Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08

ever knew was my friend, Mark
~ Shinburn, the acknowledged King
OF the Burglars"
THE safe can't open. hasn't been
built" be used to say-and the surprising
frequency with which he made his boast
good caused the police everywhere to fear
him more than any other man. The large
sums he stole from banks every year
threw American bankers into a panic. and
they spent cool million dollars in their
efforts to put an end to his dangerous &C
tiVities.
Mark Shinburn was a genius In bur-
Elary--a man before whose skill steel
vaults opened noiselessly or crumbled vlo-
lently according to his desire and method.
He and his bands OF operators stole many
millions Of bank funds. He stood at the
head OF his profession without peer-and
yet / shall show you. as | lead you through
the amazing exploits OF this great crimi-
nails career. that even for one so skilful
and "suocesstul." CRIME DOES NOT
PAY!
shinburn reyolutioniEed the burglars
methods and put them on a scientific
basis. The banks feared him not only
for the crimes which he himself com
mitted, hut because his wonderful inven-
tive ability gave scores OF other robbers
the means of getting inside their strong
boxes
When Shinburn robbed his first bank
burglars tools were crude. cumbersome
affairs, so heavy that three or four men
and sometimes a horse and wagon we're
required to carry them around. This made
the risk of detection very great, and when
the burglars we're forced to leave the
scene OF their crime In a hurry they would
often have TO leave their expensive tools
behind
shlnburn succeeded in remedying this
dlfaculty. Not long after his appearance
In the UnderWo he devised a practical
sci OF tools more powerful than those for
uleTly used and at the same time compact
and light enough 10 be carried in small
satehei. This was a stroke OF criminal
genius which proved OF tremendous ad-
vantage 20 him and every other burglar
But Shinburn was not content with
merely improving the tools OF his criminal
Irade-he took up the study of safes and
locks and soon became a greater expert in
this line than any OF the manufacturers
could hire. As soon as a new safe was
advertised. ShinbuTn secured one of them,
took n 70 pieces and studied with the
greatest care every detail Of it's construc-
don by the time the new make was fairly
on the market he knew its strong and
weAk points better than the men who made
it-and to prove he did. he robbed one OF
The new safes at the first opportunity
He Learns Safe Making
Mark shinburn called at our home in
New York one day to bring an improved
type OF Jimmy which he had devised and
which my husband wanted for use in get
Ting into a country bank we had our eyes
On. The conversation turned. as II always
did, 70 banks and safes and troublesome
combination locks
What do you think Of these new Lille
RafesT Ned Lyons said From what they
say about them. they must be pretty hard
nuts 20 crack see the company offers a
reward Of $4,000 to the burglar who can
get into one OF them within any reasonable
time
"Nonsense!" Shinburn replied III they
live up 20 that offer they'll so into bank
TuPtcy I'm going up 70 their factory 20
see for myself Just how these new safes
are made and by the time I've served my
apprenticeship. I'll be ready 20 earn that
reward every time ] can lay my hands on
Lille safe"
Shinburn had learned the mechanics
trade before coming 70 this country from
Germany Disgusting his distinguished
appearance as well as be could BY shaving
on his beard and putting on a suit OF
Eorkman's clothes. he packed his tools
into a satchel and went 20 Albany. where
the Lille safe works we're located
For two years Shinburn labored faith
fully In the Lille shops learning the con-
struction Of their safes from castors 70
combination locks. He was such a cap
able mechanic that the superintendent re-
GREETED 10 hear that he was going 10 leave
and offered TO make him a foreman. But
Shlnburn said uo-his health was not good
and be bad made Up bis mind to take a
rest
The truth OF the matter was that he had
learned everything there was 70 know
about Lille safes and was impatient to put
HE hard-earned knowledge 10 the prscti-
cal test Of burglary.
HIS FIRST opportunity unexpectedly came
IN the robbery Of the Ocean bank in New
Yea shinburn laid the plans for this
and carried them out with the assistance
Of Harry Raymond. George Bliss and Ned
kyons my husband
ghiaburn Rad said Urfie ahry1f hJs ex-