The San Francisco call., 1907-03-18

OAKLAND, March I7.-When Pud-
dfnbead Wilson fn Mark Twains IA
niliar tale uncovered crime by study
ing finger prints he set an example
that was followed successfully today
by local detectives when they captured
a burglar whose plunder consisted Of
Jewels worth s250O
Faint as the finger markings showed,
the keen-eyed officers got their first
rlew from them and quickly traced
the criminal and recovered the rich
loot This was the experience today
OF Captain Of Police Petersen and De-
tectives Holland. McSorley and Kyle
when they were summoned TO invesn-
gate the burglary Of a big safe in
W. B. Greenbaum's 5ewelry store al
127 San Pablo avenue. from which
many diamonds, watches, rings and
other gems had been stolen.
To the undoing of Lawrence E. Dres-
bach. a young jeweler, led the finger
prints Two of them marked in the
dust caught the eye OF Captain Peter
sen as he explored the plundered
strong box. Right on the top OF an
inner plate were the prints. just where
the right hand OF the burglar had
rested when he swung open the doof
The prints were those of the third
and fourth fingers on the right hand.
Why not thumb and other fingers?
oueried the police.
Did you ever have a man with
crippled right hand IN your employ"
asked Captain Petersen Of Greenbaum.
Why. yes" replied the Jeweler. "A
matchmaker, Dresbach; he has only
two fingers on that hand"
Quickly the scouts went after Dres-
bach who had left Greenbaum's en-
ploy several weeks ago. Dresbach was
found at the shop OF B. Meves, a jew
eler at 3l7 San Pablo avenue, and was
at once taken 10 police headquarters.
When Dresbach entered the station
Captain Petersen conrronted him.
''Dresbach.' said Petersen. the man
who robbed Greenbaum's safe had only
two fingers on his right hand. Let me
see yours"
Dresbsch trembled. held out his
MANNED hand and then broke down and
confessed - his guilt. revealing the
hiding place of the loot in the kitchen
at his brothers home at 1915 San
Pablo avenue. There the police found
a wicker basket filed with the loot It
consisted Of 14s rings. 80 watches, a
diamond brooch. purses, $3.50 in.
coin. a gold dollar. several nuggets OF
silver and OF gold, 2 pistols a ladys
gold watch and chain, a box OF miscel-
laneous Jewels, watch movement and
two pairs OF eye glasses.
A boy OF 19 years, slender. strangely
bright and genius in mechanics, is
Lawrence Dresbach. He is the son OF
Dr. George Dresbach. an old-time rest
dent OF Santa Cruz. Expert in me-
chanical work, this youthful burglar
ranks as the finest matchmaker in this
city. where he has lived for two years
with 9. E. Dresbach, his brother. He
had been in Greenbaum's employ about
six months, leaving there 10 go TO
Meves. Greenbaum trusted the youth.
who, despite his manned hand and
his dexter one at that, showed mar
veious aptitude and skill in handling
the delicate watch mechanisms
When Greenbaum went to his store
this morning he found the front door
open and then discovered that his safe
had been looted. The burglary had
been accomplished neatly and effec-
lively. The robber entered by rear
door. he cut a hole through a panel,
slipped his hand through and pulled
back the big iron bolt The combina-
tion OF the safe was successfully
worked and the young prOwler gath
cred together his pick OF the contents.
There is another side TO Dresbachs
robbery. The young mans family find
excuse for him in the one word. lxlep-
tomania- Tor years young Dresbach
has been under a strange spell. His
brother says as mere boy he seemed
TO be unable 10 resist the purlOining
OF other peoples property. He would
steal articles which under no circum-
stances could be OF much use to him.
My brother is a kleptomaniac." said
the elder Dresbach after the arrest,
and has been one nearly all OF his life.
We recognized his af11ictiOn and have
always kept close watch upon him.
When about years or age he was
confined to his bed for two years. A
little later he was accidentally shot In
the foot and again laid UP for a long
time. When about u years old his
fated right hand was mutilated by a
hay-cutting machine which he was
feeding. The thumb and parts OF the1
frst two fingers were taken of and
had barely healed up when another 4
Joint on each OF the same fingers were 4
lost in the same way"