The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-26
NOTED BURGLAR CAUGHT
Gustas T. Kindt Again Arrested in
Philadelphia.
The Lone safe-Rreake< Who Bax
Spent SearIy HALF His Life Behinss
Rars-Tvice Escaped From. Sing
sing Prisoa-Bexan ms Skilled Me-
caanic and Turaed Cat Criminal.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec 26.-A story Of
lie devoted to crime. reaching over a
period OF thirty-ive years and involving
many eleverly executed robberies and car
ing prison escapes. is recalled by the ar
rest OF Gustav F. Kindt, recognized hy
the police authorities al over the eountrg
as the king OF lone safe burglars who
was caught yesterday morning after hsv-
ing robbed John F. Sloan & Co.'S whole
sale liquor store Kindt, who is sixty-six
years old, has spent nearly half of MS
life IN prison.
With the knowledge he acquired rs a
skilled mechanic. Kfndt. after becoming a
criminal. found II a comparatively easy
matter to open safes and unfasten DOORS.
which we're apparently securely locked.
Twice he has escaped from Sing Sing pris-
en-. record which has never been aebiev-
ed by any other criminal, and while in
she prison he invented confriyance by
which he could unfasten twelve locks at
one time
Through friends he offered the device
10 the Government on the condition that
he be released. bat his OFFER was net ae-
eepted- He aTter%ard planned 30 escape
and was al liberty within a week, cut
ting the bars of his cell with a saw which
enc OF his friends bEoGgh. to him.
The police records show that the pris-
ozeF was first arrested in January. 1859
at which time he was sentenced TO ten
years IL Sing Sing He had been there
two years when, aided by the saw, he es-
capped. Nine months later he was captured
Enile attempting to rob jeweiry store
al HaekenSack. \. :. and was sent back
20 Sing Sing In 1873 he again escaped and
went TO Montreal. Canada, where he was
subsequently arrested for another robbery.
After serving the sentence imposed upon
hiIn ne FED to 81. Adams Vt. for the pur-
pose Of evading the Sing Sing prison Off
cials. but vas captured and upon his re-
turn 10 prison he was placed IN a double
barred cell fram which he could not es-
cape
After being released he announced his
intention Of reforming. but yielded to
temptation again, being arrested for COM
hitting another robbery This was in
1885 and he received a sentence which kept
him in prison for another long term After
being released he came to this city and
opened a confectionery store at 1913 Ridge
Avenue. He became Indebted &c The owner
Of the property Mrs Matilda Wicks. and
his stock and fixtures were levied upon
but il WIS agreed that they should net be
sod. providing that ne made a s2tisfac-
While the suit was pending g2inst hin
be formed the acgua intsnce of young
woman whom he induced to forge AIRS
Nicks' signature to two mortgages foI
s., GEO on property owned By Mrs Wicks
The fraud was discovered Just in time and
both KNIT and the young woman were ar
rested. The young woman confessed and
testified against Kin5t. who was sentenced
70 the Eastern peaitentiary for FIVE years.
He was arrested on this charge during the
month OF August. 1899. and ne has not
been heard frem since then until his ar
rest early yesterday morning.
He gained an entrance 10 Slean's liquor
store shortly after ! O'Clock, b. forcing
open rear door aid Immediately began
operations On the safe the door of which
he easily opened. After removing the
money he devoted his time TO riaing the
drawers OF the different desks and was
thus engaged when John r Slean, raem-
Der Of the 6Tn1. accompanied by John \
Smith, OF 400 Orianna Street returned t.
make q record Of the days receipts No
tieing the safe and drawers open Sloan
Ehe had oRly been absent from the store
about an hour became suspicious. and up
Tn locking under desk. saw the prisoner
hiding there
Sloan and his companion seized the in
truder who begged for freedom.
I am an old man and have q family, "
he said. aand you VIII not make any mis-
take by letting ne CO. They marched
him cut OF the store and Sloan held hin
On the corner until Smith summoned Po-
Hceman Glendennius. OF the Seventh dis
triet, who took charge Of the man. An
examination CT the store resulted In the
finding OF set OF burglars tools inciud-
ing { dark lantern ard d small can of oil
ElI Of which belonged 20 the prisoner
kindt IN an effort 10 conceal bis iGen-
tftF gave an assumed name at the police
citation, but upon BeiHg taken to City Hall
was readily identified by Court Detective
Harry Stanwood- Kiudt had nothing to
say IN his defence when arraignsd before
Magistrate Cunningham. who committed
him TO prison without bail On the charge
O. burglary Kindt Is also known BIZ the
names OF King Leroy. and .-Frenchy.' .