CURIOSITIES OF CRIME.

Kumara Times, Issue 1098, 7 April 1880, Page 4

CURIOSITIES OF CRIME.

[from time.]

It has often happened that a very small matter gives the doe to the discovery of a crime. There is no more damning fact against a suspected person than the possession of a few small wedges of wood. This may seem strange at first sight. To own a “jemmy,” a life preserver, or a crucible for boiling down the precious metals might appear, upon the face of it, auspicious. But what harm can there be in wedges of wood three or four inches long? They are among the most trusted implements of the burglar’s stock-in-trade. One of them placed at the bottom of the door will close it far more effectually than any number of bolts and bars. Force from outside, however vigorously applied, only tightens tht wodge, and thus time is given to the nefarious workman within to make good his escape by the window. This was the rule in many of the recent portico robberies and West-end burglaries. The burglar entered the room, wedged the door, opened the window, and threw out a light ladder of ropes his ultimate means of retreat, and the began his depredations. If disturbed, the delay at the door was sufficient for him to effect his exit. Possession of two or three of these wedges betrayed the antecedents of a certain Mr Davis, otherwise “Sausage,” who was charged with complicity in the robbery of the Swiss mail. It was an extremely clever job, as the van was reached while the train was in motion. It was opened, bonds and papers of much value were abstracted, and before the next stoppage all looked, at least upon the surface, as sound as before. Every effort to get upon the track of the robbers was fruitless ; but later on, “Sausage,” in' the most undeniable “ get up,” was found to be in possession of certain of the bonds, which he was endeavoring to dispose of, and he was apprehended at Charing Cross. After committal, his baggage at a first-class hotel, was searched, and the wedges, together with an extremely neat and handy pocket crowbar, were found at the bottom of his portmanteau. This led to further inquiry, and a reference to the registers divulged Mr Davis’ previous career as an old convict. He was, however, in funds, and he appealed against his arrest, carrying the case into the Court of Queen’s Bench, where the judges, probably with some reluctance, acknowledged they had no j arisdiction, and Mr Sausage Davis was discharged. Another instance of detection through wedges may be described here. There had been a number of cleverly contrived iron safe robberies in certain large warehouses in Southwark, and the perpertrators had long escaped scotfree. The method of execution was in all cases probably precisely similar. Entrance cwas made by means of a false key, which is easy enough to make by the process known as “squeezing the lock.” This merely means the insertion of a skeleton key a thin sheet of wax. By moving the key gently from side to side, the impression of the ward is easily obtained, and after that it is all plain sailing. The warehouse entered, the thieves, with thick stockings drawn over their boots, proceeded at once to the countinghouse, wedged the door as already described, and attacked the safe. Slips of steel, increasing in size, were inserted by means of a hammer ingeniously contrived. It was a leaden hammer, and each end was covered with a thick layer of leather. The leather, saturated in water, entirely deadened the sound made by the hammer when struck. As soon as the aperture was large enough to admit a heavy crowbar—brought in several pieces to the scene of action by female accomplices under their shawls—strength and leverage were sufficient to prise open the safe. These saferobbers long eluded the police, but at length they were surprised at their work, and bad only just time to make off, leaving all their implements behind them. Among them were the wedges. Then followed the search of certain suspected houses, and in one were found two or three chairs from which the wedgeshaped ends had been recently sawn. The wedges picked up in the warehouse were obviously the ends of the chair ; they fitted exactly, and were of the same wood. By this means the robbers were detected and secured. Were it not for the possible inconveniences of owning such property, persons who travel much, and lodge in strange hotels, would do well to.carry one of these wedges wherever they may go. It is quite a mistake to suppose that locking or bolting will perfectly secure a bedroom door. A bolt an be shot back from outside by means of a knife or piece of wire ; the lock may be opened by a picklock or skeleton key. It is quite unsafe also to leave the key in' the lock inside. Hotel thieves make use of an ingenious contrivance like a small hand-vyce, which screws on the end of the key, visible outside, and which, when tighly fastened, easily makes the key revolve ih the lock.