The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-04-03
FEW BANK CROOKS LEFT
The BURGLARS INGENUITY DROVE
HIM OUT OF BUSINESS.

Mechanical Devices Outwit Skill - Com
PEELED Now to Go Back to and Follow
Petty I,hieving-The Modern Safes VIII
Resist Dynamite-1heE Electrical Alarm.
The modern burglar alarm not only
renders it utterly impossible for one
to disturb a vault protected with II
without detection, but it also gives
signal at the first attempt to raise
window, file a bar or enter a door.
So thoroughly does it protect the de-
positories of great wealth that 1t has
defed all of the wonderful skill OF
the cracksman, until today the te~
living experts of that class OF CROOKS
are found either in abject poverty or
devoting the genius which brought
them millions twenty years ago 10
the practice of crime OF the most petty
character. One can scarcely fail to
notice the utter absence of great bank
robberies during the past five or ten
years. A few have been successfully
performed in that time, but with one
single exception the money was obs
tainej during banking hours from the
cashier as he glanced down the bar
rel of a six-slooter. The exception
was when a stranger engaged bank
cashier in conversation while he
hooked out roll of bills with the aid
of piece of wire from under the off,
cials nose.
The electrical burglar alarm Of to-
day, the great modern safes, which
will even resist dynamite, are the re-
suit Of a series of bank robberies ex-
tending over a period of twenty or
thirty years, which were conceived
and successfully carried out by band
OF criminals, many of whom are alive
today. Strange as it may seem, these
men have driven themselves out OF
business. The almost fabulous wealth
which they stole made the invention
of mechanical devices which would
outwit their skill necessary, and they
came in the course of time, until today
a robbery like that of the Manhattan
bank in New York city, where over
q million dollars in money and securt-
ties were carried away, is wholly i'm
possible without coIlusion with the
custodians of the vaults. Even then
it is doubtful if one could be success
fully carried out, no matter how
mucn care was employed, for expert
ments have shown that even the men
who safeguard the vaults of the great
banks of the country, by surrounding
them with a network of wires, cannot
go through these silent guardians
without giving an alarm.
Twenty years ago a bank robbery
Wich proceeds up in the hundreds OF
thousands was possible. but could only
be successfully carried out by men OF
brains and skill, who mad the patience
to study their enterprise well before
entering upon it. Bank officials were
not one whit less vigirant in those
days than they are now. but the brain
OF the crook had gone ahead OF the
hard to understand today, when the
very reverse is the fact. Few people
have any idea of the amount Of study
put into job by the cracksman be-
fore any real attempt to realize is
made. One of the best living Illus
trations of the old school of crooks
is Maximilian Schoenbein, better
known to the police Of the world as
Count" Max Shinburn. After defy
ing the vault and safe makers of the
world and looting banks in this coun-
try and abroad for an aggregate gain
of $5,O00,000, this great criminal
fell a victim to modern science. He
was released not long ago from the
Clinton, N. Y, prison, after five
years term for robbing the Mid lie
burg bank, penniless, gray with age,
broken In health and spirit The sto-
ry of the mans life is like romance,
and is full of chapters which one finds
T. hard to believe. In his prime he
was truly the greatest criminal in the
world. Ruloff, the butcher, VINO
fought his way to freedom scores OF
times over the bodies of his own vic
Tins eXcelled him in daring perhaps,
but no criminal that, ever lived had
his mechanical genius.
Sninburn is a German, was taught
the trade of a machinist and lock-
smith by his father, came to this
country before he was seventeen years
old, and had launched on a career OF
crime before he was eighteen. He
lad wonderful skill as locksmith
and was taken up by two noted crimi-
mails, George Bliss and Fairy" Nc
Guire, whom he met in New York
gambling house. They used him in
robbing a New Jersey bank, and the
success Of the venture was due pri-
marily to his skill. He progressed
rapidly, and as his ability became
known in the "crook" world his SER
vices were in constant demand. He
probably engaged in twenty robberies
authorities. He had scarcely attained
his majority when he was planning
out big robberies for himself. At that
time the only safe in general use in
banks and business houses in this
country was that made by the Lilly
company. Shinburn figured that a
! man who could master the secret Of
the Lilly combination lock could loot
every Lilly safe in the country.
He decided to 90 and work for the
Lilly company. Bliss and MCGUIRE
agreed to keep him in funds while he
studied. Such an expert machinist as
Shinburn had no difficulty in getting
the job he wanted. 1t took him over