ordinary house. and II is so
built that by opening one section the
other sections open automatically
Peace could stand on the ground and
force this thing quietly UP 70 almost any
window he wished 20 reach. climb in, rob
the house. climb back again. close IL and
so away with A mere bundle OF old wood
under his arm
Another queer tool is that invented ny
thief who worked until recently in the
small public houses, where they have no
cash register and keep their change In
a glass on the shelf behind the bar. This
fellow fixed up a walking stick with a
fork at the end. with which, when the
bar maid was not looking. he could quiet
Is lift the glass Of silver from its rest
Ing place aud then decamp. he was pre-
pared for places in which they simply
laid their coin en- shelf. with fat end
for the same stick. This was or the
shape of a small spade. and was smeared
with bird lime. IF he touched a coin
with IL. the coin chung, and soon found
It's way into his pocket.
A vast collection OF skeleton keys is
that which rests. now harmless, in the
Black Museum. With one bunch OF
them is ball of wax, stil bearing the
imprint Of A key. which was taken from
a natty cockney who became known as
the Servants Sweetheart lie was
handsome chap and made love TO every
servant girl he met with singular sue
cess. Calling on ker, OF an evening. If
the family was out. he would ask her
10 take "A walk around the house so that
he might see the fine things. When they
reached the outer doors he would invari-
| ably exclaIm that nc was a Loeb smith
and that he was struck by the merit Cor
| the wcakness) Of the locks. Taking the
| key out so that he might peer into this
| keyhole. he would press II against this
| ball Of wax. thus occurring a perfect
| guide for the manufacture Of a key for
| dishonest purposes.
A collection OF little wooden wedges
| Of various sizes attracted my abortion.
| Their history Is interesting. \ series of
| mysterious burglaries occurred in Lon
| don The robbers never left anything
| behind. except one IF these edges,
! which. while they we're al work, they
| placed under the door % the room they
/ operated in. This secured tnem from
/ intrusion long enough % give ;hom an
| opportunity TO escape through some
! exit which they took care to have al
/ always ready. The police were in de-
/ spair one night a man was arrested
! for drunkenness and OIL ais person one
+ ~ those wedges was found, JoyfGlly
+ They went 10 bis lodging ana found not
/ only another man. 0ut ll-se number
I Of the wedges together wiki the chair
I from which they had been cu;. An ex-
/ traordinary circumstance in connection
] wi.h this crime IS the fact that with the
I wedges whieh were already III the hands
j ~ the police and those IN the possession
! 90 she burglars the entire cfair was re-
/ coustr}Ia ted Not one AVS wlssl4E
j y most Interesting case IS devoted en-