The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-24
TORY OF WATSON, THE BURGLAR WHO CAME BACK


affords an interesting glimpse into the
operations of the criminal mind
ut was the queerest experience in |
my life" he says. There we were in
that big vault, my friend drilling away, |
and the two pals on the watch outside.
When the explosion came I didn't know
where was nor what | was, but when
the door fell off and | saw those big
bundles of yellowbacks, I said to my
self: You certainly have got where |
the goods are and this pays for a little
trouble"
This first big success confirmed Wat
son in the life Of a felon with which |
he had been flirting for several years.
Those were the days when Manhat-
tan island was the paradise of the
bank burglar. The CraCksmen prosecuted |
their enterprises under police protec-
ton. If it was New York bank,
all that was required of the burglar
was to make a safe escape from the inn
mediate vicinity and prompt division
Of the swag with the higher ups in
the Police Department. If it was an
out OF town bank they were safe the
minute they got within the police lines
of New York city, but it was well to
hurry the "divvy."
However. Watson the peter man
"A peter" is "a safc-pruved a ncrvy
individual and often operated without
protection and far from New York
city and at times under the very eyes
Of the outside police. on one of these
ventures he and four other desperate
men took $4,000 from a small bank
in pittsburg. one of the gang was
Sidney Grip, who died recently in a
Southern prison. Another was Big"
Ned Kelly, "A college graduate who is
now doing life in Auburn prison or
Dannemora.
The raid was such a daring one that
an immediate getaway was impossible.
So the five men took the swag to the
two furnished rooms in which they had
been living. OF course the front pages
of the morning papers fairly screcched
the story. Headquarters men swarmed
over the city and guarded every rail-
road station. "Flatties." one OF the
Contemptuous names of criminals for
policemen in uniform, were watching
every street car and every strange face
upon their beats.
The five men in the two rooms which
they rented from an unsuspecting dea-
con of a Congregational Church we're
held by their fears in a state of siege.
They used to match dollars to see who
would go for a basket Of sandwiches.
When one had ventured out the others
were in constant trepldation lest he
should not return. and after his return
trembled at every football upon the stairs
for fear the police were trailing him in
After four days they decided upon
break, each to travel by a separate route
Ia f,b
in New York city.
Watson selected for his point Of de-
parture a little railway station on the
outskirts of the city. He sauntered
down to 1t with his share Of the sl2, 900
in a small grip. The first man he saw
at the railroad station, and the last he
wanted to meet except a headquarters
man, was a policeman. Imagining, Of
course. that the officer was looking him
over very suspiciously, Watson tried to
appear unconscious as he approached
the ticket window to inquire for the
train. To his dismay he learned that
It was ten minutes late.
still feeling the policeman's eye Dor
ing into his back he decided that the
safest plan was to get chummy with
him. so turning about he dropped his
precious satchel carelessly on the ground
not six inches from the "fatty's" foot
and fell into conversation, explaining
that he was a theological student hurry
ing To the bedside Of his dying mother.
Tho policeman was properly svmna-
thetIc. Presently the conversation turned
upon general topics, and the bank rob-
berry being the paramount general topic
they were soon discussing IT,
Those must be very desperate men,"
observed the theological student awe
somely.
They are" admitted the policeman
Eravely. But" he affirmed with a con-
tidential air, I'VE are getting very near
EN-, We are close to the swag right
now"
Damned close to some Of it," sweated
the theological student in the soul of
him, while he did his best to appear
undisturbed.
Would that train never come?
When few minutes later ii did come
the policeman stopped and picked up
the grip. Watson's heart nearly leaped
out Of his mouth but he controlled him
self In a fatherly sort Of way the
officer escorted the theological student
to the car steps, handed him his bag
again and bade the young man SYM
pathetic farewell. Watson, etandng
upon the steps, lifted his hat graciously
10 the policeman and to every passing
telegraph pole until he was safely out
Of sight.
This incident is not related to reflect
upon the blindness of the polio, man,
but to illustrate the Negotiating manner
Of Watson.
But the day of the bank burglar was
going. New methods of vault building
and of bank protection, plus the grow
ing network of telegraph and telephone
wires, together with improved police
surveillance, were making successful
bank burging impossible Watson oc-
caS!onally went at a bank where con-
dItions seemed to warrant. but between
whites did some high class second story
work and encountered some adventures
too exciting to be pleasant
ON one such occasion at 3 o'clock in
the morning on the third floor of
house in Philadelphia, where he had
succeeded in filling his pockets with
diamonds, he was suddenly confronted
! by determined man who levelled a
revolver almost in his face. Watson
| a lF . f.l laNr L.