The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-07-07
WORKS OF JOHN YEGC
A Daring Burglar Who Attained
Fame In His Line.
HIS NAME A POLICE LEGACY.
II 10 Now Applied to tho Most Danger
ous Criminals With Whom the or
GERS Of the Law Have 10 Contend.
Nitroglycerin 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 10 the latter
part OF the query win 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 a shell In which nitroglycerin was
the chief component part and which
made all former ones sink into insig-
nihcance
In a 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
well as 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
glycerin. The thought struck him,
why could not this be used In blowing
safes2
The methed 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.
Yegg went TO work on the nitro
glycerin method. He tried IL, and 1t
was complete success. Furthermore.
after he had performed Job after job
he had the police oftthe country BAT
fed. They did not know how the
work was done Yegg instructed
others ia the art and soon from one
end of6tbe 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 tenn is still extaRt-and pour 1t
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 or
went the doors, slick and clean. The
entire job took but few minutes. 1t
remained for a young Pfnkerton de-
tective TO selye the matter on safe
that was blown IN Coldwster. 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."
Thls'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 DER
on freight trains, working through the
south in the winter and migrating to
more exhilarating climes during the
summer. He viii beg when he is
hungry and will steal and commit
murder when he sees an opportunity
Of benefting himself.
Today there are thousands Of ''yeggs"
scattered throughout the country. Most
of them belong TO some certain band,
each one of which has a 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 iato
money and places the amount to the
credit Of the member sending it in.
For this the king receives q 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
cling 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 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 a life of
crime and MISUNDERSTANDING Ca
Eette.Times.
--H