New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-19

ONE OF THEM CONFEssEs TO THE
POLICE.
HE SAYS HE is THE son OF BOSTON JEwEll-ER
AND STARTED ON HIS CAREER OF CRIME
AFTER READING A BOOK

on SAFE BREAKING.
The police have taken into custody two dangerous
safe burglars. and one OF them has confessed lie
tells strange story of his career as cracksmah'
He is the OF reputable business man IN bos-
ton. he says and became interested in literature
adapted thieves. with the result that he gave up
his home and devoted his energies to becoming a
daring criminal He did not possess the nerve OF
a criminal however and when he fell into the
hands OF the police he weakened and told al.
one of the prisoners is Thomas Stevens forty
years Old who says ne is agent. His companion,
who confessed TO their Joint crimes first. IS named
Adams and he says ne is a son Of 1eWeler OF that
name who does business in Boston lie Is about
twenty years old
on Sunday afternoon young man entered
drug store at Ninth-ave and Thirtleth-st lie APP
preached the counter and asked for quantity OF
nItro-glycerine This is q dangerous explosive. 80
the clerk who waited upon the customer looked
Rim over with interest. He wondered what the
young man could want with such an article the
clerk had been reading of the safe robberiss COM
nitted in this city. and the idea came to hin tnat
the young man suspicious character lie
kept him waiting for few minutes under some
pretence until he the rear Of the store and
sent a messenger TO the West Thirty-seventh-st.
station for a detective.
Detectives Taylor and Pepperted hurried around
to the drugstore, and reached there just as the
clerk after waiting as long he could without
exciting the customers suspicion. was beginning 10
prepare the nitro-gycerine for him. The detectives
arrested the man, who proved TO be Adams. lie was
taken to the West Thirtysevenh-st. station. where
Acting Captain Fear questioned him at length. lie
said at first that he innocent OF any crime, but
finally broke down. and confessed to the acting
captain that ne had been interested in several safe
burglaries. big revolver was found upon INN.
He said he lived at No "a East Twelfth-si.. and
that he had a lot Of valuable bonds there.
The detectives went to the house. and found that
,,fn1 Derl
Stevens was found in bed. with revolver under his
pillow and a stetto on a dresser. Stevens was
also placed under arrest. In the room were found
bonds purporting to be OF tire Mobile and Dauphn
Island Railroad valued al $1,000 The prsonersan the
bonds were taken to Police Headquarters Monday
where Adams made his confession. He said thdt
the bonds were bogus. and that he bought them on
the Bowery at the rate of for five cents. He
said that while living at home in Boston he got
hold of a book the subject Of safe burglary me
author LangdOn W. Moore. one OF the most
expert safe-robbers in the country. He became so
interested in the book that he became imDued with
a desire to become a safe-burgar. 50 he went to
Moore and told him OF his ambition. Moore We
coined him a promising apprentice. and also IN
PRODUCED him to Stevens. They planned together to
rob National banks. This was suggested by Moore
who thought that there was no glory in committing
Moore went down to New-orleans, His compan.
%ord dm Moore to go do and him and to
commit a bold bank burglary The long-waited
letter came from Moore. 1t said: Come with
money; bring hundred or two" ...a,>,.,,. -.
The hundred two was not conveniently al
hand. the hopes of Adams were shattered Rut
he not discouraged He and Stevens plotted
together. and decided 10 wreck banks without the
they went out to Newton, suburb OF Boston That
night they got INFO the Cooperative Bank at Newton
end prepared TO commit their first joint burglary.
They bored three holes in the big safe in the place
doomed TO failure. When they tried to bore
O necessary hole close 10 the combination they
etruck piece of steel which their too.s were unable
to pierce. They went away disappoint ted. This
Z they gained entrance into the offices of the Met
yopolitan Life Insurance Company, at Newton. They
bored holes in the side and top Of the safe filled
them with an explosive and blew open the safe The
q few feet. but were not injured. The burglars
found 500 In the safe. and with II they made their
escape. About week ago they came TO this city.
end looking around find a suitable chance
of the police.
Captain O'Bren communicated with Charles Z.
Richardson, Chief CT Police Newton. in regard
the story told by Adams and received answer
that the facts related by the prisoner correct
He also said that Adams had been under suspicion
In Newton. The prisoners will be held here until
requisition papers for return TO Newton pre-
pared.
Stevens denies the story of his companion and
will not admit mis- completely In the other crimes.
He says that he Is not crook. but Adams says
mat stevens told him that he had been in prison
twice.
In Jefferson Market Cour; the men were rernandel
ill to-day.
Adams at first gave the name of William Mason.
and said he was from Chicago.
The will be sent back Newton
The police do not think the men had anything 10
90 with the robbery of Dennetts restaurant on
Sunday.