The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1913-06-24
By Frank Parker Stockbridg'
WHO IS THE GREAT
lest LIVING CRIMINAL"

WHO IS THE GREAT
EST LIVING CRIMINAL>'
fired tho question at the
greatest living detective
Max Shlnburn." came tho
hair,riggcr answer.
"ilc has stolen MORE. in
vented MORE ways OF steal
ing. and made MORE trouble
Tor the police OF two CONT
ncnts than anyone else m the
last 90 years. Shiuburn and
his partner. George White.
were tho master criminals OF
80 years ago No ono since
their dav has brough, as
much intellect and ability 20
bear ON crime making As they
did
And their greatest crime
was | began
The theft OF $2.SS0ocp from
tho Ocean National bank OF
New York-,hc biggest haul
ever made By bank burglars
How they did il was a mys-
terry for years. but White con
fesSed few years ago here
il his written confession
This. then. is tho story OF
tho greatest bank robbery IN
history RICH, from George
Whites confession
John Taylor. clerk In III" ocean
hank mot shluburn and white
through acquaintances made 10 :
gambling house They helped hlin
70 funds By PAYING him n commits
.lon 20 dispose OF stolen BONDS iot
them Then. in the fail OF ls'''
Trey proposed that he help th"n
TO omen tn, banks vault.
You ennt do tits burglar
proof objected Taylor
NO vault r. proof against -.
rapllcd white. and Taylor Yielded
And here's how they began
From the manufacture o'
IN. vsuI, they bought a com
blna,ion lock OF the same siEe
and style ss That OF the BANK
safe
Niah, after night. In
Whites rooms. he and Taylor
prae,le.d until tho CLERK, 20
rgsT AWAY. COULD lpeN.
THY ANY NUMBER TO
WHICH WHITE TURNED
TrE KNOB
Morning after morning 'h's
clerk. Taylor. watched the
cashier open the bank vault.
a, las, he learned the com.
binstionl
Then. ono night. he let white
In quietly and they found u
uorked-,he door flew openl
No time 20 gather the loot then
-pr'T THEY KNEW THEY
COULD GET INTO THE VAULT
WHENEVER THEY WANTED
TO.
In n room across the street they
posted lookout In January. 1858
10 learn the habits OF the police
mon and the bank Waterman. II
soon became clear they could not
enter from the street and get away
safely-they must get through a
floor or ceiling
In Marcn an insurance broker
named Kohier rented an office In
tho basement he was Shinburn's
brothcr.in.law.
AT this time" says white in his
confession. We notified the bank
ring IN the police department OF
our ento misc and ARRANGED for
tho neccs AIRY protection. STILL
THERE WERE HONEST POLICE
MEN EVEN IN THOSE DAYS
AND A REASONABLE MEASURE
OF SECRECY HAD TO he OBJ
SERVED"
On the night OF May %. Shinburn
and white began to cut through
the ceiling OF tho Insurance office
They got the plaster off and found
I'D inches OF rubble stone set in
cement
A weeks delay for the Job must
be done on SatuI day and Sunday
Painters working on the bank de
layed operations for four weeks
but at II o'clock on the night OF
Jhne q. 1868. Shinburn and White
began three hours OF hard work
that landed them In the bank ut
O'Clock on Sunday morning.
Tho first loot. n package OF 500,
900 In securities. they passed
through n window to n confederate
ms basis for negotiations In case
OF discovery while at work.
Loose plumber quickly filled o
/ satchell
The receiving tellers safe was
j. drilled and yie'1cd rich treasure!
Remained only the paying tcller'f
safe. with million or more In 1T
1 hut the thieves were too tired fol
more drilling, and II was too close
quarters to use their hydraulic