Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-22
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|: AN INGENIOUS +;
) = = BURGLAR. /:
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. . . . .
copyright, 1903. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
I'm burglar that relies on my wits
rather than on my weapons. One
night when l was cracking bank
vault, working with my face to the
vault. heard "Hemv' behind me.
turned and saw gentleman looking at
me, with a revolver In his hand.
Now. | had taken precaution to learn
something about the bank and it's off,
GERS. l knew their names and had
seen them all. I'd much rather be pro-
vided with such information than a As
caliber revolver. knew that the gen.
tleman standing there was the vice
president. Mr.. Forbes. I kept my
nerve as well as possible as looked
at him, though IT suited my purpose to
look trifie surprised; but. without APP
pearing to see his weapon and without
speaking. l went right on turning my
breast drill. making a hole near the
lock.
you're cool one," he said.
] turned, feigning establishment
'What do you mean, Mr.. Forbesw /
asked.
"How did you know my name is
F0rbes" 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 as l 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 1t was. messed over
1t 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 till half an hour ago. Mr.. Cum
mings was waiting and let me In. He's
gone out for bite and glass of beer
or something. He'll be back present
ly."
/ saw In his eye remarkable inter-
est In what l was telling him, and l
inferred the cause. He reckoned he'd
got on to plan Of the cashiers to git
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. didn't think was com,
ing out anywhere except behind bars.
/ was simply figuring for 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. 1t was mighty easy
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 all right at o'clock this after
noon"
what do you mean. sir?" asked.
looking up at him and putting on a
scared look. you don't mean there's
any skulduggery going on? 1 amt go
ing to get mixed up in 1t, am IT'
He gave me searching look, and I
thought could see I'd got something
of his confidence.
snow, my man." he said, IF you'll
help me convict rascal I'll stand by
You for the rest of your life. If you
are what you pretend to be-working
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! 1 never would have
thought of that"
1.-The safe opened, he would have
helped himself to the funds. and the
vault would appear to have been
burglarized."
"And IL caught I'd be the burglar!
That's what he got me In for. is it?"
i was playing for ten years or more
Of liberty. and played the part well
so well that could see I'd captured
my man. i knew I'd got to make a
move pretty soon and take the Of
fensive when l did move. OF course
my story would go up In smoke the
moment Mr.. Forbes took any action.
and that action would be to call po-
hceman and arrest me. But first he
wanted to get all he 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. i formed
plan. and I-formed 1t mighty quick.
ut seems to me, Mr.. Forbes. that
the whole matter Of proving Mr.. Cum
mings' rascality depends upon whether
the lock got out of order naturally or
was put out of order. II I'm going to
testify to that want to find out about
It now before any one has chance to
tamper with It."
That's right. Examine it."
/ had drilled several holes before he
came. put my little finger in one and
my knife blade In another. pretending
to be hunting for something. thinking
hard what to do. Presently i stopped
sudden and said happy-like:
81 got II. TheNlock has been ham,