The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-21

litter and the safe-BreHI<er.
From the Detroit Free Press.
No man must guard more carefully
against old-fashioned methods than the
detectives While the criminal instinct
remains the same from one decade 10 an
other. the Manifestations Of that instinct
in actual crime are constantly changing.
Each new invention furnishes the law
breaker new opportunity.
The telegraph and telephone. the steam
railway and the ocean steamship have all
been utilized by criminals for their harm
fui purposes. Each step OF civilization
lifts the enemies Of society 20 higher
vantage ground from which 10 harm their
fellows.
The many recent advances in natural
science have put formidable weapons in
the hands Of the dangerous classes. and
the discoveries or chemistry and physics
are utilized az soon as they are made for
evil as wei as good. II is the old story
OF the lockpicker growing more skillful
as the locks are made stronger, Of the
projectue being hurled with more deadly
force as the ships armor plate is
strengthened. II is the eternal struggle
between the forces that build up and the
forces that tear down.
The detective must keep abreast OF the
times. must be a keen as the thief and as
far-seeing as the property owner. he
must understand in the utmost detail
how crimes are committed in order that
he may prevent them from being COM
mitted.
one Of the most noteworthy character
isGcs Of the formidable criminal Of to-
day as distinguished from his prototype
Of the generation back Is his tendency TO
systematic crime and 10 carry II out with
the same business-like enterprise that is
showing itself everywhere IN American
life. Take the best class Of thieves. for
instance; they start out for a seasons
work with perfected organization and
a cold-bloOded plan OF operation that
would have astOnished the haphazard.
easy-going thieves who used to rob our
Twenty years ago criminals had their
epecialties and stuck 70 them. When a
man was known as a pickpOcket he would
remain a pickpocket, and bank burglars
sneak thieves. fOrgers and cOunterfeiters,
having perfected themselves In one line
of work, were content 10 devote their
energies exclusively 10 that. Now all this
is changed, and, Just as our great stores
are no longer limiting themselves to the
sale of any special kind OF goods, but
are becoming huge empOriums for every
thing, SO the great criminal is developing
a tendency 10 branch out into any or all
forms OF crime, holding up train in
one place. rObbing bank In another and
picking pockets betWeeen times when
business Is dull.
II is not uncommon for a criminal who
has been successful as a confidence man,
but who has no personal knowledge of
any other line. TO employ a clever safe
blower with other assistants and organize
q coup. against some rich bank The con-
fdence man takes all the risks OF the oper-
alton. advances the necessary funds, guar
antees a certain sum TO the men who rob
the safe, and. II the job is successful.
takes the lions share Of the plumber. Such
enterprise would have beeen unheard of
ten years ago.
dency among high-class criminals TO widen
their field Of action would result in cen
Trailing the whole law-breaking business
in the hands Of few daring and power
ful individuals who would employ dozens,
perhaps scores Of their less enterprising
comrades to work for them and would
finally become to enjoy a curious monop-
oily Of the countrys criminal business.
Just as other men enjoy monopoly Of fits
trade. After all, why not; this is an age
of progress!
For years one Of the most successful
pickpOckets in the United States has been
a young man Of good manners and pres
ence, who was brought up in a luxurious
home and who might be earning his living
honestly in his fathers business did he
not prefer crime for its own sake Day
ton Sammie," as he is known, is undoubt-
eddy latter day pervert, one Of Max Nor
dau,s degenerates, and yet so keen is the
dangerous calling that although but a
Few years over 20, he has already amassed
a considerable fortune, and until recently
tthis was his proudest boasO had never
done" a day in prison.
Sammie" Is known to the police Of every
large city as dangerous operator, nor
would he deny when questioned, extensive
Thievings IN many states, nor repudiate
MS intention of stealing as many thous-
ads or hundred Of thousands of dollars in
the remainder Of his life as circumstances
would permit He looks upon his occupa-
1lon as a legitimate form of business
which has the advantage over other forms
OF furnishing constant change and excite
ment And he takes the same precautions
against trouble with the authorities that
% inst
loss at sea-
Understanding that money furnishes the
suress means Of evading the arm of the
law he takes care. before starting on a
tour, say of country fairs, to associate
with him as his confederates or mob
three or four men each one Of whom Is
ally $1,000, with some reputable lawyer VINO
p represents the combination. This is an
other novel phase of modern criminal life
mat lawbreakers now employ lawyers to
assist them in escaping the law, and to
extricate them when they have fallen into
Its clutches. This fund of $4,000 or $1,000 is
understood TO be for the benefit of which
ever one of the company who may be I'M
fortunate enough to take a fall" that is
get pinched." In such an event the law
Yer Is Immediately notified to send on the
necessary bail money, taken from the
pens that more than s., 900 or 81 900 is re-
CURED as bail In the county seat where
Dayton Sammie'' operates, and thai
amount is cheerfully forfeited by the mer
for the privilege of being left free to con.
tinue operations elsewhere. What is $100l
or S2,0OO to the expert pickpocket who fire.
Quently makes as much in a single hau
from the wallet of some guileless coun
Tryman2 Even when the whereabouts o.
one Of the pickpockets who has thus skip
ped his bair' Is known, the indolent coun
" omcers usually prefer to spare them
selves the trouble and cost of pursuit and
Keeping the bail money, leave the wrong
doer undisturbed.
Thus It is that Dayton Sammie" ant
others like him C'sammie" himself wa
arrested in Florida few weeks ago anC
IS now awaiting triaD are able to plunde
people year after year with almost i'm
punity. They fight the authorities will
their own best weapons, intelligence ant
money.
As showing how every new condition o
our city life is utilized by criminals 70
their advantage, the crowded street ca
may be mentioned and the universal habi
Of newspaper. reading, both of which il
large cities give the pickpocket a chanc
10 reap harvest. Imagine three or fou
men standing on the back platform of 1
car, all busy with their papers. One o
these, who seems to be reading no less [
tentively than the others, is a pickpocket
keen on the lookout for watches and scar
min Dc efn g.. L