Year: 1879

PATRoLMAN VAIL DISCOVERS THE OPERATIONS


OF GANG OF SAFE BREAKERS JUST IN THE


NICK OF TIME.


One Of the most cleverly planned burglaries at
tempted in this city for long time was frustrated
early yesterday morning. At about three o'clock
Patroman oliver VAIL Of the Fourth precinct. was
going the rounds Of his post. which extends from
Fulton to Roosevelt street and embraces Front and
South streets. Pausing at South and Roosevelt
streets he noticed man standing in the doorway Of
saloon occupied by Fisher Hedeman at No. IT'S
South street. 1t raining very hard and the man
held umbrella his head, entirely concealing
kis face. AS the officer pair Of rubber boots
the man did hear him as he approached. but
suddenly becoming aware of his presence he made
sudden bound, started run down South
street. closely pursued by Vail. The fugitive
very swift runner and soon distsnced the police
man. who. being encumbered by his heavy boots.
gave up the chase in disgust. He Immediately
turned to the saloon in front Of which the had
been standing and peered in. The gas was burning
brightly and the officer saw mans head dive down
behind safe which stood inside of window
the Roosevelt street side There four doors to
the saloon. two Roosevelt and two on South
street. Vail tried them and found them
all secure. He puzzled for mo-
ment and returned to tho corner, which
commands . view OF both streets. As he stood
there he the man leave his place of concealment
behind the safe and run in u STOPPING position
through door leading to restaurant connected
with the saloon. he had hardly disappeared before
another man from the same place into the
restaurant The officer guessing that the men would
attempt to escape by the door OF No. 174 South
street. covered that point, but was disappointed.
He then raped for assistance and q window was


~,
inquired what the trouble was. On being informed
that burglars were in the house he awakened Mr..
Henry Hedeman. OF the proprietors OF the
saloon. who came down stairs with the keys and
opened the doors.


In the meantime Vail had been joined by Police
men Courtlander and Gardiner The party entered
the saloon and surprised to find two safes. Ex-
animation showed. however, that one was dummy,
made Of muslin stretched on wooden frame. This
occupied the place at the window where the genuine
safe originally stood. while the latter had been
dragged distance of about five feet. The dummy
was painted like the original and was 50 constructed
that it could be folded up into u very small space
The officers went into the dining room aud there
found set of burglars tools. consisting OF COM
bnation Jimmy" safe pulier, IN three pieces;
a new carpenters auger and two steel safe
drills The door OF the room led through
a closet into the yard. The door was found wide
open. 1t had been secured the night before by two
bolts-one at the top and one ut the bottom A
hole had been cut with the aid OF an augur beside
each of the bolts. so that they could nave been
withdrawn with ease. The work done with
skill. In the yard against the fence q butter tub
found. bottom upward. on which ladder
rested The burglars had evidently escaped into tho
OF the tenement houses Nos. 2S7 and 2Sy Front
street. The officers searched ali the yards and
houses in the block, but with little result. In an
unoccupied attic room in of the Front street
tenement houses they discovered signs of something
having been concealed under ledge. The plaster
had been scraped from the wall in drawing out the
object and OF lime dust were found ON the
safe dummy 1t is supposed that this room was used
for storing purposes.


CLEVER jon.


Officer Vail describes the fellow whom he chased
as of tall and medium build with heavy black
mustache, very thick and bushy at the ends. De-
tectivc Kerns was at once put OH the case by Cap
tain lyman. After examining the work of the
burglars he IL Of the cleverest jobs
ever attempted in New York. The kit of tools was
of the most costly kind. each of the drills being
worth $40. The auger was brand new. and on the
handle the detective discovered several pencil marks
which may lead to the identification OF the
burglars 1t is thought by the police that
the thieves intended to drag the safe into
the adjoining dining room, ana thcn. free from
force it open and secure its contents.
Mr.. Hedeman opened the safe and found nothing
disturbed 1t contained about S4O0 in cash besides
diamonds and valuables worth $1,000 Tho cash
drawer behind the bar contained 81 80, and none or
the liquors cigars were missing. Captain lyman
says the work done bv professional cracks
men great experience. and his surprise is great
that they should have selected such u small prize
for their operations.