The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-07-22
WORKS OF JOHN YEGG
A Daring Burglar Who Attained
Fame In His Line.
HIS NAME A POLICE LEGACY.
1t Is Now Applied to the Most Danger
Gus Criminals With Whom the Off
GERS of the Law Have to Contend.
Eitrogiycerin In Safe Bursting.

Gus Criminals With Whom the Off
GERS of the Law Have to Contend
Eitroglycerin In Safe Bursting.
| In the expressive slang that per
meates police circles throughout tn,
country. ''yegg' Is one of the dan
| gerous criminal class.
| The question Is often asked, "Wha
is a yegg, and how did the expression
originate? An answer to the lattel
part of the query will lead to an eluei
dalton of the first.
Some years ago, when the United
States government was experimenting
with high explosives, wishing to secure
some death dealing and destructive
than any before manufactured, SOME
one suggested that introglycerin bt
tried. Up to that time this most pow
elful of explosives had not been util
lied in this way.
The government experts went tc
work, and the results of their expert
ments were from time to time pub
lished broadcast through the eommu
nifty At last they succeeded in max
Ing shell In which nitroglycerin was
the chief component part and which
made all former ones sink into insig
nificance
In town in the middle west ut the
time there lived Il man named John
Yegg. In his earlier days he had been
one of the most expert electricians as
well as all round experienced mechan
les in the country. Later, through drink
and bad associates. he had descended
to a life of crime, his principal art be
ing that of safe blowing
He was attracted by the published
accounts of the experiments of the
government authorities with nitro
glycerln. The thought struck him
Why could not this be used in blowing
safes?
The method at that time was to drill
hole in the safe to be wrecked, fill
this with powder or dynamite and
then touch the fuse. This method
however, required considerable time to
pull off "a job" and was noisy and
dangerous.
Yeg- went to work on the nitro.
glycerln method. He tried 1t, and II
was II complete success. Furthermore.
after he had performed job after job
he had the police of the country baf-
fled They did not know how the
work was done. Yesg instructed
others in the art, and soon from one
end of the country 10 the other safes
ner no one knew.
Ycgs's method was to take some of
the explosive which he and those with
him called "soup"-and. by the way.
this term Is still extant-and pour II
in the crack of the safe near the
hinges of the door. The small aperture
was then covered with soap to hold
the explosive in place. The fuse was
applied, and with the explosion off
went the doors. slick and clean. The
entire job took but a few minutes 1t
remained for young Pinkerton de-
.ective to solve the matter on safe
that was blown in Codwater. Mich,
where bank was wrecked and many
thousands of dollars secured
The crime was traced to Yegg and
some of his companions. and they
were found guilty and sent to prison
Thereafter those who employed the
nitroglycerin instead of the older
methods were called "yeggmen" OF
''yeggs."
This was the beginning of the term
but since that time the application OF
1t has grown greatly. Today "yegg.'
viewed from whatever aspect. Is the
most dangerous criminal with whom
the police of the country have to deal
He is one who rides the country o'ei
on freight trains, working through the
south in the winter and migrating to
more exhilarating climes during the
summer He will beg when he is
hungry and will steal and commit
murder when he sees an opportunity
Of benefiting himself.
Today there are thousands of "yeggs
scattered throughout the country. Most
of them belong to some certain band
each one of which has leader He
is the king. 1t is his duty to enlist
recruits. TO him also is shipped all
the loot, and he in turn converts 1t into
money and places the amount to the
credit of the member sending 1t in.
For this the king receives commits.
sion.
Most of the 'yegg" gangs carry what
is known as kitten" with them The
kitten" is a boy, young man or Grip.
pie. whose duty it is to visit houses
and places of business, apparently beg.
ging food or selling shoestrings. lead
pencils. ETC.. and who then reports to
the gang 1.-The lay of the land" so that
when the time comes for pulling off
the job all are familiar with the prem
ises. The kittens are often runaway
boys and later become "yeggs" them
selves. destined to follow life OF
crime and degradation Pittsburg Ga
Zptta- Times