The Meeker herald., 1907-06-15
HOW YEGGMEN WORK
lobe Burglar Not Like the Old
dino brakeman.

A Pinkerton detective says that the
average citizen has NO idea Of the ex-
tent OF the raids OF the yegxman. or
tramp vault and safe burglar, during
the last hve years.
From September is, 1900, to the
same date in 1906, he says In the
Bankazine, there were in this country
71S banks attacked by burglars with
explosives. From these banks 1857,
1874 was stolen. =
These yegg or hobo burglars are
the successors of the professional
cracksmen who Travelled ON railroad
trains. hired conveyances to and from
the scene Of the burglary, carried
tools Weighing from 80 to rs pounds.
and after loottng bank generally
lived extravagantly In the larger
cities until their money was spent.
With these the taking of human life
was an exception to the rule, only oc-
curing when necessary to escape
capture.
Detectives were able from the ear
marks Of the old-time professional
burglars work to decide very quickly
whose particular handiwork 1t was,
and could invariably within q short
time locate them and cause their ar.
rest.
The expert bank burglars of old
did not number more than 80 first
class men In the United States. while
Johnny Yegg" grows like q mush-
room in the night.
A common tramp. in many instan.
ces cripple or peddler. known in the
vernacular of the ''yegg" as . gay
cat" or locator" selects suitable
bank to attack. notes the surround.
ings. how many policemen or watch
men there are, IL any CASUALLY prefer.
ring small town without protection
of ar. kind. whether there are
burglar alarms or electric protection
on vault and safe. routes of retrea.
and hiding places to evade pursuers,
all of which he obtains in the guise OF
an innocent beggar or peddler Of
needles. court plaster and small wares.
without his real purpose being sup
pected, and which he reports to the
leader. or "soup-man."
Without giving the exact location OF
the proposed burglary the leader in
structs from three to five desperadoes
to proceed separately to water tank,
railroad crossing or camp within nve
or ten miles Of the place where the
burglary Is to occur. One Of the band
Is delegated to carry nitroglycerin or
dynamite. another fuses. pocket cleo.
trio lights. detonators. etc. The
darkest night, when there is a storm
or no moon, is usually preferred for
the work.
Once at the meeting place agreed
upon. tho location of tho bank to Be
attacked IN divulged by the leader
One or two. known as soup" or "oil
men" or insiders" use the explosives
on the vault or safe. while the other
two or three, known as outsiders" or
STRONG arm men," remain on the out.
side to Illustrate any interference by
citizens.
AS soon as there is the slightest in.
trusion or indication that the bank of.
flcials or citizens are preparing to
give them battle the burglars open
fire In every direction. This, with the
explosions of nitroglycerin or dyna,
mite used in committing the burglary.
usually intimidates the people of the
entire village from attempting their
capture or preventing attack.
Escape from the scene of attack is
like the entrance, each burglar usually
departing in a separate direction and
agreeing to meet in some larger near
by city or in some uninhabited house
or shack, or at some unfrequented
camp in the mountains or woods miles
distant, SO that their capture or iden-
tification is invariably difficult.
They are in bands and tribes named
after their leader and known by such
names as Black Billy's gang, Slater's
gang. Canada Billy's gang, Frisco
Sims gang or Cal Shortys tribe.
The increased operations of these
yegg burglars can be attributed to
the little experience required to at
tack vault or safe with explosives,
as in several hours one yeggman can
teach a novice how to use explosives
effectively.
While there are now approximately
500 yeggmen with a knowledge Of
bank wrecking with explosives. the
actual bands operating can be mar.
rowed down to so. Most of these work
in the middle west.
During the last ter years the au-
thorities have tried to cope with these
burglars, but the trouble is that the
average sentence of the convicted
safe burglar has not exceeded six
years. imprisonment, which with
good behavior usually meant release
In four, and there are few If any cases
of reformation. Consequently with
his release the yegg renews his old
vocation.
Th. t,tort ~ Tho vo.oo, h,sor.