The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-16
TELLING A SKELETON KEY.
A Missouri Court Gets Some Information
on what They Are.

KIRKsvnLs, Mo. June s.-What is a
skeleton key?
The question was presented 10 a jury
in Circuit Court here this week John
Allen, a pale faced wanderer. had been
caught at Novinger. Mo. with a job lot
of steel tools that looked like toothpicks
or jaokstraws. Missouri law makes 1t a
felony TO carry burglar tools, so the prose-
cutting attorney threw out this sort OF a
dragnet information: BY then and there
having in his possession a lot OF skeleton
keys. nippers, jimmies, pliers, %lockpicks.
files. saws and lock breaking tools. against
the peace and dignity Of the State
Allen laughed when he read all that.
"The Rubes wouldn't know a burglars
kit from prize package jewelry,' he said.
Them amt burglar tools; them's what
you Use to solder tin cans with
In court the queer looking instruments
we're spread out on the stenographer's
| table. The circuit clerk inspected them
and said he didn't see anything there that
looked like a key. Sheriff Curry said he
had tried the locks in the court house and
Jail and he could open every one OF them
witt the outfit. Still he confessed he didn't
know what a skeleton key was. The jani-
tor exhibited a ring full Of keys, two of the
latter being somewhat ambiguous.
They will open several different locks, =
he said. They're what | call skeleton
keys"
A gentleman with a large star said he
was a deputy sheriff AT N%ovinger and il had
been his official duty TO arrest a large num-
Der Of crooks. He had served several wears
I.-.z1F -..z..---I -, a..
manners of those whose WAYS are dark
What ara burglar tools, Gene" asked
the prosecuting attorney.
why, burglar tools -are-er-tools you
find on burglars" replied the deputy.
Thank vou.r said the prosecuting at
torney; Il just wanted 10 know.
The little prisoner smiled complacentiy
"a q long. lauk m.n from st. Louis took the
chair This man looked 50 mia and IN.
offensive that 10 associate him with the
craft of the av-hy.u,ghters seemed almos'
s4cl.l,gious The witness muttered some
thine about some detective aGency and said
his name was Bill Stamper.
DO Won know a skeleton ley when 'ou
SEQ it MIR. Staml err" asked the rrosccu'ing
attorney
Where did you learn what q skeleton
ley was:"
when | belonged to tho Lone Jim gang "
ne prisoner quit smiling at the thin
man in the witness chair. Instead he
looncd grave and bent his head forward
on his chin.
the witness. They'll OPEN any lock you
can make in these parts. I've tried EN-
In 'W had an order from the chief to
car'urc Lone jim, Illinois Blackey and
syracuse Slim. | forget their other names.
The department didn't have their photo
graphs ard not n man on the force knew
'em by sight. There was only one thing
TO do-tO Join the gang. ! did his and
they showed me where to get a set II
screws about like this gentleman here
has They were hand made by a mechanic
m Warsaw. Ill. and cost SO. That's CHEAP.
though, because il outs every country
store az your mercy in the night. vent
along with Lone Jim Oh several hauls
had 10 until | learned where Illinois BlacNev
and slim was. ate. sleDt and run with
,he gang same az uue Of 'em for two weeks
Onn lay ! got Blackey and slim together
and rln EN- against the cons I had Stationed
1heu 7 took Jim AZ the point Of the ELn
lie had a hatch Of sore Tvs, a bottle Of oil
skeleton kcys'" suggested the pres".
oh. yes. that'e What they call en- ia
the Story books. When YOU get q SET vpl
cnu have q x ring o' cuiuS N s,'n"hoIy's
drv goods stor" oNcry night. They're
nor The ,lnuov al right "
cantor - lone Jim produced q
bunch 81 slender Tools that looked like
'hov wore blood kiu to ihusN ia evidence.
when IL came Aliens time to explain h"
said
Gentlemen. Il ihey're burglar tools
have leen Ihamnflllv IMPOSED on.
heard This Wiz n great am II country, md
I Sut ."In 70 fHs'an " the cans I've heen
swivdlcl. I hs,c
Tho lury gave him four years in he pen
t'' or tho information and two for using