Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-14
DARING YEGGMEN,
Ways of the Most Desperate and
Cunning of Burglars.

Va al NA4C anu (LOOhS lIdl OP-
crate in the country the yeggman. or
bank burglar. is the most cunning and
systematic and In the majority of
cases the most desperate. Some people
have an idea that a common tramp
housebreaker is a yeggman, but that
is far from the truth. In nine cases
out Of ten yeggmen are intelligent, ed
ucated men. There is a bond between
them as strong as that which unites
any brotherhood or union in the coun-
try.
There are not more than fifty good
yeggs in the United States. To be sue
cessful the yeSg must understand ev-
cry little detail of the work, because
slip usually means a life. When a
man becomes too old or is disabled or
for any other cause cannot remain an
active member Of his gang he then in
structs the younger and less expert
enced members. In all the time that
l have been connected with bank in
vestgatiOns, says yegg hunter in the
New York Sun, have never known
OF a case in which one yeGgman dou-
bic crossed another. and l don't think
that can be said of any other branch Of
thiefdom. l will explain some of the
methods used by the yeggs, also some
used by the investigators.
Four or five men usually make up
gang, aud these gangs are scattered
over the whole country, each having
its own territory. For instance, one
gang had the territory between Al
bany and Boston on the Boston ard
Albany road. 1t that case the men,
beers would be scattered out along the
road between Boston and Albany look
ing for bank or postoffice which may
be easily blown. 1t sometimes takes
them six months or even n year to To-
cate the Job and get everything in
readiness for the touch off," as they
call IT. One successful job with these
men equals n great many small hauls
that other thieves make.
When the job is spotted the gang is
called together. and every detail is gone
over and the plans are mapped out.
Each member looks over the bank, and
the discussion OF methods sometimes
lasts a week. once knew of a gang
operating in Indiana who were in doubt
about a job and who sought advice
from a gang in Maine. That probably
took three or four weeks. | mention
this TO show that they absolutely will
not turn a trick" if there is the least
doubt about its success.
After the job is located and their
81, IL,
do is to get the tools and make their
preparations. Common yellow soap.
fuse, caps and nitroGlycerin are needed
The soap. fuse and caps are easily OBJ
tanned at any hardware or grocery, but
the nitroglyCerin Is not 50 easy TO get
If no other method is available ii must
be taken out OF dynamite sticks. and
that is almost an art in itself being q
very dangerous process.
For an ordinary shot they take FIVE
five-pound sticks OF dynamite TO make
enough nitroglycerin, or soup" as they
call ii, for the Job The utensils con-
sist OF two lard cans and quart whis-
Ky bottle. The bottom is knocked out
OF one Of the lard cans and holes made
then built and the lard can is set on ii.
Then the other can is filed half full
Of water and placed on the first The
water is allowed TO become lukewarm.
and then the sticks of dynamite are
placed in the water. The whole affair
stands about six hours.
After that time the water is allowed
TO cool and is then strained through
a piece of CheeseClOth. after which it is
again allowed TO stand. In a short time
the nitroglycerin rises to the surface
and is skinned of and placed in the
bottle. The yeggs call this process
making soup" Several times it has
resulted seriously, and in one instance.
when it blew the operators arm OFF, 1t
led to the capture Of two Of the best
men in what was known as the E. and
T. II. gang.
1t sometimes takes as many as three
shots to blow a safe. Four holes are
drilled around the combination knob,
and the nitroGlycerin is poured in the
holes, soap tunnels being used A dy-
Mantle cap and fuse are then attached,
wet blankets are thrown over the safe.
and the shot is touched of The men
inside throw themselves face down
ward on the floor.
After the smoke has cleared the safe
is sometimes found ready to be ritled
Often there is a strong box which the
first shot does not harm. In that case
a second and sometimes a third shot
must be fred of in the same manner
as the FIRST.
In case the citizens hear the explo-
sion the men who are watching outside
give the inside men the alarm and en-
deavor to hold the town at bay, giving
their inside pals chance for a clean
getaway with the plumber.