Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-09

10 cheapen the production and put all other
systems out Of business or existence is but
one of the numerous great criminal in.
ventors of which history has record.
1t Is remarkable fact that some of the
greatest inventions have been brought forth
by men of the under world. At the present
time the principal European countries are
using a coin-making machine in their miuts
which was invented and used with large
profit-making results by a Manchester Eng.
land) coiner known as Henry Harvey, who
is at present in Portland prison II his
coin-maker had not been so perfect he
might still be living handsomely on its
earnings.
The attention of Scotland Yard was at
tracted by some beautifully made coins in
circulation which far surpassed those turned
out by the mint, with the result that Henry
Harvey was soon after lodged at public ex-
pense. But his coin-maker was so perfect
the continental powers all adopted il, and
if Mr.. Harvey had only patented his inven-
ton instead of working it himself ne would
now be drawing over ten thousand a year
in royalties.
The discoverer of thermite was Fritz Won
Schmidt, known TO the European police as
Count Ether because he was a scientist,
who, when wanted for burglary, always
vanished as quickly as that volatile spirit.
During the early part of 1893 nearly
81, ooo,ooo was stolen from the strongsrooms
of the London Paris aud Berlin banks. In
every 'caselthel burglar attained his object
by melting holes large enough to pass either
his body or hands first through the metal
door Of the lstrong room and then tol the
safe inside. No noise was madeFland no
tools were necessary except a small heating
apparatus such as painters use to warp old
paint but by using thermite in place Of the
ordinary spirit, such a heat was obtained
that the best steel melted like wax.
Won Schmidt was discovered by his efforts
to patent his invention. He explained to a
patent agent in Berlin what his therinite
would do, and half an hour later was under
arrest
The hypOdermic syringe was invented by
a medical genius named Du Chaillon, whose
criminal tendencies barred him from all in
tercourse with self-respecting men He
sank lower and lower and finally founded
school of crime where he taught and en-
ployed the Paris gamins 10 10 the dirty
work. Stimulated by the aid of the hypo-
dermic syringe and while under its influence
they accom- plished wonderful feats that re-
quire great daring and nerves of steel. The
medical world afterwards adopted the
syringe and thousands of lives are now an
nually saved by its aid.
Divers are enabled by the aid Of the John-
son pump aud helmet to not only descend
to great depthsa in the sea, but also to ex-
plore caves and turn six or seven consecu-
tive sharp corners while under the water,
which was impossible before the discovery
Of this invention Arthur Johnson was a
burglar and invented his pump and helmet
to enable him to enter one OF the largest
London Banks. He rented house near the
bank and set to work He discovered that
a small spring ran under the banks strong
room. His plan was to work during the
night in this spring, which had been walled
in and made to act as a sewer. Ftom this
tunnel he meant to chisel his way uD into
the strong room above but il was impos-
sible to stop long in the sewer without
some safeguard against drowning. He then
invented his pump and helmet, and although
he failed in his attempt to rob the bank his
invention has enabled men to explore
depths which were before unknown
In the Ohio penitentiary some remarkable /
yet simple inventions have been patented
by convicts, and, as usual. appropriated by
officials and guards who reaped the bene-
it, One notable case is recalled Of an old
prisoner named Blackburne who invented
a dishwasheT, now in use in all the great
hotels and mansions of the country. The
then superintendent of construction Of the
prison managed to secure from Blackburn
his invention. The superintendent resigned
and made a modest fortune out of the sale
and manufacture of the washer" This
prisoner Blackburne died in his eightieth
year He had served more than half his
life as a prisoner and died in his cell. He
was a remarkable criminal, being native
and to the manor born, intelligent, we'll
read and, as stated with decided genius
for mechanical invention. His devices for
life saving on railways ran the whole |
gamut from block signals to cattle guards
and COW catchers This man, "Old Dave
Backburne," as he was known to officers
and guards. belonged to a criminal family; |
his nephew, another professional" being /
a prisoner under the habitual criminal law. /
Old Dave helped to build the penilentiary |
in which he died.
Another remarkable inventive genius is a |
man named Kline who has spent the better |
portion Of his life as a prisoner in that in I
stitution under the habitual criminal law. /
Klne's genius turns to electrical devices, /
with which he has hOneycombed the prison /
and one OF which is an improved telephonic |
system of communication He is thor |
oughly up in all he latest and most adj /
vanced uses to which this mysterious agent /
OF man has so far been applied. Great eff |
forts are now being made in Ohio to repeal /
the habitual criminal law on the ground /
that so far It has only caught such petty |
rrfNN "a -
dangerous criminals are never entanQled in |
its meshes. Kline's whole stealings would /
not amount, If totalized, to one hundred 4
dollars, yet he has been a prisoner from
ooyhood up TO the present time. He is
now between thirty and forty years Of age.
A brother Of his confined under the same
aef died IN the prison. and his greatest
crime was the stealing Of a few cigars and |
some whiskey from a Dayton (Ohio) saloon.
No criminal code in the civilized world can
equal this barbarOus and uuipef Obsc efaf-