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

~ 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 vio-
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 80 skilful
and "successful," CRIME DOES NOT
PAYl
Shinburn revolutioniEed the burglars
methods and put them on a scientific
basis. The banks feared him not only
for the crimes which he himself COM
mitted, but 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 we're crude, cumbersome
affairs so heavy that three or four men
and sometimes a horse and wagon were
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
difficulty. Not long after bis appearance
In the Underwo he devised practical
set OF tools more powerful than those for
merly used and at the same time compact
and light enough to be carried in a small
eatchel. This was a stroke OF criminal
genius which proved of tremendous ad-
vantage 10 him and every other burglar.
But Shinburn was not content with
merely improving the tools Of his criminal
tFade-he took up the study OF safes and
locks and soon became a greater expert in
this line than any of the manufacturers
a
advertised. Shinburn secured one Of them,
took Il to pieces and studied with the
greatest care every detail Of its construc-
Ton. 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-Rnd 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 q country bank we had our eyes
on. The conversation turned. as IL always
did. to banks and safes and troublesome
combination locks
What do you think Of these new Lille
safes?" Ned Lyons said From what they
say about them, they must be pretty hard
nuts to crack. | see the company offers a
reward OF $4,000 TO the burglar who can
get into one OF them within any reasonable
time"
"So1sense!" Shinburn replied IF they
live up TO that offer they'll so into bank
ruPtcy. I'm going up TO their factory TO
see for myself just how these new safes
are made and by the time I've served nv
apprenticeship. I'll be ready TO earn that
reward every time ] can lay my hands on
Lille safe"
Shinburn had learned the mechanics
trade before coming 10 this country from
Germany Disgusting his distinguished
appearance as well as be could by shaving
on his beard and putting on a suit OF
Uorkman's clothes. he packed his tools
into a satchel and went 90 Albany where
the Lille safe works were located.
For two years Shinburn labored faith
fully in the Lille shops learning the con-
struction Of their safes from castors TO
combination locks. He was such cap
able mechanic that the superintendent re-
GREETED 70 hear that be was going TO leave
and offered 10 make him foreman. But
Shinburn said no-his health was not good
and be had made Up his mind to take a
rest
The truth Of the matter was that he had
learned everything there was TO know
about Lille safes and was impatient to put
HE hArd-earned knowledge TO the practi-
cal test OF burglary.
HIS nrst opportunity Unexpectedly came
IN the robbery Of the Ocean bank IN New
YcRE Shinbum laid the plans for this
and carried them out with the assistance
Of Harry Raymond. George Bliss and Ned
Lyons nv husband