The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-04-21

that the bank at ST. George was not
robbed, as was testified in court q few
days ago. A wide awake conductor
will come near to putting of our joe
at any time.
The time of operating Is between
and o'clock in the morn
Ing. We time ourselves to begin work
about IL o'clock. Well, the first thing
We do, upon coming from under cover
and by the way, we don't bother to
diguise ourselves with false boards and
all that sort Of thing, usually held in
the public minds to take stroll
through the streets about the bsnk or
postofiice. We look carefully. 1t may
him and tie him up, but wa Gilman
like to sleep when everything gets
quiet, aud things are quie5 in che aver
age country town at midnight. We get
the tools, and il our keys do not tit
the locks we then break open the door
and reach the safe or vault. Two men
stay on the outside to watch, while
the other two, with al electric flash
light, or dark lantero, get to work on
the safe. The Importance OF the men
on the outside Is shown by the break
ers waiting on their signal for the
blowing Of the safe. When the holes
have been drilled and prepared for
blowing it Is the men on the outside
who give the signol for the act,
on the principal that II any su,-
piciOus movement of an officer or
neighbor has been nUted, the noise Of
the explosion may be deferred until
things again become quiet. The report
of glycerine IS sharp and quick noise
which especially commends Its use,
for hardly does it take place than it is
all over and il it should be heard by
anybody in the neighborhood, they
soon turn over in their beds and 20
back to sleep, believing that they
dreamt Of the report.
"a safe is pete in the parlance
OF yeggman. The two men on the in.
ide get down on their knees before it
and begin work. They thoroughly soap
the crevices Of the outside door, and
then begin to drill the hole for the
cotton, saturated with the glycerine.
Tne hole Is drilled between the COM
bination and the handle, close to the
combination, first with quarter. inch
drill, then, with a five eight and next
with half-inch drill. Into this hole,
Is placed the saturated cotton, con
nected with a cap and fuse, which are
held in place with soap which also
deadens the sound. Then, everything
is ready for the signal from the out.
side. 1t is given and the explosion
takes place in the lock box on the Ia
side, breaking the lock and sometimes
forcing the coor off the hinges. The
operation Of blowing the safe requires
just certain amount, for too beav.
ier charge Of glycerine might knock
OF the handle and jam the door and
give trouble. Once the outside door
is OF then the yeggman turn their at
tention to the inside sheet door, which
is called the 'keister' in the language
of the safe blowers. This is the hard.
est door to open, and the blowers are
some times at their wits ends to get
on the inside. a hole Is drilled and
the explosive is inserted. Another ex
plosion takes place, and probably only
one sheet Of metal comes or. A bolt
is loosened or knocked out of place
and into this opening another charge
or glycerine Is inserted. and this Cd
Grafton is continued until the door is
finally down and the cash drawer Is
riffl d.
The work Of blowing a safe re
qulres about an hour and half, and
Immediately at Its conclusion the gang
makes eff as soon as possible. We
strike across country unless con-
venient freight train passes, never,
however, dividing the booty until day
light on the next morning Some times
we have to bury the treasure, or q
part OF 1t, and the tools having to be
hidden some times, too. When we
take the train we never ride more
than about twenty. five miles, when we
then strike across country, putting
further dista nee between US and our
purSuers. In burrying the tool bag or
treasure, we always carefully select
he place, making it easy of finding
upon our return.
Dodging bloodhoundS Is done by
attaching q small piece OF cloth, sat
urated with the oil of mustard to the
heels # our Shoes. We used to use
vas cline withitdoform, but the trouble
about this drug is that we could not
get the smell off our clothes when
we wanted TO do so, SO the oil of
mustard is now us d to advantage. In
dn0ging officers ~e have q merry time
OF 1t some times being often forced TO
face The music II all depends upon
the character CT the man or men at
the head OF the p sse."
Mccarthy could not help but smile
as lie thought Of some town rnarsnals
who have stood In doorways when
hred upon, and upon the yeggmen get
ting out OF the way of harm, then
hri'g their guns in the air, making
great profession OF earnestncs s. and
vigilance to hold their jobs. McCar.
thy can tell some interesting thirg;
OF what town officers have failed to
do, but this is not his business, or I'm.
clination at this time.
There are many other interesting
things that Mccarthy can tell and did
tell to reporter Of TIE Evening Post,
which would make good newspa per
stories, but be is now trying to live
down his past and the story of his
adventures in many States, with their
thrilling epis des and such sideliph,s
as he can cast upon them. are left un-
repor ed at this time. Mccarthy las
re orned. He has hopes or making n
Useful citizen out OF him. eff one of
tntse days. He has been assigned to
thc sfloc manufactory department. Of
his prison, a trade which he may fol-