Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-10-04
NOSE voeEL's STORY.

1T was along back in the seven
ties" said Nose, that Dave Cum
mings. then In the height OF his fame
as a crook. met me on the Bowery,
and We went together down to the old
Atlantic Garden. Suddenly Dave
turned to me and said: I think you
are on the level, Nose / felt that
this was a big compliment, coming
from Dave, for he was an Independent,
high-strung fellow, who would pass
up thousand thieves without giving
one the nod of his head.
Il told Dave that / had always tried
to be square and to live up to that
wheeze In the copy-books about hon
esty being the best policy He didn't
ask me to go In with him then or
even let out to me what was in his
mind. That wasn't Dawes way. But
knew he had his eve on me as
bright lad that was sure to rise in his
profession. He did ask me to step
down to Murray's with him, saying he
needed little money and was in the
mind to have a whack at Murray's
game. He had just made a big haul
somewhere and had about $4,000; so
] didn't think there was any chance OF
him going to work right away. But
the cards ran against him and In less
than a week the whole bank roll had
passed into Murray's hands.
Seeing how things were going with
Dave sort of held myself open, turn
ing down several good offers OF high
class work. Sure enough he finally
hunted me up. He had a newspaper
clipping about big special deposit,
100000, lying in a bank in Jersey
City that he'd planted, and just wait
ing for somebody to come and get it.
1t made my mouth water to think OF
all that money.
Dave said the work had to be
started right away, before the money
was paid out and so. after taking a
look at my engagement book, told
him l was free to go TO work any
time. We went right up to Harry
Hills place that night and Dave in
troduced me to ed. Johnson and Dago
Frank, pair OF AL western crooks
who had worked on several big tricks
with Dave already.
The next day we went by different
routes to Jersey City and picked out
quiet boarding house near Union
Hill. The real work of planting the
bank then began for fair.
1T took a week to plant the bank.
1t came my lot to locate the vault. l
did this by going in to look at a direc-
tory. ! saw that 1t was an old-fash-
Toned affair, built In the wall on the
east side. near the entrance opposite
the directors room. We decided to
60 through the wall, and hired a room
IN the adjoining building. whose floor
was several feet above the vault. II
represented to the landlady that I
was q sculptor recently landed from
Italy, and wished to set up a studio.
! had to pay about three prices for
the room, as the landlady seemed to
think that a sculptor ought to have
barrels Of coin. Well, we came near
getting II.
Il sent several blocks of marble to
the studio and commenced carving out
the busts OF distinguished men. Cum
mings, Dago Frank and Johnson were
my assistants. l had a bed in the
room and lived there, but my partners
slept elsewhere. / had sledges. ham,
mers and steel chisels to use in the
sculpture business apparently. We
made the attack on the bank through
the open fireplace, and the ringing
blows that were heard through the
house made the tenants believe that
the sculptors were very busy fellows.
We did not do much work while the
bank was open. but early in the morn.
ing and late at night pounded away
at the stone and brick.
1T was tedious work, as we had to
90 through heavy blocks OF stone
which made up the outer wall OF the
vault We removed the debris after
dark. and let the janitress into the
room every day to clean up The hole
In the wall was hidden at such times
by large screen. II took nearly two
weeks to get through the stone, and |
then we found that We were about !
three feet above the big money box.
This was made of heavy iron plates,
and On top there were several layers
of railroad iron. wedged In place so
that they we're about as solid as q
mass OF iron.
I'VE got rid OF part OF the iron. and
- a
TO do the outside work and give M
warning Of danger signs. We had no
fear OF the police. but there we're
lot OF secret service bugs lying