The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13
SAFE CRACKERS
PUT TOFLIGHT
BY BLACK CAT
Playful Pussy Jumps on Sput-
tering Fuse and Extin-
guishes the Spark
Policemen Capture Suspects,
Who May Be Murderers of
Tannery Watchnlan

Shortly after an attempt to blow
open the safe in the dry goods store
of Lobree Brothers. 227- Market street,
early yesterday morning had been frus-
trated By black cat, Clarence French.
an ex-convict and we'll known cracks
man and Chester Ayhens were arrested
in Twenty-fourth street near Harrison
by Policemen Nash and Kelly Their
names were registered on the detinue
book pending an investigation ny De-
tectives Burke and Gallagher. which
may lead 10 a charge OF murder being
made against them.
The dry goods store was entered by
prying the basement door open with a
jimmy and cutting a hole in the floor
underneath the office. The burglars
made selection from the stock, con
sisting of silk shirt waists, umbrellas
handkerchiefs and neckties OF the value
OF about $500 and then paid atten-
tion 10 the safe.
CAT PUTS OUT FUSE
They took of the combination. made
a soap cup, poured nitroglycerin into
il. attached fuse, which they lighted.
and then ran TO safety. There was a
black eat in the office which watched
the actions Of the eTacksmen, and when
il saw the spluttering fuse il jumped
at il and extlnguished it The cracks
men apparently got scared and disap-
peared with the selection OF the stock
without making another attempt to
blow omen the safe
Shortly after 4 O'Clock Policemen
Mash and Kelly saw French and Ay-
hens acting suspiciousIy in Twenty
fourth street, and they started to run
The policemen drew their revolvers and
called upon them 10 stop. French and
Ayhens stopped. drew their revolyers.
but before they could use the weapons
the policemen were upon them and
Knocked them down, quickly placing
the handouts over their wrists
When searched French had long
.simmy IN his pocket. a chisel and
about 80 old coins. including 20 half
dimes, several Canadian pieces. a half
dollar OF 1926. one OF 1883. and others
cash register key. three skeleton
keys. an onyx stickpin. an onyx gold
ring. a pair OF new gloves. 20 copper
pennies and FIVE silver bar spoons
The police are satisfied that French
and Ayhens committed the burglary at
Lebree Brothers dry goods store and
had secreted the loot before being seen
by Nash and Kelly.
SUSPECTED OF MURDER
Detectives Burke and Gallagher have
heen looking for Ayhens for several
weeks. as they were led 10 believe that
he was implicated in the murder of
stephen Tudzinski. watchman at the
Eagle tannery Army street and san
Bruno avenue. the night of April %
Every effort viii be made TO trace
the murder 10 Ayhens and his COM
panion. French. At that time il was
supposed that the murderers, intention
was 10 rob the safe and when discov-
cred BY the night watchman they shot
and killed him.
San Quentin for 10 years on a charge
Of burglary He broke into the store
OF d. y. Hawley. safe manufacturer.
Market street. burst open several safes
and stole a sample lock Of each so as
to get the combination for future use
November %. 1900. he was sent from
Butte county to Folsom penitentiary
for I2 years for safe cracking and was
released January . last February 20
he was arrested in q hardware store
in Oakland while purchasing dynamite
and was brought here and shown TO
the watches. No charge was made
against him.
Ayhens. November 25. 1904. was sent
TO the county jail for six months on
2 charge OF petty larceny.