Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-07

to obtain. The broad effect OF, the protec-
tive feature is shown by the fact that, in
1894, before this association began the pro-
tective work, the banks of the United
States lost s229, 261 from burglary and for
gerry, and that in the year ending August
1898, the members of this association lost
geres of all kinds, amateur and profession
al. less than $4,000
Interesting Facts,
The Pinkerton expert who has had these
matters in charge for the American Bank
ers' Association ever since these protective
measures were started, Mr.. Dougherty of
the New York office, a Sherlock Holmes of
real life, has some interesting things to
tell of the work.
I'VE now issue bulletins" he said 1.-The
second was printed early in December
for the confidential use of members of the
association. / make these up myself They
contain half-tone pictures of noted Grim
inals yet uncaught, specimens of forgeries
ana various handwritingS. descriptions of
new games and of new men-a general
cataioguing of criminal news, such as all
bank officials should know. Besides this
news, the bulletins make suggestions, in
tended mainly for the officials of country
banks-such as having good spring locks
for all doors and leaving a bright light in
the bank all night, especially a light 1hat
viii show out clearly all the interior and
the front of the safe. This bulletin gives
much valuable Information concerning
criminals and other safeguards that ranks
could not get otherwise.
You may judge whether or not This FRO
tective policy has been successful when I
tell you that the east is almost entirely
freed from burglars and that this speces
of crime is now confined to line banks Of
the middle west AS regards Hindling We
have captured nearly all the big people
George H. Hall, one of the best, has been
caught. Here is a photograph of a check
of his, raised from four dollars to $3.50 We
have Charles Becker, who swindled the
New York Life Insurance COMPANY out of
$4,000 and the Nevada National Bank out
of So, 900 one of the finest of forgers and
Max Chnburne. king of burglars" who
is now in Dannemora."
May Employ a Crook.
1t is said by the way, that Becker on
the expiration of his term of Imprisonment,
as forger with twenty-six years of ex-
perience behind him, will be retained by
the protective committee of the Bankers
Association to detect yet other forgeries.
This report cannot be verified, but 1t would
be like the associations policy of fighting
fire with fire.
We keep track of all bank criminals"
said Mr.. Dougherty, land should any rob-
berry occur, we send men to the spot inn
mediately. The officials of the bank at
tackled wire full report to New York al
once: We often hunt criminals for
months"
DO you keep a surveillance over en-
ployes?"
cial cases. All bank employees are heavily
bonded now, and the men are not followed
up unless it seems necessary"
Captain George McClusky, chief of the
detective bureau of the police force of New
York, said that there was nothing new as
regards detective work in banking centers.
I'm all the large cities" he said. New
York in particular. detectives are detailed
10 n1 6ict,- I cn,,1 CT
men down to Wall street each day. These
men have a rowing commission and are
under the direction of a sergeant The
Chief mission is to keep crooks away The
most Of them are old and experienced Off
GERS, but few are new men who are more
likely to know the younger criminals
New York's Dead Line.
In common with all other police officials
Captain McClusky denied explicitly that
there was such thing as a dead line
but he admitted what was precisely the
same thing, that any crook passing south
of Fulton street would be arrested.
New York Is free from bank hIrglaries,"
said the captain. The last was the Man
haitian Bank robbery in 1878, when the
thieves got away with s.. 79a. 800. With the
modern safes and vaults the banks are
safe He testified as to the efficiency of
the American Bankers Associa tons pro-
tective policy, and the fineness of its de-
tective work
Much might be told regarding the inpreg-
inability of the modern vaults A volume
could readily be written upon it. Skilful
as burglars are, not one of them has sue
ceeded in cracking vaults of the newest
pattern. Given the skill, the tools. the ex-
plosives, watchmen brlbed and conveniently
out of sight, it would yet be impossible
Ghis is the opinion of experts to open the
most recently built vaults.
The crooks attempting it would need
days, not hours. For they would be stand
ing against structures of steel and iron
marvellous in construction thief of the
burglar stripe does not pick out these SUI
perb money Notifications. He selects the
weakest in sight, even if there is not quite
so much within this.
Defy All Attacks.
Nevertheless, to show what bank vaults
can be today. take two famous examples,
those Of the New York clearing house cost
irg $4,000, and those of the New York Life
Insurance Company, costing $50 900. These
are by no means the most costly in Amer
lea. The Illinois Trust and Savings Com
pany of Chicago has a vault costing 1925
coo; but these will suffice as examples
The vaults of the New York clearing
house hold fifty to seventy-ive million dol
lars of gold coin continuously. There are
really three vaults each, containing LA safes.
A grlllWork of heavy iron covers the entire
front, the outer doors are nine and half
inches in thickness, the inner five and
thTee-quarters These vaults are built over
arched passageways. preventing tunneling.
These arched passageways are surrounded
by another passage, through which a
Waterman walks frequently at night There
are peep holes for him to peer through to
detect any possible marauders while being
safe from attack himself. These vaults are
SO arranged that they could be flooded at a
moments notice in the case of a mob's de-
scent.