ROBBERY BY EXPLOSIVES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 289, 2 September 1919, Page 5

ROBBERY BY EXPLOSIVES

Long ago the use of high explosives | for breaking open safes and strong rooms j was brought to perfection in the United ] States, and the investigations of Mr. u;iam A, I'inkerton, the famous detective, revealed the plan of campaign generally adopted by the class of "ciacksman who has once agaiii laid the metropolis under tribute, as he did some years since at the Hippodrome (writes "H.J. j in the "Daily Mail"). j The experts who actually execute this kind of robbery seldom visit the sceno of operations beforehand, fearing subsequent identification. Instead, an innoccntH.ooking accomplice is sent out, whose duty is to find out the hours and habita of the night watchman, tho movements of tho police, tho "lie" of the ground, the best means' of elfecting an entry, and the b:?t line of escape. If possible, he ivil also ascertain the precise make of safe to be attacked. Tins information is conveyed to tho leader of the eang, who lays his plans accord-in.-rly. The skilled cracksman mate Ills own gelignite and carries it, if he is a careful man, in an indiarubber hot-water bottle; a carelcs? operator may carry it in an ordinary glass bottle. It is techlucully known as "the soup" or "the oil." ■ When the working gang arrives upon the scene "outsiders" aro posted as sentries, and the "inside" men, breaking ni, proceed to s'al up the cracks of the fili'o door with common washing soap, ,«, ; ll softened, leaving a slight aperture unsealed at the top of the door. Round this a aoap dam is built into which the -soup", is poured. Tho liquid quicKly liudb its way about tho cracks of the wife, and in a few moments it is ready fo bo exploded. This is done by means of a fuse and detonator. A single shot will sometimes demolish the door. If it does not, another charge is made. To pocket the contents of tho eafo is a matter of moments. A good motor-car tfill do the -rest. 4 , Comedy is mixed with tragedy in the long and lurid story of this form of crime. An American cracksman once projected a burglarious expedition but decided late at night to postpone it for a while because weather conditions wero unsuitublo. He therefore called at a public-house, whero he was known, and handed the barman a bottle of "medicine," asking for it to be put aside until his return. The barman carelessly tuckcd it away at the back of his cash-till. Now the cracksman was arrested on suspicion as lie left the bar, ami therefore could not muim his bottle. Next morning the landlord noticed the bottle and asked whoso it was. The moment he beard the owner's name he had a I Rhrewd idea what kind of "medicine" it was. Calling to an inoffensive lcafcf, the landlord handed him the bottle and asked him to take it away to the neighbouring lake nnd throw it in. But the morning was cold, and the loafer thinly clad. He was also tired, and the lake was a milo away. When ho lmd gons a hundred yards or so down the street he threw the bottle; against a wall. The explosion was terrific. It tore an iniiaenso lijole iri the wall and nearly wrecked the buildin# inßide. Returning t-> the l.'fir for something - to ft tie his nerves, the loafer explained that he had not been able to throw the bottle into the lake because there had been an earthquake in one of the streets ho passed through,