The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1909-04-28
Observation-Disclosures
AN INGENIOUS
= = burglar.


lcopyrirat 1903. by American Press aaso-
ciation.I
I'm burglar that relies on my wits
rather Than on my weapons One
night when l was cracking a bank
vault, working with my face to the
want, I heard Hen" behind me. l
turned and saw a gentleman looking ut
me with revolver in his hand
Now. l had taken precautlon to learn
something about the bank and Its off,
eers. / knew their names and bad
seen them all. I'd much rather be pro
yided with such information than Is
ealfber revolver. I knew that the gen
tieman standing there was TIE vice
president. Mr.. Forbes. l kept my
nerve as well as possible as looked
at him, though It suited my purpose to
look triae surprised: but. without mp
pearing to see his weapon and without
speaking. I went right on turning my
breast dEtr. making hole near tho
lock.
you're a cool one" be said.
! turned. feignlns establishment.
'What do you mean. Mr.. ForbesY'
asked.
tHow did you know my name is
Forbesr he asked with equal sur
prise.
%How do ! know? why. ought to
know the vice president of the bank I
keep my little account In. You went
out this afternoon Just rs was going
IN to Mr.. Cummings" the CASHIER.
'He told me there was something
wrong with the lock and had sent for
me to see what It was. messed over
# for an hour without any tools. then
went home to supper. promising to be
back with 'em later. But was called
out on an important job and didn't get
here TIL half an hour ago. Mr. Cum
mlnSs was waiting and let me in. He's
gone out for bite and glass OF beer
or something. Hen be back present
b."
saw In his eye remarkable inter-
est IN what I was telling him. and
inferred the cause. BE Feckoned he'd
got on to a plan Of the cashiers to sit
away with some funds. learned
afterward that he and Cummings
hated each other like poison.
With this / turned and went TO
work again. didn't know how was
coming out I didn't think was com.
ing out anywhere except behind bars.
was simply figuring for a little time
: and possible loophole. The man be-
bind me was probably thinking. TOO.
for he said nothing. argued that.
having possibly caught his enemy. the
cashier. in the act, the question was
how to proceed. It was mighty easy
for him to make fool Of himself. and
possibly he instead OF Cummings
might turn out the convicted party.
The first words he said were:
':If your story is true the lock has
been purposely put out of order. 1t
was MI right at 8 o'clock this after
noon"
what do you mean. slr:" asked.
looking up at him and putting on
scared look. "You don't mean there's
any slzulduSsery going on? amt go
ing to get mixed up in 1t. am II"
he gave me a searching look. and
thought could see I'd got something
of his confidence.
Now, my man." he said. IF you'll
help me convict rascal III stand by
you for the rest Of your life. II you
are what you pretend to be-worklng
on the cashiers orders-the plan is
this: Under pretense Of opening a
safe, the lock OF which he has pur.
posely injured, he gets you to open 1t
by the same means a burglar would
use"
"By George! l never would have
thought of that"
'The safe opened. be would have
heped himself TO the funds. and the
vault would appear TO have been
burglarized."
"And II caught I'd be the burglar.
That's what he got me IN for. Is it,
was playing for ten years or more
Of liberty. and played the part well
80 well that could see I'd captured
my man knew I'd got 10 make u
move pretty soon and take the Of.
1ensive when did move. or course
my story would 80 up in smoke the
moment Mr.. Forbes took any action.
and that action would be TO call po.
liceman and arrest me. But first he
wanted to cs: MI be could out OF me
as to how he could use me TO show Up
the real rascal. He still held his re-
volyer in his right hand. formed 4
plan, and formed II, lightly quick.
ut seems to me. Mr. Fo SeS. that
tie whole matter Of proving ~. Cum
minSs' raSralI,y depends upon whether
the lock got out o: order naturally or
was put out OF order. II I'm going TO
testify to that want 70 lind on, about
It now before any one has chanc. TO
thinner with II"