The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-07-09
WORKS OF JOHN YEGG|
A Daring Burglar Who Attained
Fame In His Line.
HIS NAME A POLICE LEGACY.


It 10 Now Applied to the Most Danger
Gus Criminals With Whom the Off.
GERS Of the Law Have 70 Contend.
Nitroslyesrin In Safe Bursting.
In the expressive slang that per
meates police circles throughout the
country, 'yegg" is one of the dan
gerous criminal class.
The question is often asked, "What
Is a yegg, and how did the expression
originate? An answer to the latter
part Of the query will lead to an eluci-
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
shell that would cause more damage
than any before manufactured, some
one suggested that introglycerin be
tried. Up to that time this most pow
erful of explosives had not been util-
lied In this way
The government experts went to
work. and the results of their expert
ments were from time to time pub
lished broadcast through the commu-
nifty. At last they succeeded in max
ing shell in which nitroglycerin was
the chief component part and which
made al! former ones sink into insig-
nificance.
In town in the middle west at the
time there lived man named John
Yegg. In his earlier days he had been
one Of the most expert electricians as
we'll Us all round experienced mechan-
les in the country. Later, through drink
and bad associates, he had descended
to 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.
giycerin The thought struck him,
Why,Rould not this be used in blowing
safes2.
The method at that time was to drill
hole III 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.
Yegy went to work on the nitro
glycerin method. He tried it. and It
was complete success. Furthermore.
after he had performed job after job
he had the police Of the country baf-
fed. They did not know how the
work was done. Yegg instructed
others in the art. and soon from one
end Of the country to the other safes
were being wrecked, but by what man.
ner no one knew.
Yegg'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 it
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 of
went the doors. slick and clean. The
entire Job took but few minutes. 1t
remained for young Pinkerton de-
tective to solve the matter on a safe
that was blown in Coldwater. 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" or
"yeggs."
This was the beginning Of the term.
but since that time the application Of
1t has grown greatly. Today a "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 DER
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 al!
the loot. and he in turn converts it into
money and places the amount. to the
credit of the member sending it in.
For this the king receives a commits.
sion.
Most Of the "yegg" gangs carry what
is known as ''kitten" with them. The
kitten" is 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 "the lay of the land so that
when the time comes for pulling of
the job all IRE familiar with the prem
Uses. The kittens are often runaway
boys and later become "yeggs" them
selves. destined to follow life of
crime and observation-disclosures Ga.
zette. Times.