Evening star., 1901-01-14
Members of Criminal Profession Who
Engage in Safe Blowing.
DESCRIBED BY WILLIAM PINKERTON
Desperate Class Which Gives the
Detectives Much Trouble.
OPERATIONS NEAR THIS CITY


berries and number of attempts have been
reported. and while the offenses were not
committed in this Jurisdiction local officers
were sent to several of the places to make
Investigations. This was done for the rea-
son that Major Sylvester and Inspector
Boardman believed Information might be
obtained which would be Of value in the
future. The safe blowers have been within
few miles of the city several times, and
the police officials would not be surprised
should they attempt to work inside the
District limits.
Men who are engaged in this are known
among their own class as John Yeggmen,
or "Yeggmen,' but more Familiarity as
"Yeggs." Detective William Pinkerton of
Chicago at the last annual meeting OF the
police chiefs presented an interesting paper
on this class of criminals, telling the dif-
ference between criminals Of twenty-five
years ago and those of the present time
According to the statements in his paper
the operations of "Yeggmen' are not con-
fined alone to the ordinary freproof safe;
they frequently successfully attack bank
vaults and safes They also frequently op-
crate as "hold ups and fence railers.'
Originally Hobo.
Originally, the "Yeggman' was tramp
or hobo. Through association with profess
sional criminals, either in prisons or "on
the road, he has acquired some knowl-
edge of the use of high explosives. and has
used it to blow open vaults and safes. Nu-
merous experiments have made them adopts
as vault and safe burglars.
As rule they begin their career of crime
by robbing one another. tramp who dis
plays money or valuables to other tramps
Is certain to be robbed. Tramps nave ire
quently been found killed or run over by
railroad trains who, II the truth were
k
while resisting robbery of themselves or IN
a quarrel over the division of spoils. Many
of these tramps. burglars or "1 eggmen
seem utterly devoid Of conscience. Gloat-
ing over the numerous successes in their
criminal career even In murder, the y egg
is constantly aspiring to something more
productive at a little more risk, and the
result Is that today very skilful bands OF
depredators on vaults and safes are scat
tered all over the United states.
The tramp nuisance was at its helSht III
all parts of the country in 1894 wheh
"Coxey's army formed, and the bands
did not show any signs of diminishing until
the American-Spanish war was on. Many
Of the more harmless tramps entered the
army, or obtained employment, but 1t mas
left the more desperate Oh the tramp
class to deal with.
Get Cards of Trades Unions.
Detective Pinkerton explains how these
men get cards of trades unions and manage
to ride on railroad trains Some of these
men. he explains, gained their knowledge
regarding the use of explosives from re-
port of experts appointed by the govern
ment to experiment with explosives upon
so-called burglar-proof safes, Whlch report
was printed and circulated by the treasury
Department. Their methods as compared
with those of the old-time cracksmen are
simple and labor saving. 'Yeggmen' carry
no tools. The nitrogl lycerlne is carried IN
bottle or rubber water bag, and cake OF
soap to Use in sealing the cracks ana max
ing cup into which the explosive Is
poured is a part of the outfit. They usually
operate in bands of five or six, SO that while
some doing the work others are on
picket duty outside. The latter seldom hes
itate to stand their ground ana open HFe
in case of detection.
After citing instances in which murder
has been committed by this class of men
Detective Pinkerton says:
Some of the murders throughout the
country which have baffied the skill of
trained detectives and skilled police officers
can be attributed to this element, especially
where the motive of killing appears to nave
been robbery or in connection with bur
glary. The 'Yeggmen' do not confne them
selves entirely 10 vault and safe burglary.
They at times engage in highway robbery
and house burglary. The latter they deslg-
nate as 'prowlng.' Many of the men con-
nected with this class of burglary have, at
one time or another, been beggars. or, as
they are termed among themselves, pan
by the younger or new members OF a band
of 'Yeggs' card, called by these men
'dodger, is peddled. These beggars are at
all times on the lookout for opportunities
for the burglars of their band to commit
vault or safe burglaries, and their pretense
(peddling) gives them good opportunities to
scrutiniZe the surroundings and report to
their associates. Many of these men offer
cheap jeWelry for sale. They procure the
jewelry in large cities. and, If questioned by
an officer, they are able to produce the bill
for the goods. thus proving that they DID
not steal it, and substantiating their claim
that they are following the legitimate oc-
cupation Of peddling."
The BeExars Excluded.
The beggars or pedders are not allowed
to participate in these robberes for fea-
of being identified as visitor to the con-
Germ robbed before the burglary occurred.
but he shares in the proceeds. This char
acter is known to his associates as cat
or gay cat" a sort of apprentice in the
business, whose duty 1t is to perform such
work in the camp established by the
"Yeggs' as they themselves do not care
to do.
When a member of a band of "Yegg-
men, becomes an informant, or is supposed
to give information as to their doings. he
Is designated a "snitch,' and frequently
men of this class have been done away with
by their associates.
A prison is called dump"
Dynamite or nitro-glycerine is called
soup" "oiP' or grease"
In speaking of their associates who oper-
ate with nitro-glycerine they refer to them
as 'box men, or shot men,"
A publication in a newspaper about a
robbery or member Of their band Is called
"baWl out"
There are many other slang phrases in
use by these men, which are entirely new
and meaningless to the public at large.
There Is a strange fraternity among the
"Yeggmen'' that Is hard to account for
In travelling from city to city they are al
ways posted as to the "hangouts'' or head
quarters Of their class, which are usually In
some low saloon. cheap lodging house
the proprietor of which, in many instances
| is ignorant Of the real character OF the
| visitors or he may at some time have bee1
| "Yegg' man himself.
Dress Mechanics.
| Although many times in possession Of
considerable funds as a result of burglary
the average "Yeggman" makes very few
changes in his personal appearance or at
tire. preferring to remain dressed, as he
| usually is, like a mechanic or laboring
| man in working clothes, or a poor man out
| of work, thereby preventing comment and
| avoiding suspicion and detection In this
| respect they differ from the old-time bur-
glars, who after a successful burglary
lived on the fat of the land. and usually
dressed in the height of fashion. The