The Detroit times., 1910-04-05
MANY JOBS LAID
TO POLITE BURGLAR
Eddie Fay, Who Lifted Million
Has Career of Crime That Spans
Long Periods Gagged at Last.

walls that hold him fast
Eddie Fay is undone and knows II.
The robbery of the Richmond, Va,
postottice OF $sS.000 in stamps and
cash will be the notorious yeggman :
tlial job.
He is like Gagged tiger now. his
anger flashing him into furious TEN
pests OF passion. Desperately. hate
fully. crashing his teeth, he shakes
the stout steel door. His guards are
10 him what the trainer is 10 Wild
Gagged beasts. Madly would he tear
them 10 bits il opportunity offered an
escape.
He was the most successful under
world crook OF modern times, and
used skill in his work which indicated
large thinking capacity. II is esti-
mated that his various robberies
brought him AT least 81 600, 600 some
OF which he invested like good bust
ness man in Chicago real estate. and
some of which he spent recklessly liv-
ing the life OF a sporting gentleman.
His string OF race horses did not net
him any profit, and he was a desper
ate gambler. But the value OF his
property is today estimated az $500.
600.
The thing behind the criminal
career OF Fay seems much like
that OF the Jesse James gang, though
Jesse and the Younger brothers We're
crude in their methods as compared
with Fay No wild west war-whoop-
ing tactics for him. His way was 70
dress we'll pose as a London banker.
associate with race track followers.
and only shoot when he was cornered
But then he would shoot 20 kill. The
police Of Chicago say there are four
murders traceable 10 Fay. The least
valuable thing In the world 10 him
was human life.
FAY probably would not have been
caught IL he himself had managed the
get away He trusted TOO much 10
Chester aid Chester bungled. He was
nervous. and foolishly made the bag
gage master al the Richmond depor
suspicious He demanded that the
three trunks holding the booty be pu;
aboard a train waicb was almost due
10 leave. He cursed and swore. ana
finally assisted the porter in loading
the trunks on the cars. Mr.. Station
master thought il over later. and de-
Cided that Chester was no travelling
man. and told the police. This waG
the clue that traced the robbers 20
New York Then. when they came to
claim Their trunks, detectives were
present disguised a. baggagemen, and
they questioned the pair. Fay. smell
.ug the mice. started TO walk quietly
away. but Chester precipitated the ar
rest by punching one OF the detectives
Fay was clear into the crowded street
before the detectives surrounded him.
For years the police OF the whole
country have been after this man, and
there was price Of $4,000 on his
head. dead or alive.
Twice ne has escaped from jail. both
times after pistol duels with officers
and guards. Once on board swiftly
moving train. he held up his guards
and leaped TO liberty. He made pos:.
Offices his specially; and when the New
York police and government secret
service men trapped him and dragged
him fighting, kicking and cursing 10
the Tombs. the other day. they found
IN his trunks $4,000 worth Of l and
l-cent stamps, with complete and
beautifully polished set OF burglar
tools and diagrams, descriptions and
other data OF poetotiices and banks IN
Ill least 40 cities
Some Of Fay's known jobs were the
robbery OF the Chicago postoffce OF
$4,000. the United States revenue OF.
fee at Peoria, III. OF 100000 worth of
revenue stamps. the Japanese-Amerl.
can bank at Los Angeles of $4,000
cash, the San Diego postofflce OF sl0.-
73s in stamps and $4,000 in gold, a
oanl; at Superior, Wis, OF $50 900, and
the recent Richmond job. which was
his Waterloo.
His methods are best explained by
a. examination OF the Richmond rob
berry. Fay, accompanied by pal
named Chester, who was also caught
Iere, took quarters at hotel near the
postoffice, posing as commercial
travelling men.
On Saturday night they gained en-
trance 70 the pOstoffice. using skeie-
ton keys Within L. feet OF the street,
where people were constantly passing,
they applied what the yeggmen call
the plunge and squeeze. IL means
tnat no explosive il used TO open The
safe. but that the doors were first
drilled and then pried open. Fay and
his pal turned the trick by boring a
little hole and inserting the point OF .
small instrument made like a top,
but with heavy handle, into the bo.o
at the crack OF the safe door. The
top-like end has a thread running
about II, and screwing the handle re-
suits in terrific pressure upon the
door. When a sufficient opening had
thus been silently made, it was no
trick at all 70 make the heavy door
yield 10 the pressure OF crowbar.
But think OF F'ay's nerve In back.
ing wagon up 70 the postofi1ce and
carrying out packages Of stamps
Weighing several hundred pounds.
enough u plaster half the billboarGs
in Richmond.
In New York and Chicago there
are stamp brokers who. at discount,
buy stamps in large quantities from
persons who are overstocked or need
ready money on postage stock or for
other reasons wish - sell stamps. The
yolice say that Fay got rid OF stamps
through these brokers.
The robbers took their booty IN
trunks 20 their hotel and then sent
them 10 the depot checked for WASH
ington.