The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-11
Written by Sophie Lyons.
Copyright. 1913, by the Star Company

the Star Company.
Shevelin. the Waterman. was destined to
bear fruit for others While big jim
was serving his long sentence in Clinton
prison for the Troy robbery it became
known somehow to Jimmy Hope that
Tracy and the Waterman of the bank had
arrived at an understanding This was
very important news, and Hope at once
started In to pick up the thread which had
been 80 suddenly broken by Tracy's mis-
hap in Troy.
But this was not SO easy to accomplish.
Shevelin had confidence in his old school
mate Tracy. but he was afraid of strangers.
jimmy Hope was the Napoleon OF bank
burglars and he had in his gang the fore
most bank experts of the whole world
Hope found way to make the acquaint-
ance OF Sheveln and he tried every de-
vice to win the watchmans confidence
But the shock OF big Jim" Tracy's long
prison sentence had thoroughly frightened
the watchman
With great patience, Hope began cam
paigu to remove Shevelin's misgivings
and make him feel that with such part
ners he need have no fear One after an
other of Hopes great experts were intro
duced to Shevelin. At dinner one day In
Ihlrd avenue restaurant Johnny Dobbs
was produced, and the exploits of this
famous burglar were recounted Next
was introduced George Howard, known as
western George" and Shevein was told
OF this mans extraordinary skill on safes
and vaults. And then came George Mason
and Ned Lyons, whose amazing holiness
and quickncss with revolver were al
ready known to Shevelin.
Nugent, the Policeman Burglar
few days later. John Nugent, an able
operator and policeman in good stand.
Ing. was presented. and little later on
Abe Coakley. the venerable cracksman.
was introduced. Finally the famous Ban
10 Pete Emerson and Billy Kelly and
Eooie Cooley were brought to bear on the
"aVering fears Of the Waterman.
Shevelin was finally oyerawed by this
and audacity and consented to join HOPES
band OF operators. AS look back over
that group of burglars, I am sure there
was never before gathered together on one
enterprise such galaxy of talent With
peEence as were there represented and all
under the able leadership of such a veteran
craftsman as Jimmy Hope, surely il was
impossible that their enterprise could
fail. Shevelin finally realized this and as
ne gave his pledge OF help and LOYALTY.
Jimmy Hope shook his hand warmly and
said:
And II we get the stuff. Patrick. vour
snare VIII be just a quarter OF million
dollars. And that's more than you will
ever make working as a Waterman"
Jimmy Hope now lost no time In setting
ABOUT his plans for the robbery.
While Shevelin's aid was absolutely
necessary, 1t was only very short step
In itself toward Jimmy Hopes goal, the
currency and securities lying in separate
steel safes inside the great vault The
entire system of steel plates and locks
was the latest, most complete burglar
PROOF Devised. II was universally SUD-
posed to be not only burglar-proof but
mob-proof. II had been demonstrated
theoretically that burglars working un-
disturbed could not obtain access inside
OF forty-eight hours. Indeed 1t was the
very impregnability Of the vault which
helped in its undoing
SheVelin could give the band entrance
10 the building and could bring them TO
the door OF the great vault. But here In
plain view OF the street it would be inn.
possible TO study out and assault the com
pination lock- AS the lock could not be
studied inside the bank it was evident that
'he problem must be solved outside
For this task Hose employed woman
very intimately related to one of the band
While ] do not care to give her name as
she is still alive. may say that she was
considered a very attractive woman.
Elegantly dressed she called at the
bank and opened an account with the de.
post of a few hundred dollars. She made
clear to everyone her charming ignorance
OF banking She was as amusing as pretty
and before long she was talking to Presi-
dent Schell himself
1t was in fact the president who proudly
showed her the massive steel doors and
the mighty combination lock which would
guard her small deposit. With innocent
baby stare she noted the make Of the
lock and its date
Possessed OF this information. Hope.
who was nothing il not thorough, pro-
ceeded to buy from the manufacturer a
counterpart Of the lock AS soon as it
arrived the lock was turned over to the
lnquiring eyes and fingers of George How.
ard Ensconced in little house in a
quiet part OF Brooklyn western George"
made an intimate investigation OF the
locks vitals