The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-04-03

no extraultlOn treaty at tnat lilHe. i1o
purchased the title and estate OF a
decrepit nobleman and b!ossomed
forth as Count Shinburn. He spent
thousands of dollars on entertain
ments, the magnitude OF his opera
tions on the bourse staggered the ma
tive spectators, and mis- enormous
winnings and losings were commented
Oh all over Europe. For fifteen years
he kept up this gait; then came
series of misfortuneS, AMI the great
bank burglar was penniless once
more.
He went to Paris, met some fugitive
American crooks there and planned
the robbery of the Provincial bank at
Vivieres, Belgium. The merest accl-
dent in the world resulted in the ar
rest Of Shinburn and his pals; he was
sent to Jail for five years. but escaped
in a month. Some of the big jobs
that Shinburn engaged in were the
robbery of the Lenigh and Wilkes
barre Coal company's Office at White
haven, Pa, of $4,000 in cash by tun-
neling his way to the vault from an
adjoining building; the robbery of the
Walpole, n H., bank of $4,000; the
robbery of the St. Adams, VT, bank
of $4,000; the robbery of the Ocean
bank on Greenwich street, New York,
OF $1,000,000 in money and securities;
the robbery Of the West Maryland
bank of $4,000, and score of others.
Shinburn has shot dozen men, been
snot several times himself, and has
broken Jail fully a dozen times. 1t
was over five years ago that Shlnburn,
an old man then, ran up against mol
ern science. 1t was at the Middle
burg, N. Y, bank. He and his asso-
ciates fought their way to the doors
of the vault and had blown away ev-
evry obstacle with nitro-glycerlne be-
fore they realized that they had set
off burglar alarm. Shinburn escaped
On a handcar, but was arrested later
in New York city.
Chauncey Johnson, man wno stole
over 100000 in his tine, died pen
niless not long ago while serving
term in prison for stealing a pocket
book from a woman in a New York
city book store. eHe took the pocket
book because he was in genuine need.
In his time he was one of the most
skilful and successful thieves in the
country, but the field for his peculiar
talents had disappeared. He stole
100000 from the Hatter's bank at
Bethel, Conn.,, and 100000 from the
Marine National bank. In 1858 ne
walked into a Philadelphia bank and
with a long steel wire hauled $4,000
out through the paying teller's VIII
dow right under the officials nose.
He took it in three packages and
wasn't detected until he had the third
package almost out. In 1867 he
walked into August Belmont's Office at
Wall AMI William streets, New York,
sauntered past clerks and Office boys,
reached Mr.. Belmont's desk, took $780,
900 worth of government bonds from
it, put them in mis- pocket and walked
out again. A month after this he
walked into the Office of the Adams
Express company in New York just
as the cashier was leaving his cage
to 20 to luncheon. He slid in the cage
as the cashier went out, put on the
latter's Office hat and duster, and
while pretending to work over some
books, rifled the cash drawer and safe
of $4,000. He walked into New
York bank one morning and notified
the bookkeeper that he had been dis
charged and that he (Johnson) had
been employed in his place. While
the indignant bookkeeper went to see
the president about the matter John
son vamoosed with $4,000. By
similar exhibition of nerve Johnson
robbed a number of hotel safes while
the clerks were on duty but a few
feet away. But his face became
known. and it finally became a police
custom to arrest him every time he
on the street. Prison life
had robbed him Of his wonderful
nerve, and he descended to the petty
crimes of the street. pocket picking:
etc. An almost similar case is that
of Edward Rice, better known as Big
Ed Rice. He was last arrested for
stealing a Docket5ook from a woman
in 23d street car in New York city.
Once or twice before that he had been
accused of picking pockets, out the
crimes could not be fastened On him.
When convicted of the street car rob-
berry Rice broke down and confessed
that he had turned pickpocket be-
cause there was nothing else for him
to do. The only money he had for
over year was what he, could raise
by pawning the scarfpins, watches
and articles of jewelry he had stolen
from men and women in street
crowds. This confession from man
who, with his associates, had stolen
in his time was interesting.
Next to Sninburn he was regarded as
the most dangerous bank robber in
the country.
Around the country today there are
probably a score of other crooks who
tkrived and made fortunes by their
nerve and skill in the palmy days
of the cracksman. But their day has
passed, and every year two or three
OF them are picked up for some triAng
crime that fifteen or twenty years ago
they would have scorned to think of
Electricity and the mod
ern safe have driven them to the wall.
Gradually they are dying off.-Wash.
ington Star.
Tho Episcopal Temper Tried.