The Delta independent., 1908-12-04
WORKS OF JOHN YEGG
A Daring Burglar Who Attained
Fame In His Line.
HIS NAME A POLICE LEGACY

Ntro0Iycerin IN oare ouTstsh0.
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
dation of the first
Some years ago, when the Unitet
States government was experimenting
with high explosives. wishing to secur'
some death dealing and DESTRUCTIVE
shell that would cause more damag
than any before manufactured. som
one suggested that introglycerin
tried. Up to that time this most pow
erful of explosives had not been uti
ized In this way.
The government experts went
work, and the results of their exper
ments were from time to time pul
lished broadcast through the comm
nifty. At last they succeeded in ma
ing shell in which nitroglycerin WI
the chief component part and whi'
Ildue uil olto Sihh ihto ibEi
nificance
In a town in the middle west at
time there lived a man named Jol
Yegg. In his earlier days lie had be
one of the most expert electricians
well as all round experienced mecha
les In the country. Later. through dri
and bad associates, he had descend
TO life OF crime his principal art
ing that OF safe blowing.
He was attracted by the publist
accounts OF the experiments OF
government authorities with nit
glycerin. The thought struck
why could not this be used In blow
safes?
The method at that time was 10
n hole in the safe TO be wrecked,
this with powder or dynamite
then touch the fuse. This mctt
however. required considerable tim,
pull OF "a job" and was noisy
dangerous.
Veg: went to work on the nj
giycerin method. He tried II. an,
was "a complete success. Furthcrm
after he had performed job after
he had the police OF the country
fied They did not know how
work was done. Yegg instru
others In the art. and soon from
end OF the country TO the other e:O
were being wrecked. but by what r
ncr no one knew.
Yegg's method was to take som
the explosive which he and those
him called "soup"-and. by the
sl.l. T.. slh -
in the crack OF the safe neat
hinges OF the door. The small ape
was then covered with soap tct
the explosive In place. The fuse
applied. and with the cxpiosi0
went the doors. slick and clean.
entire job took but few mInuu
remained for young Pinkcrtoi
:ective TO solve the matter on
that was blown In Coidwater.
where bank was wrecked and
thousands OF dollars secured.
The crime was traced TO Yen
some OF his companions. an0
were found guilty and sent TO
Thereafter those who employ9
nitrogycerln instead OF tho
methods were called "yeggun
''yeggs."
This was the beginning of tiH
but since that time the npplica(
II has grown greatly. Today
viewed from whatever aspect.
most dangerous criminal with
the police OF the country hnvct
He is one who rides the count
on freight trains. working throu
south In the winter and migra
more exhilnrating climes dur1l
summer. He will beg when (
hungry and win steal and
murder when he secs an oppo
Of bcnefting himself.
Today there are thousands of
scattered throughout the country
of them belong to some ccrtab
each one Of which has Iced,
is the king. It is his dutyf6
recruits. To him also is shlr
the loot. md he In turn convHt
money and places the amount
credit of the member sendln,
For this the king receives ~
sion. n
Most of the "yegg" gangs car
is known rs kitten" with III
| kitten" Is boy, young man
| pie. whose duty II Is to Vinif
and places Of business. appSteI
cling food or selling shoeG(Fir
pencils. ETC.. and who the n
the gang "the lny of tho Ignd'
when the time comes for pu
the job NIL are familiar with
ises. The "kittens' are often
boys and later become "yeGg
selves. destined to followR
crime and dcgrndation.-Pitts
ectte-Times.
Nautical lnfornratton.
"By the way. captain."