The Yale expositor., 1911-11-02


burn managed to open the handcuff,
slipped 1t off his wrist and crept away
naked from his sleeping companion.
To complete his triumph, he entered
the room of the other detective, stole
his clothes and escaped with ease.
The detectives were chagrined over
this incident. The authorities were
furious, but down in their secret
hearts the police could not help but
have certain kind Of admiration for
this man who made thieves like Claude
Duval and Jack Shepard appear like
bunglng amateurs.
Byrnes sat in his office apparently
oblivious to Mr.. Shinburn's move
ments. But he was watching him like
hawk. After the sensational escape
of the famous criminal, the inspector
learned that he had gone to Belgium
and was posing there as a baron.
why not go after him." suggested
one OF the Headquarters men.
No answered the great thief TAX
er, we're not quite ready for him
yet"
But we can induce him to come
over here and then bag him"
IT'S not necessary. He'll come back.
They all do"
Shinburn is said to have been a man
of good birth At all events he was
we'll educated and talked several Ian
guages. As a consequence of this
equipment he carried out his new role
with perfection He had a large es-
tate just outside of Brussels, probably
purchased with the money that he had
stolen from half a dozen banks in
America. He entertained on large
scale and spent his money lavishly.
Most of his guests believed that he
was q titled person who had the right
to move in aristoCratiC society. Those
who did suspect the man were help
less. No eXtradition treaty existed be-
tween Belgium and the United States
at that time and so he was suffered
to live in peace and honor on his i'll
gotten gains
He was restless, however. He had
all the money that he needed TO keep
him comfortably in any one of the
European countries. But that was not
enough; he wanted more. He began
to speculate in the London and Berlin
stock markets, and in a little while the
stock brokers cleaned him out. II has
been cynically said that they did to
him what he did TO the financial in
stitutions Of America.
Failing to obtain money lawfully, he
turned to his trade as duck turns
TO water He organized gang to do
business in Belgium, and planned to
break the safe of the provincial bank
of Where. His chief associate in this
enterprise was a thief named Billiard,
who had worked with him for many
years in America. In this case the
operation was a success, but the pa
tient died" That is to say, they
opened the safe successfully, secured
the money and got out of the building,
but were arrested before they could
make complete getaway" Shin
burn engaged high priced lawyers and
made desperate legal fight, but was
finally sentenced to five years, which
he served.
After that he became n gambler,
going from one resort TO another In
Europe. Finally he became tired OF
the old world, shook its dust from his
feet and returned to this country. lie
little knew it at the time, but in do
ing this he was leading up to his fare
well in the burglary business. He
had not been here very long when he
robbed a small bank in the interior Of
New York state. This started the
Pinkertons on his track actively. He
went TO Philadelphia, and a certain
operation in that city put the Quaker
City authorities on their guard. Frank
Kelly, one of the greatest bank de-
tectives in the world, got in pursuit Of
Shinburn.
In the meantime the superintendent
of Scotland Yard and the chief of the
Paris secret service were itching to
lay hands on the clever German-Amer-
lean. Chief Inspector Byrnes, sitting
in his Office on Mulberry street, wait
ed patiently for the big criminal to
come into his outspread net. The inn
portance of the man, therefore, may be
understood when 1t is known that five
of the greatest thief takers in the
world were looking for him at the
same time.
The climax came after his robbery
Of comparatively small bank. Byrnes
wanted to catch him with undisputed
evidences Of his guilt. He could COM
mand money so readily and he en-
gagged such brilliant legal advocates
that 1t might prove frutless to arrest
him merely on suspicion or on ac-
count of his bad record. So the in
spector was eager for the sort of proof
that would stand in a court of law.
The rogue even pretended that he was
not Shinburn, but that he was really
titled nobleman. The police waited
for the slip which every thief makes.
1t came quicker than they expected.
In hinl