The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-12
mans clothes, but, set up, it could not be

mans clothes, but, set up, it could not be
contained in a large-sized grip.
The daring of the safe blower IS best set
forth in this story. told by an old detective:
A safe was so placed by a banking house
that a bright light shone on 1t at night, and
it was thus in full view of the policeman
every time he passed by the building on his
beat. At least thirty times each night he
peered through the window of that lighted
room. One morning the safe was found
wrecked and ri1ed.
A counterfeit safe-a flimsy structure of
laths and canvas. painted to resemble the
original-was found in the space always
occupied hitherto by IT, real strong box.
The latter had been wheeled In a back room
and rifed at leisure. The substitution was
effected while the watchful copper" was
pacing toward the farthest limit of his beat
and back again.
ELECTRICITY HIS SERVANT.
That the professional peter man" is
pressing electricity into his service is well
illustrated by a recent robbery in st. Pc
tersburg, which will no doubt be initiated
in this country before many months. The
strong room of a wholesale tobacco shop in
the Russian capital was broken into In jan
uary. 5000 roubles being stolen from the
safe, which had been guaranteed as bur-
glar proof. A large hole was found melted
entirely through the steel door.
The burglars had torn down the electric
wires Of the building and used the powerful
current to fuse the metal of the safe. Only
skilled electricians. with elaborate appa-
ratus, could accomplish such a feat, Of
course, and it was a neat job.
The blow pipe has been enlisted into the
service of the English bank burglar. Not
long ago a safe in the postofice in Totem
ham Court road was opened by means of the
intense heat which can be generated by an
oxy-hydrogen flame. The tools used were
merely a bit of India rubber tubing and a
cylinder of oxygen gas. The robbers fxed
the tubing to the gas Jet. turned on the
oxygen and obtained a temperature sufi-
cient to melt the steel of a battleship.
One reason why the nitro jobs are now
more frequent in the rural territory of the
'yegg men" cannot be overlooked. The
American Banker Association, which in
cludes practically all Of the important
banks of the cities, has perfected arrange
ments with a noted detective agency by
which all members are guaranteed special
protection. When one of these banks is
made the victim of a burglar or forger men
are Immediately put on the case with or
ders never to cease until the guilty parties
are run down. AS proof of the fact that the
guns" of the country are fearful of this
combination stand the statistics. Only three
attempts have been made to rob the banks
Of the association since the compact was
made. In one case-that of the Scandina-
vian-American Bank of st. Paul-the
'swag'' was returned with a reproachful
note blaming the officers for not displaying
in the public lobby the usual badge of men,
bership in the association.
I'm the future read the note, "please
keep your sign where honest grafters can
see II. as the American Bankers Associa-
ton is too tough for poor grafters. Yours
respectfully. JOHN YEGG & CO."
And, finally, as to the star peter men,"
| What has become Of them? Ed Kelly, alias
big Head" is now at liberty. In his prime
he carried scales which would locate the
interior locking mechanism of modern safes
of every description. Jim Dunlap. whose
gang got away with 'swag' amounting to
5000, 00. was recently retaken in Chicago.
The greatest haul of Dunlap's gang was the
Northampton. Mass, robbery, when 81, co.,
600 was captured in a lump. Dunlap helped
the Pinkerton agency recover over 81. 900, 900,
and when released from prison called on
William Pinkerton with the pledge that he
would start life anew on the straight and
narrow" Pinkerton lent him moral and
financial aid with which 10 start in honest
business. But not many months ago he was
caught with a kit OF burglar tools show
ing fresh evidences of a Job"
Paper Collar joe" another member of
the Northampton gang, is at present a Lon
don millionaire. living in retirement and a
connoisseur OF art.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS, JR.