The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-18
THE CATCHERS OF CRANKS.
HOW BANKERS AND BANKS ARE
SPECIALLY PROTECTED.


the Special Guardians ex-Police-
men-The ''Grafters" Another Glass
who Are systematically Rebuffed.
Some sample Cranks.
From the New York Post.
Between the man of position and the
| fictitious business, some sort of barrier
has to be erected, and there is always
some one deputed 10 see that none but
those properly accredited obtain per
| sonal interviews. If access to prominent
men Of affairs were easy, they would not
| only have the greater part of their bust
ness hours taken up with trivial matters.
but would also be subjected at times to
no little personal danger from "cranks"
and criminals. Accordingly in big offices
of every kind in this city, hall-men, de-
tectives, special policemen, clerks, private
secretaries, or ordinary office-boys are
assigned as Intermediates between the
visitor and the man he desires to see.
1t is in the financial districts where
large sums of money as we'll as impor-
tant men, have to be protected, that this
work is best systematized Nearly every
hank or large financial institution en-
ploys one or more men as special 'of-
| ficcrs-" Their duties are usually three
fold. They accompany and guard the mes
sensers when carrying large amounts of
money through the streets; when in the
bank, they watch for "cranks'' and GRIM
inals, and many of them act as conf
Dental man" to the president or cashier.
AT least 80 per cent. of these men, ii
10 estimated, are ex-policemen. They get
their jobs. as one of them expressed it,
through influence, like everything else"
AS matter of fact, many have the high
est of recommendations for honesty and
raithfulness. They are physically power
iul, and their experience on the force"
Is supposed to have familiarized them
with the under world" and it's methods
A member of one banking house said
that he had watched a certain patrol
mans record for more than twenty years,
had seen him promoted to roundsman.
end when he was retired, offered him
at once the Wall Street position which
ne still holds. Ore former London bob
by" holds position in the street"
UP to about fifteen years ago the Police
Department regularly assigned policemen
to watch each of the large city banks.
the institution paying salaries and ex-
penses. When this arrangement was dis
continued, many of the policemen so as
signed resigned from the force and kept
their bank positions, being sworn in as
special policemen"
AS an additional protection to the fl
nanclal district and the jewelry district
there is a force of detectives. now under
Sergeant Dunn, with Headquarters in
the Stock Exchange building There is.
moreover, the famous dead line"
established by Inspector Byrnes, along
Fulton Street, and below which no man
with criminal record is allowed to go.
Inside the doors of the bank there is
little danger from the criminal classes
and the duties of most of the Special
oihcers" are chiefly those of "cranks-
catehers." The typical crank is the one
who comes for money, usually several
million dollars, which he must have right
away. The following letter is a typical
production of the more harmless tyne of
'dunning crank: 81
Dear Sir: Trusting you will readily un-
derstand the following: Being known ar
termed an outsider by an organization
called Swim, secret, of course. if the latter
name is correct, can hardly conjecture
am supposed to be dead to the world
oy thls same secret organization, and am
leIt 10 my own resources to find the req
sons / trust to your kindly advice 10
enlighten me under the above peculiar
circumstances, knowing you to have a
knowledge or such matters, being In YOUR
Tine. If II is necessary to be enrolled and
entered on any list OF Freemen to be in
The so-ealled Swim, shall be most han
ny to comply. l have also claims OF a
Iifetime to be considered and adjusted.
hoping you will have no trouble in COM
pretending the purport of the above. 7
On the envelope enclosing this effusion
was written: Full claim, $25, 900, 900; will
| compromise for SiO0QOO0.'
Not long ago long-haired person with
| wild eye came into the United States
Sub-Treasury, and asked to see the AS
slstant treasurer. r. d. Braley, the de-
tective at the Wall Street door, asked
the man what his business was After
glancing furtively about he led Mr.. Bralev
INTO corner and in a mysterious voice
| untolded his mission. He had invented a
machine. he said, which was guaranteed
| 10 make all the Government clerks work
hard Tor not less that eight hours a day.
FOR this discovery he asked the very
moderate compensation of 5000 600 Now
II Is said to be a fact that a machine
really accomplishing such result would
De worth much more than 100000 20
the Government, yet Mr.. Braley was
N.NNPNAN"As AiC IeltITeO the man to the
Custom house. AT the Custom house he
was told to go to the City Hall steps
and that man with a black hat who
would soon come out of the building. was
the man to see. That particular crank
was never seen again, and 1t is not known
whether he found the man with the black
hat. common performance of these
eccentrics is to write themselves checks
Tor fabulous amounts on slips of scrap
paper. These they present at bank for
payment. and are. furious BE when the
money is not forthcoming.
All these varieties are harmless enough.
but the actual bomb-throwing which kill.
ed well-known bank officer few wears
ego In this city has created In the minds
OF many an almost morbid fear of
cranks.' More than one bank president
Keeps a revolver in the top drawer of his
desk, and one has devised contrivance
which Is concealed inside his desk. and
would blow visitor into eternity at the
touch Of lever. Where possible bombs
or nitroglycerinc are concerned, he be-
iieves, trifiing is out OF place.
Quite as ingenious as the "cranks" are
the "grafters" of various kinds who
pick UP what they can In the financial
district before the police run them out.
The commonest graft" and consequent
ly the least successful nowadays, IS the
fake" subscription list circulated for
some ostensibly charitable purpose and
| headed nv a iiet NJ promtnout Nance al