New Britain herald., 1930-10-21
With Aid of Own Keys and Tools, Hartford Avenue Man Laughs at Bolts That Refuse to Function for Others - Succeeded 
 Where Chapman Failed.

isn't lock, whether 1t be police cell. office safe or handcuff that he cannot open, quickly and without the use of explosives, elaborate tools or in any way damaging the lock. He can make a gun work, start speedometer percolating, turn out leather mail pouch or fix the plumbing in the kitchen sink. But his chief specially is unraveling the mysteries of good locks gone wrong. Recently the New Britain police had occasion to handcuff a young man who was a troublesome prison CT. He fought the police who ar rested him and strained and tugged at his handcuffs. When he was safe ly lodged in a cell, the officer in charge attempted to remove the steel bracelets But the struggles of the prisoner had twisted the hand cuffs 30 that the key would not func- tion. The handcuffs could not be opened. The prisoners wrists had begun to swell and it was impossi- ble because of this condition to either saw or file off the torturing handcuffs.
 Opened Handcufs
 Send for Statchen," ordered someone. MT. Statchen arrived, looked at the cuffs, inserted a tiny little instrument of his own manu- lecture and in less than minute the handcuffs were off, and the prison- CT relieved.
 A local chain store opened for business one morning this summer. A customer made a five cent pur- chase and proffered in exchange a $10 bill. But change could not be made. Something had gone wrong with the safe and it could not be opened. Change had not yet been distributed preparatory to the days business and every cash register in the store was empty.
 The man who sold the safe was called in. He and the store man. ager worked nearly all day. Finally he appealed to the police. Get Statchen" he was advised.
 A half hour later the safe was open.
 Succeeded Where Chapman Failed
 MT. Statchen was the man who opened the safe in the Davidson &. Leyenthal store. the attempted rob- bery of which resulted in the death of Patrolman James Skelly, for whom the notorious Gerald Chapman was hanged. Police removed the nitroglycerine from the holes drilled Tn the safe. and the Hartford ave- nue man proceeded to demonstrate that he knew a few tricks the ban dits had not learned.
 The safe at Carpenters hall re- fused to open one day, but suc- cumbed to the touch of the master hand when Statchen was called.
 A supply of gold teeth was remov. cd from the market temporarily when 8 dentist was unable to open his safe. Not even a dentists drill was needed when MT. Statchen ar. rived.
 Locked in a Bathroom
 Probably the most amusing ex. perience he has ever had, occurred when a man accidentally locked him. self in 2 bathroom and was unable to get out. A defective lock refused to budge when key was inserted His wife telephoned to the police The police telephoned to Statchen Statchen opened the door.
 Frequently he is called upon te unlock doors where persons acci dentally lock themselves in or out ot their homes. Ten minutes is the longest he has taken to open a from door lock.
 Keys broken inside of locks arc not even problem to the wizard 0, lcckery. Often the police call upoI him to unlock an automobile lief standing on the street, which mus be moved.
 Even c. c. l.. Locks
 Local factory heads, even in fac tories where they make locks, have called him in to open locks of theil own make, sometimes when key! have been lost. He says he can oper any kind of lock made, although modern bank vaults are something else. Safe deposit boxes in loca banks surrender when he is calle; upon to tell why & key will not work
 Naturally he gets many calls iron crooks. But he always plays safe ''If a man calls and wants a revolver fixed, l ask him If he has a pernli to carry one" he said to a reporter He shows me the permit, then tell him to come back again. Aft y he leaves I call the police. If h. is o. K., he gets the gun from me If he isn't o. K, he gets it frois the police. if he can&
 Strangers often call and ask hin must be known and recommendet by the police before they get th' key. No one gets a master key mad before the police first are asked t identify and vouch for the individua seeking 1t.
 He Fools the Crooks Recently an auto stopped in iron of his home. A man entered lat at night and said: "The safe in m place of business won't open, I nee, help. Will you open it for me?"
 Certainly" replied MT. Statcheu 'but first we will call at police head quarters and take a policeman along just SO nobody misunderstands us."
 The man left hurriedly. and witt his companions drove off.
 A hurry call from the police de partment one night recently COT veyed the information that a loca church had planned prayer meet ing. Members of the congregation were standing outdoors in a drench ing rain. The church door lock wa broken and they couldn't get in.
 Opens Church Door
 The work nf fhe chnrch xan da