Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-09

slightest doubt that many burglar brings
down his loot regularly for the government
TO turn into dollars for him, and the gov
eminent willingly obliges him.
OF course, the suspicious of the officials
are sometimes aroused and the matter re-
ported to the police for investigation. Yet,
as has been said, no depositor has ever
been arrested through such investigation.
This can be easily understood. The pos
session Of genuine gold brick is no crime
any more than that of a quantity Of gold
plate, SO long as every mark has been re
moved which might identify it as the loot
from some recent burglary.
A consideration Of the commercial end
of the burglars game is interesting in
showing how almost all Of his loot he takes
direct to his friend Uncle Sam to turn
into dollars for him and just why he does
it. For it can be seen that good plate o
finished pieces of jewelry are worth nor,
in the open market than the bullion ana
jewels out Of which they are made.
Uncle Sam is a real friend in need TO
Rallies. For the chief danger in that gem
tleman's business lies in being caught with
the goods on. especially after making
safe get away" A quick turnover of MS
| booty into good, hard legal tender is the
one thing he desires above all else.
Loot Out of Sight.
The desirability, nay the necessity OF
this can be seen at a glance. About half
OF the arrests made for burglary are due
to the discovery by accident or otherwise
of the loot. Everyone will remember, for
example, that it was only through the ac-
cidental finding Of the heaped-up plumber
of William Metesld the Masonic burg
| lar" that the astonishing series Of mid
night marauding excursions, with their
rich hauls, were definitely fastened upon
that remarkable criminal 1t is in order
| 10 minimize the chance Of such discovery
that Raffies never works with a band, but
always alone or at most in couples. Forg-
ers, on the other hand, usually operate in
bands Of four or FIVE; green goods men
have at least six and sometimes eight in
their combination, and yeggmen invariably
work in groups Of 1--WE or six.
The idea Of getting the most he can for
his loot, then, is balancing in the cracks
mans mind with the knowledge that the
bulky stun certainly, and as much of the
rest as is possible, ought for safety's sake
to be turned over into cash right away.
Adding weight to the latter consideration
is the desire Of every criminal to get his
dough and begin to have a good time with
obscure locality. where he has made him
self known, perhaps, as a plumber. He
locks the door, still painting with the ex-
citement Of his lodging run across town,
down alleys, stunning a policeman like a
walking plague, and always with that
precious, telltale bag under his arm. He
spreads out the loot and pOnders each piece,
whether it had best go into the melting
pot or could be safely held on TO for sale
| through some pawnbroker or antique mer-
| chant.
Precautions of Crooks.
or course, all the jewels are ripped out
I of their settings at once and set aside to be
pawned as soon as the noise Of the house
breaking has died away. The rings and
other settings are Immediately thrown into
| the melting pot. oddly enough, the finest
pieces Of plate and Of jewelry, on account
Of being so liable 70 Identical iOn, invaria-
bly, meet the same fate. The plate Of an
ordinary and widely current design is us
ually set aside. Raffles will get to work on
il with acids and a stout file and after re-
moving all signs Of identity will hide It
until It can safely be sold through the deal
| crs The same Is done with jewelry Of an
ordinary type. All the rest-brooches, ear
rings, watch cases, trinkets, rings, gold and
silver plate-go into the common melting
pot to be finally run into the Jewellers
bars"
AS a matter OF fact Rafies always con-
verts the bulk OF his plumber into the bull
lion, leaving out little besides the sparklerf
for later sale. The cracksman is too eau
tious a criminal and not quite commercial
enough a man 10 take risks by holding his
stun for 3 deposit Of the bricks with ths