Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-02-09
CRACKSMEN'S
DAYS ARE GONE
CROOKS IN THESE LATTER DAYS
SUPPLANT DARING FOR
GENIUS.

The fieeting glories of the profess
sional craftsman whose mechanical
genius was so brilliant that he was
able to drill his way to wealth have
become mere matters of record, says
the Indianapolis Sentinel.
The days of cracksmen are over.
The crook of former years resorted
to genius. But genius has been sup
planted by daring.
The safe robber of today needs but
d small knowledge of the use of nitro
giycerin. a eoodly amount of nerve
and the daring and ability to shoot
whoever attempts to modest him when
he is on his exciting quest for the all
powerful gold
In former years when the news of a
daring job was reported to the Off
GERS the skilled sleuths could guess
with a fair degree of certainty just
what gang of craftsmen was respon.
sible by the manner in which the
work was accomplished
But now il is different. Officers who
have had years of experience in deal
ing with criminals say tnat not one
in 80 safe robberies is accomplished
by professionals. They have been
supplanted by the ''yegg" men of to-
day. And the work of running down
the guilty parties is all the more diff
cult for the sleuths because of the
change in the methods of the thieves.
The way the 'yegg" men proceed is
Very simple. Usually the willy thief
hides in the rural districts until night
fall. then joins his fellows and steals
into the town where the robbery is
to be pulled off The conditions have
been studied carefully and plans have
been formulated for meeting every
emergency that may result. whether
il be that of repeling an attack or to
escape detection before the robbery is
completed.
The thieves usually break into a
blacksmith shop and after stealing a
crowbar and sledge proceed to the
scene of the contemplated Job"
If back door can not be pried
open or a window lock forced and
precaution is necessary. a piece of put
~ and a diamond glass cutter are call
ed into play. The putty is stuck tc
the window to prevent the glass from
crashing to the floor. and in a few
minutes the robbers diamond has GU
hole large enough for the thieves
to enter.
If the nitro-glyccrin can not be fore
81 into the safe through the cracl
Of The door. the combination is knock
ed off with sledge and the Juice
inserted The dynamite cap is plac
ed in position and the fuse attach
Every man leaves the building OK
cept one, whose duty it is TO toucl
off tho fuSa and tban foe with al
speed to a place of safety
\ crash follows Instantly tn
crooks enter the building, grope thei
way through the thick gases from tn
explosive and working the pieces c
heavy iron and fire clay to one sid
with the use of the croWbar, Secur
their loot and flee
While the safe blowers nefariOu
trade is supposed to be the most dar
@erous known to roguery, it is pecul
ar fact that fewer "yegg' men ar
caught dead to rights than any Othe
class of criminals.
A ''yegg' man is nothing more nc
less Than common bum He ca
ries no tools-simply vial of nitro
elycerin. which he has stolen previou
~,
Some time ago -four quarts of Mir,
giycerin We're stolen from an oil we
camp. II is stated by those who hay
had experience with the safe blower
thar his quantity of nitro glyceri
will be sufficient 10 wreck hundred
of safes and will last half do2e
gangs for months.
The old class of burglars, in a nun
ber of instances We're expert loci
smiths. Dynamite or giant powde
was NOT used in breaking open tn
safes in some instances. Burglars {
this type would bore a hole throua
the door at exactly the right place t
strike the steel bar which connect
with the tumbler Then they inserte
a strong steel punch and with thi
either broke or severed the bar thu
releasing the cups. The door of tn
safe could then be opened with cas-
In the majority of cases the OH
Ill consisted of a brace and bit, han
mer. center punch and dynamite. A