CURIOSITIES OF CRIME

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2217, 26 April 1880, Page 2

CURIOSITIES OF CRIME

It lias often happened that a very small matter gives the clue 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, suspicious. But what harm can there be in wedges of wood three or four inches long ? They are amongst the most trusted implements of the burglar’s stock-in-trade. One of them placed at the bottom of the door will close it more effectually than any number of bolts and bars. Force from outside, however vigorously applied, only tightens the wedge, and thus time is given to the nefarious workman to make good his escape by (lie window. This was the rule in man3 r of the recent portico robberies and western! 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 thou began his depredations. If disturbed, tlie delay at the door was sufiieient for him to effect his exit. Possession of two or three of the wedges betrayed the antecedents of a certain Mr Davis, pother-

wise “ 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 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 endeavouring 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 judge, probably with some reluctance, acknowledged they had no jurisdiction, 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 perpetrators had long escaped scot free. The method of execution was in all cases probably precisely similar. Entrance was 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, enclosing a thin sheet of wax. By moving the key gently from side to side, the impression of the wards is easily obtained, and after that all is plain sailing. The warehouse entered, the thieves, with thick stockings drawn over their boots, proceeded at once to the'counting-house, wedged the door as already described, and attacked the safe. Slips of steel, increasing in size, were inserted by means of a hammer ingeniousty 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 prize open the safe. These safe robbers long eluded the police, but at length they were surprised at their work, and had 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 Avodgc-shaped ends had been recently sawn. The Avcdgcs picked up in the Avarchousc Averc obviously the ends of the chair ; they fitted exactly, and Averc of the same Avood. By this means the robbers Avere detected and secured. Were it not for tlic possible inconveniences of OAvning such property, persons avlio travel much, and lodge in strange hotels, Avould do avcll to carry these Avcdgcs wherever they may go. It is quite a mistake to suppose that bolting Avill perfectly secure a bedroom door. A bolt can be shot back from outside by means of a knife or piece of Avirc, the lock may be opened by a picklock skeleton key. It is quite unsafe also to leave the key in the lock inside. Hotel thieA r es make use of an ingenious contrivance like a small band vice, which screws on to the end of the key, Ansible outside, and Avliicb, Avlicn tightly fastened easily makes the key revolve in the lock.—“ Times.”