London Labour and the London Poor, extra volume
Mayhew, Henry
1851
Housebreakers and Burglars.
THE expert burglar is generally, very ingenious in his devices, and combines manual dexterity with courage. In his own sphere the burglar in manual adroitness equals the accomplished pickpocket, while in personal daring he rivals our modern ruffians of the highway, who perpetrate garotte robberies, or plunder their victims with open violence. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Many of our London burglars have been trained from their boyhood. Some are the children of convicted thieves; some have for a time lived as sneaks, committing petty felonies when residing in low lodginghouses; others are the children of honest parents, mechanics and tradesmen, led into bad company, and driven into criminal courses. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In treating of sneaks we alluded to the area-sneak, and lobby-sneak, watching a favourable opportunity and darting into the kitchen and pantry, and sometimes entering the apartments on the floor and stealing the plate. We alluded to the lead-stealer finding his way to the housetop, and to the attic-thief adroitly slipping downstairs to the apartments below, and carrying away valuables, jewellery, plate, and money. Here we see the points of transition, from the petty felon to the daring midnight robber plundering with violence. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We shall in the outset offer a few general remarks on the manner in which housebreaking and burglaries are effected in London, and then proceed to a more detailed account of the various modes pursued in the different districts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
is accomplished in various ways, such as picking the locks with skeleton keys; inserting a thin instrument between the sashes and undoing the catch of the windows, which enables the thieves to lift up the under sash; getting over the walls at the back, and breaking open a door or window which is out of sight of the street, or other public place; lifting the cellar-flap or area-grating; getting into an empty house next door, or a few doors off, and passing from the roof to that of the house they intend to rob; entering by an atticwindow, or trap-door, and if there are neither window nor door on the roof, taking off some of the tiles and entering the house. Sometimes the thieves will make an entry through a brick wall in an adjoining building, or climb the waterspout to get in at the window. These are the general modes of breaking into houses. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sometimes when doors are fastened with a padlock outside, and no other lock on the door, thieves will get a padlock as near like it as possible. They will then break off the proper lock, of them will enter the house, and an accomplice will put on a lock as like it as possible to deceive the police, while or more inside will meantime pack up the goods. Sometimes a well-dressed thief waylays a servant-girl going out on errands in the evening, professes to fall in love with her, and gets into her confidence, till she perhaps admits him into the house when her master and mistress are out. Having confidence in him she shows him over the house, and informs him where the valuables are kept. If the house is well secured, so that there will be difficulty of breaking in by night, he manages to get an accomplice inside to secrete himself till the family has gone to bed, when he admits or more of his companions into the house. They pack up all they can lay hold of, such as valuables and jewels. On such occasions there is generally on the outlook outside, who follows the policeman unobserved, and gives the signal to the parties inside when it is safe to come out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In warehouses of the thieves frequently slips in at closing-time, when only a few servants are left behind, and are busy shutting up. He secretes himself behind goods in the warehouse, and when all have retired for the night, and the door locked, he opens it and lets in his companions to pack up the booty. Should it consist of heavy goods, they generally have a cart to take it away. They are sometimes afraid to engage a cabman unless | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
335 | they can get him to connive at the theft, and, besides, the number of the cab can be taken. They get the goods away in the following manner. If consisting of bulky articles, such as cloth, silks, &c., they fill large bags, similar to sacks, and get as much as they think the cart can conveniently hold, placed near the door. When the policeman has passed by on his round, the watch stationed outside gives the signal; the door is opened, the cart drives up, and or sacks are handed into it by thieves in about a minute, when the vehicle retires. It is loaded and goes off sooner than a gentleman would take his carpet-bag and portmanteau into a cab when going to a railway-station. The cart proceeds with the driver in way, while the thieves walk off in a different direction. They close the outer door after them when they enter a shop or warehouse, most of which have spring locks. When the policeman comes round on his beat he finds the door shut, and there is nothing to excite his suspicion. The cart is never seen loitering at the door above a couple of minutes, and does not make its appearance on the spot till the robbery is about to be committed, when the signal is given. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lighter goods, such as jewellery, or goods of less bulk, are generally taken away in carpet bags in time to catch an early train, often about or o'clock, and the robbers being respectably-dressed, and in a neighbourhood where they are not known, pass on in most cases unmolested. Sometimes they pack up the goods in hampers, as if they were going off to some railway-station. When there is no sleeping on the premises, and when they have come to learn where the party lives who keeps the keys, they watch him home at night after locking up, and set a watch on his house, that their confederates may not be disturbed when rifling the premises. If they are to remove the goods in the morning they do it about an hour before the warehouse is usually opened, so that the neighbours are taken off their guard, supposing the premises are opened a little earlier than usual in consequence of being busy. Sometimes they stand and see the goods taken out, and pay no particular attention to it. In the event of the person who keeps the keys coming up sooner than usual, the man keeping watch hastens forward and gives the signal to his companions, if they have not left the warehouse. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It often happens when they have got an entry into a house, they have to break their way into the apartments in the interior to reach the desired booty, such as wrenching open an inner door with a small crowbar they term a jemmy, cutting a panel out of a door, or a partition, with a cutter similar to a centrebit, which works with or knives; this is done very adroitly in a short space of time, and with very little noise. At other times, when on the floor above, they cut through or more boards in the flooring, and frequently cut panes of glass in the windows with a knife or awl. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They get information as to the property in warehouses from porters and others unwittingly by leading them into conversation regarding the goods on the premises, the silks they have got, &c., and find out the part of the premises where they are to be found. Sometimes they go in to inspect them on the pretence of looking at some articles of merchandise. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It occasionally happens servants are in league with thieves, and give them information as to the hour when to come, and the easiest way to break in. Sometimes servants basely admit the thieves into the premises to steal, and give them impressions of the keys, which enables them to make other keys to enter the house. Thieves sometimes take a blank key without wards, cover it with wax, work it in the keyhole against the wards of the lock, and by that means the impression is left in the wax. They then take it home and make a similar key. When looking into the lock they frequently strike a match on the doorway, and pretend to be lighting a pipe or cigar, which prevents passers by suspecting their object. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These are the general modes of housebreaking and burglary over the metropolis, but in order that we may have a more vivid and thorough conception of the subject, we shall give a more graphic detail of these felonies. We shall advert to breaking into shops and warehouses, and then proceed to describe burglaries in various parts of the metropolis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It frequently occurs that a thief enters a warehouse, or large shop, and secretes himself behind some goods, or in the cellar, or up the chimney. This could be done at any hour of the day, but is frequently managed when the servants or shopmen are out dining at mid-day, or towards evening, when the places of business are about to be closed. The thief may be respectably dressed, or not, according to the nature of the place of business. A person may call with some fictitious message, and keep or more of the servants or shopmen in conversation while a confederate could meantime slip into the shop or | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
336 | warehouse, and if detected would seldom be suspected of being connected with this party. They sometimes hover for days in the neighbourhood of shops and warehouses they intend to plunder, and watch the most favourable opportunity to effect this object. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Towards evening when the servants are all gone, and the place of business closed, the rest of his companions come to the spot, consisting of or more men, a woman being occasionally employed. While they are aware that of their gang is secreted on the premises, as a precaution they sometimes knock at the door or ring the bell to ascertain if the servants or shopmen are gone. Should they be lingering in the premises, arranging the goods, engaged with their business-books, accounts, or otherwise, they ask for Mr. Soand- so, or have some other fictitious message. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On the departure of the people belonging to the shop, the thief inside generally opens the door to his companions on the given signal, when they proceed to rifle the premises of Manchester goods, cottons, silks, shawls, satins, or otherwise, and to store them into large bags they bring with them, which they place beside the door, when filled, to be conveniently carried away. They wrench open the desks, moneydrawers, and other lockfasts with a jemmy, chisel, or screw-driver, as well as any doors which may be locked, occasionally using the cutter and saw, or other tools, and pierce through brick and other partition walls with an auger or other instrument. In many cases the doors of the apartments in warehouses are left open so that the thief has free access to the property. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meantime a man or woman is watching outside while the thieves are busy plundering within, keeping a special look-out for the policeman proceeding on his beat. They have many ingenious expedients to decoy him away, by conversation or otherwise. The policeman is generally from to minutes in going round his beat, so that they have ample time to carry off the booty. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
While the thieves are busy collecting their spoil, the door is shut with a spring lock, or fastened with a padlock by means of a key they may have made for the purpose, so that the policeman has no suspicion of what is passing within. The former frequently remain for several hours on the premises, while a person outside is keeping watch, waiting to hear their signal when they have got the booty packed and ready. Should the coast be clear outside, notice is conveyed to the cart or cab, loiter- ing somewhere in the vicinity, or which drives up at a certain hour, when the door opens. The plunder is quickly handed into the vehicle, which drives smartly away. The door is then shut, and the robbers walk off, possibly in a different direction to that in which the conveyance is gone. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burglaries from are frequently effected by means of skeleton keys, or otherwise, by or more men. A woman often carries the tools to the shop, and keeps watch. So soon as a favourable opportunity occurs they unlock the door and enter the premises, while a man or woman watches outside, the woman perhaps walking along the street as though she were a common prostitute, or familiarly accosting the policeman or other persons she meets, and decoying them away from the shop. In some cases, when she has not succeeded in getting the policeman away, she pretends to fall down in a fit, when he has possibly to take her to the nearest surgeon. Sometimes the woman feigns to be drunk, and is taken to the police station, which takes him off his beat. In the meanwhile the parties inside, with jemmy, chisel, saw, or other tools, and with silent lights and taper or dark lantern, break open the glass cases and boxes, and steal gold and silver watches, gold chains, brooches, pins, and other jewellery, which they deposit in a small carpet-bag, as well as rifle money from the desk. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jewellers' shops are sometimes entered by the thief getting into an unoccupied house next door, or or houses off, and proceeding along the roofs to the attic or roof of the house to be robbed, and going in by the attic window, or removing a few of the slates. The thieves then go downstairs and cut their way through the door or partition, and effect an entry into the shop. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most of the robberies in jewellers' shops have of late years been committed by means of false keys, or by cutting out a hole in the door or shutter with a cutter, which is done in a short space of time, and when the instrument is moistened it makes very little noise. This hole is covered with a piece of paper painted of the same colour as the door, and is pasted on, which prevents the police having any suspicion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sometimes jewellers' shops are entered by persons lodging in the floor above, or having access to it, and then cutting through the flooring and descending into the jeweller's shop by means of a ropeladder they attach to the floor. At other times they are entered by cutting through the solid brick wall at the back of the shop. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Several years ago a very remarkable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
337 | burglary took place at Mr. Acutt's large linen-drapery establishment in the . About o'clock in the morning the policeman on duty heard a man give the signal at a shop-door. The constable believing thieves to be on the premises sprung his rattle, roused up the inmates, and got the assistance of several other constables. When they entered the shop they found upwards of worth of silks and satins, and other valuables packed up in bundles ready to be carried off. They found thieves who had gained an entrance by getting over some closets, scaling a wall by means of the rain-spout, and walking along a high wall about inches thick. They then removed the skylight at the back, and let themselves down into the shop by a rope-ladder. By this means they got into the shop of Mr. Acutt. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On being scared by the police they jumped from house to another, feet apart, over a height of about feet, and there concealed themselves behind a stack of chimneys. Several policeman mounted to the roofs, but could not find them; and no would venture to leap to the adjoining houses, whither the thieves had gone. An inspector of police ordered men in plain clothes to be on the watch, believing they must be concealed somewhere on the housetops. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
About o'clock in the morning a man of the name of Fitzgerald was out in a back court of an adjoining house washing himself, when the thieves came down by a spout feet long communicating with the water cistern. On getting down of them jumped on the back of Fitzgerald. He shouted out "murder and police," when constables came up and took both of the thieves into custody. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On the trial it was said the prisoners' women had given several pounds to bribe this man, and he pretended he could not identify them, and they were acquitted. They have since been transported for other burglaries. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
of them was a man of years of age, about feet inches high, slim made, with a most daring countenance. The other was of middle stature, about years of age, with pleasing appearance. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Another burglary took place in a silk warehouse in in . The burglars were admitted into an adjoining carpet warehouse by of the warehousemen on a Saturday night, and broke through a brick-wall or inches thick, and made an entry into the silk warehouse. They did not steal any carpets, as they were too bulky. Goods were seen to be taken away by a cab on the Sunday afternoon. The padlock was meantime secure on the outdoor, so that the police had no suspicion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The robbery was discovered on the Monday morning, when it was found from to had been carried off, and that a bank note had also been taken from the desk of the carpet warehouse. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soon after the foreman of the latter business establishment absconded, and has not since been heard of, and there is strong suspicion he had connived with the burglars.
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We shall now treat of the in the metropolis, commencing with the lower, and proceeding to notice the higher burglars, termed the "cracksmen." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burglaries in the working districts of the metropolis are effected in various ways—by man mounting the shoulders of another and getting into a -floor window, similar to acrobats, by climbing over walls leading to the rear of premises, cutting or breaking a pane of glass, and then unfastening the catch; or by pushing back the catch of the window with a sharp instrument, or by cutting a panel of a door with a sharp tool, such as an American "auger." Frequently they force the lock of the door with a jemmy. The lower class of burglars who have not proper tools sometimes use a screw-driver instead of a jemmy. In the forcing of the locks of drawers or boxes, in search of property, they use a small chisel with a fine edge, and occasionally an old knife. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There are frequently persons employed in these burglaries— to enter a house, and to keep watch outside, to see that there is no person passing likely to detect. This man is generally termed a "crow." Sometimes a woman, called a "canary," carries the tools, and watches outside. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These low burglars carry off a booty of such small value that they are necessi- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
338 | tated frequently to commit depredations. They steal male and female wearing apparel, and small articles of plate or jewellery, such as teaspoons or a watch. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They are from years of age and upwards, and reside in the Borough, Whitechapel, St. Giles, , and other low localities. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There is another kind of burglary committed by persons concealing themselves on the premises, which is often done in public-houses. The parties enter before the house is closed, by concealing themselves in the coal-cellar, skittle-ground, or other place where they are unobserved by those in charge of the house. These burglaries are done by low people, with whose previous mode of living the police are generally not acquainted. Very frequently they steal cigars, money in the till or on the shelves of the bar, left to give change to customers in the morning. There is another mode of entering public-houses, by the cellar flaps from the pavement in front of the house, or by going through the fanlight, and stealing property as before described, and returning the same way, sometimes letting themselves out by the front door, which has often a spring lock. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These burglaries are generally done at midnight, or between and o'clock. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There is a higher class of burglaries committed at fashionable residences over the metropolis, and at the mansions of the gentry and nobility, many of them in the West-end districts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The houses to be robbed are carefully watched for several weeks, sometimes for months, before the burglary is attempted. The thieves take great precautions in such cases. They glean information secretly as to the inmates of the house; where they sleep, and where valuable property is kept. Sometimes this is done by watching the lights over the house for successive nights. These burglaries are often "put up" by the persons who execute them. They frequently get some of their more engaging companions to court of the servant girls, give her small presents, and gain her favour, with the ultimate object of gaining access to the house and plundering it. At other times, though more rarely, they endeavour to become acquainted with the male servants of the house—the butler, valet, coachman, or groom. Sometimes they try to learn from the servants through other parties becoming acquainted with them, if they cannot succeed themselves. At other times they gather information from tradesmen who are called to the house on jobbing work, such as painters, plumbers, glaziers, bell-hangers, tinsmiths, and others, some of whom live near the burglars in low neighbourhoods, or are frequently to be seen in the evenings in their company. We can point our finger at of these base wretches. of them lives in Whitefriars, , another in Tottenhamcourt Road, and a in Newell Street, , . These persons get up many of the burglaries in the West-end and other parts of the metropolis, where they have work to do, when they find a suitable place. Some of them have put up burglaries for or years, and none of them have been detected, though suspected by the police. They never have a hand in the burglaries themselves, but secure a part of the booty. These "putters up" are from to years of age, and of them has been convicted of a felony. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If the burglars cannot enter by the back of the premises, they go to the -floor window in front, where there are no shutters. It matters not whether it be public or not; they will enter in a couple of minutes the premises by cutting the glass and undoing the catch. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The dwelling-houses in the West-end have often been entered by the -floor window; and servants have many times been wrongfully charged with these burglaries, and lost their places in consequence. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burglars generally leave their haunts to plunder about o'clock at midnight, often driving up in a cab to a short distance from the spot where the burglary is to be attempted; but they frequently do not enter the house till or in the morning. In general, they take some liquor, such as gin and brandy, to keep up their spirits, as they call it. The who is to watch outside generally takes up his position , and the others follow. This is arranged so that the persons who enter —generally , sometimes —should not be seen by the policeman or others near the house. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When the latter come up, and find their companion at his post, and see the coast clear, they instantly proceed to enter the house, in front or behind, by the door or windows. Expert burglars go separate, to avoid suspicion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On entering the house, they go about the work very cautiously and quietly, taking off their shoes, some walking in their stockings, and others with India-rubber overalls. If disturbed they very seldom leave their shoes or boots behind them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Their chief object is to get plate, jewellery, cash, and other valuables. The drawing- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
339 | room is usually on the -floor in front; sometimes the whole of the -floor is a drawing-room. They often find valuables in the drawing-room. They search parlour, kitchen, and pantry, and even open the servant's workbox for her small savings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When they cannot get enough jewellery and plate they carry off wearing apparel. They often take money in the drawingroom from writing-desks and ladies workboxes. Experienced burglars do not spare time and trouble to look well for their plunder. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This is the general course adopted on entering a dwelling-house. In entering a shop, if they can find sufficient money to satisfy them, they do not carry off bulky property, but if there is no money in the desk or tills they rifle the goods, if they are of value. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In West-end robberies there are often good cracksmen, to keep watch outside, while another is busy at his work of plunder within. The person outside has to be on the alert, as he has generally to keep watch over an experienced officer, and to let his companions know when it is safe for them to work or to come out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When a catch is in the centre of the window it is opened with a knife. If there should be on each side they will cut a pane of glass in less than seconds, and undo them. The burglars seldom think of carrying a diamond with them, but generally cut the glass with a knife, as the starglazers do. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The shutters behind the window frame are often cut with what the burglars term a cutter. It cuts with knives, with a centrebit stock, and makes a hole sufficiently large to admit the burglar's arm. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When the shutters are opened there are often iron bars to guard the window. The burglars tie a piece of strong cord or rope about of the bars, and insert a piece of wood about a foot in length between this rope, and twist the wood. The bar is thereby bent sufficient to allow them to eater, or it gives way in the socket. These bars are sometimes forced asunder by a small instrument called a jack, by which a worm worked by a small handle displaces them. The rope and stick are used when they have not a jack. The latter can be conveniently carried in the trousers pocket. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Woodwork, such as shutters, doors, and partitions, is often cut in late years with the cutter, instead of the jemmy, as the former is a more effective tool, and makes an opening more expeditiously. With this instrument a door or shutter can be pierced sufficiently large to admit the arm in a few minutes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A brick wall requires more time. If there are no persons within hearing, an opening can be made sufficiently large for a man to pass through, in an hour. If there are people near the apartment, it requires to be more softly done, and frequently occupies or hours, even when done by an expert burglar. They generally pierce brick with an auger, and displace it; after the brick is out, they work with a jemmy, and take the mortar out, then pierce a brick on the other side of the wall. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burglars cannot pick Chubb's patent locks. The best way to secure premises where no person sleeps is to have a good patent lock on the outer door, with an iron bar outside fastened by a patent Chubb lock. This acts with double safety. If they break it off on the outside, the policeman easily detects it when he comes round on his beat, which he is sure to do before they have got the other lock opened, and this prevents them getting in that way. If they break in from the roof, or from the back, by cutting round the lock of an inside door, they do not get the outside door opened, and cannot get away any bulky goods. By this means the warehouse is more safe than if it were fastened any other way. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common locks on doors are so easily picked by thieves that no warehouse ought to be left fastened in this way, unless there is a watchman over it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Some cracksmen have what is called a petter-cutter, that is, a cutter for iron safes; an instrument made similar to a centrebit, in wich drills are fixed. They fasten this into the keyhole by a screw with a strong pressure outside. The turning part is so fixed that the drills cut a piece out over the keyhole sufficiently large to get to the wards of the lock. They then pull the bolt of the lock back and open the door. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chubb's locks on iron safes are now made drill proof, so that they cannot be pierced. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Any person sleeping in a room, with valuable property in his possession, ought to have a chain on the door, like a streetdoor chain, as the common locks are so easily picked, and the masked thief, with dark lantern, can creep into the room without being heard. The rattling of the chain is sure to awaken the person sleeping. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expert burglars are generally equipped with good tools. They have a jemmy, a cutter, a dozen of betties, better known as picklocks, a jack to remove iron bars, a | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
340 | dark lantern or a taper and some silent lights, and a life-preserver, and sometimes have a cord or rope with them, which can be easily converted into a rope ladder. A knife is often used in place of a chisel for opening locks, drawers, or desks. They often carry masks on their face, so that they might not be identified. The dark lantern is very small, with oil and cotton wick, and sometimes only shows a light about the size of a shilling, so that the reflection is not seen on the street without. Burglars often use the jemmy in place of picklocks. When they go out with their tools, they usually carry them wrapped up with list, so that they can throw them away without making a noise, should a policeman stop them, or attempt to arrest them. These are easily carried in the coat pocket, as they are not bulky. There are parties— sometimes old convicts—who lend tools out on hire. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When discovered by the inmates they are generally disposed to make their escape rather than to fight, and try to avoid violence unless hotly pursued. If driven to extremity, they are ready to use the lifepreserver, jemmy, or other weapon. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sometimes they carry a life-preserver of a peculiar style, consisting of a small ball attached to a piece of gut, that fastens round the wrist. With this instrument, easily carried in the palm of the hand, they can strike the persons who oppose them senseless, and severely injure them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In going up and down stairs, they often creep up not in the centre but the side of the stair, to avoid being heard, as it is apt to creak beneath the footstep, and they generally take off their shoes to move more stealthily along. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They often use the cutter to make an opening in the middle of the panel sufficiently large to admit the arm, to undo locks or bolts they cannot reach outside. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sometimes when the key is inside, and the door locked, they open it with a small pair of plyers; others use a long piece of wire, with a hoop put through the keyhole to lay hold of the bowl of the key. When the hook is fastened in it, they can as easily undo the lock as if they turned the key from the inside. Some burglars prefer the wire, others use the plyers. They generally prefer the cutter to the centre-bit in removing any woodwork. It resembles the centre-bit, but takes a much larger piece out, and does so more speedily. The cutter costs from to In the absence of a cutter, they sometimes work with a couple of gimlets and a knife, but this requires more time and makes more noise, though not sufficient to disturb the inmates of the house, if used expertly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At the back of the house they enter through the kitchen window on the basement, or by the parlour window above it on the floor, or by the window of the staircase alongside of the latter. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If experienced burglars, they listen at the doors of the apartments, and know by the breathing in general if the inmates are sound asleep. They sometimes begin their operations by going up to the highest floor, and work their way down, carrying off the plunder. After having finished what they call their work, they await the signal from the "watch" set outside. These signals are sometimes given by or more coughs; some give a whistle, or sing a certain song, or tap on the door or shutter, or make a particular cry, understood between the parties. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Should the plunder be bulky, they will have a cart or a cab, or a costermonger's barrow, ready on a given signal to carry it away. They in general wait for the time when the police are changed, if the inmates are not getting up, sometimes coming out at the front door, but oftener at the back. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A remarkable case of burglary was committed in a dwelling-house in a fashionable square in the West-end about months ago, and was effected in this manner. day a well-dressed young man passed by an area and took special notice of the cook, who happened to be looking out of the window. Another day the same young man in passing by accosted this servant, and made an appointment to meet her on a certain occasion to go out to walk. This correspondence lasted for a short time, when the young man was invited to tea at the house, to spend a social evening. He was accompanied by a "pal" of his, a young Frenchman, who courted the housemaid, while the other made love to the cook. During their visit to the house, the family being then absent, of the young men pretended to be very unwell, and thought a walk in the garden at the back of the house would be beneficial to him, and was accompanied there by of the servant girls. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile the housemaid and her friend had adjourned to of the upper rooms. It was proposed by the Frenchman that his lady-love should partake of some gin or brandy as refreshment, to which she consented. He went out for the purpose of purchasing it, while she went down stairs to the kitchen. On his going out he left the front-door open, by which of his | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
341 | confederates, a party, entered the house, and passed upstairs, broke open several lockfasts, and stole the whole of the plate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Frenchman, meanwhile, returned with the liquor, and went downstairs to the kitchen, where he made merry with his fair lady and her companions. When they were seated regaling themselves over this liquor the door-bell rang. of the girls went to the door and found no person there. This was a signal agreed on between the thieves. of the young men still pretending to feel unwell proposed to go home with his companion, promising to call on a future occasion, when they would be able to spend a more comfortable evening than they had done on account of his illness. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
of the servants, on going upstairs after their departure, found the plate stolen. Information was given to the police, when these agreeable young men and their unknown friend were found to belong to a gang of most expert thieves. They were tried at Sessions for this offence, and sentenced to years' penal servitude. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
About eighteen months ago, desperate burglars attempted to enter a fashionable dwelling-house at Westbourne Park, Paddington, belonging to a merchant in the City. of them was a tall, raw-boned, muscular man, of about years of age, dressed in a blue frock-coat, dark cord trousers, black vest and beaver hat. The other was a man of years of age, short and stout, nearly similarly attired. The had the appearance of a blacksmith, with a determined countenance; the other had a more pleasing aspect, yet resolute. They were armed with a long chisel and heavy crowbar. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They got over several walls, and came up along the back to this dwelling-house in the centre of these villas, situated on the edge of the Great Western Railway. On reaching the garden they went direct to the window of the dining-room on the groundfloor. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As there had been several burglaries committed in the neighbourhood of those villas about this time, an experienced and able detective officer was sent out to watch. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
While the detective, a tall, powerful, resolute man, was sitting alone in the dusk under a tree in an adjoining garden, and another criminal officer was stationed a short distance off, at about o'clock in the morning the former officer heard the shutters crash in the windows of an adjoining house nearly in front of where he stood. The burglars had approached so softly he did not hear their footsteps, and was not aware of their presence till then. On hearing this noise he drew close to the house, and was seen by of the thieves—the shortest called Jack. The detective officer immediately sprung his rattle, rushed on this man and seized him. His companion on this ran from the end of the house and struck the officer across the back with a heavy crowbar. By a sudden movement of his body the latter partially avoided the force of the blow. Had it struck him on the head it would have killed him on the spot; and being a strong muscular man he knocked the shorter man down with a heavy walking-stick he had in his hand, and at the same time rushed on his taller companion, seized him by the throat, and endeavoured to wrench the iron bar from his grasp. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The other burglar had meantime made his escape into an adjoining garden, and was captured, after a desperate struggle, by the other criminal officer, who had come up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
During the scuffle between the officers and burglars the proprietor of the house, in a panic, threw up his bedroom window looking into the garden at the back of the house, and, without giving any call, fired off a pistol. He did this to alarm the neighbourhood, not being aware that the officers were so near him, and supposing that the burglars were in his house. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The other burglar was secured after a determined struggle, and both were with difficulty conveyed to the Marylebone police station by strong officers. They were next day taken before the magistrates, and charged with attempting to enter this house, and with assaulting the officers in the execution of their duty. They were sentenced to months each in Clerkenwell prison, with hard labour for the former offence, and with a similar punishment for the latter. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
About years ago a burglary was committed in , , Paddington, opposite the Cleveland Arms, by men and a woman. of the men was about years of age, an old desperate burglar, who had been twice transported, and was then on ticket-of-leave. Shortly before, he had been apprehended in St. George's burying-ground, at the rear of some houses in the , with a screw-driver, jemmy, and dark lantern, when he was sentenced to months' imprisonment as a rogue and vagabond. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He was a stout man, with very bushy whiskers, of a coarse appearance. The | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
342 | other was a young man about , dressed as a mechanic, of a cheerful countenance, with brown hair and moustache. The woman was about years of age, short and stout, with an engaging appearance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
During the night, they had forced open an iron grating in front of a house in , Paddington, and had let themselves down into the area. They bored holes with a centre-bit in the door of the house, then cut the panel, and put their arm through, and undoing the fastening of the door, got into the kitchen. From this they went up to a door leading to the staircase, which was locked. They cut several holes with the centre-bit, and made an opening in this door in like manner. They then went upstairs to the -floor, and stole a quantity of wearing apparel, and some jewellery, such as rings, studs, &c., and also a watch. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The inmates were sleeping at the top of the house, and had not been disturbed by these operations. The property rifled amounted to about | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
of the burglars left his hat behind him and a pair of old boots. The detective officer sent after them knew the hat to belong to this old-returned convict; went to and arrested both the men, who happened to be together, and found part of the wearing apparel upon them. The remaining part of the property was traced as having been pledged by the woman, who was also apprehended. They were committed for trial for the burglary, and tried at the . The old man being an inveterate offender was sentenced to years' penal servitude; the others, who had been previously convicted, to years'; and the girl to months' imprisonment. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the month of , a burglary was committed by men in the Regent's Park, which attracted considerable attention. of them, named William Dyson, called the Galloway Doctor, was feet inches high, pockpitted, with pale face and red whiskers, and about thirtytwo years of age; James Mahon, alias Holmsdale, feet inches high, was robust in form, and aged years; John Mitchell was feet inches high, stout made, with a pug nose, and aged years. They entered the house of Mr. Alford, an American merchant, in Regent's Park, at o'clock in the morning. They climbed over a back wall into the garden, and got in through a back parlour window by pushing back the catch with a knife. They then forced the shutters open with a jemmy, got into the back-parlour where the butler was lying asleep, and unlocked the door to go through the house, as it was known that Mr. Alford was very wealthy. When they got on the staircase of their feet slipped, which awoke the butler, who jumped up, and seized Dyson and Mahon, and wrestled with them, at the same time alarming the other inmates of the house. He was knocked down by a blow from a life-preserver, on which the burglars made their escape by jumping out of the backparlour window again. The butler, on getting up, seized his fowling-piece, which lay loaded beside him, and told them as they were running away to stop, or he would fire upon them. He fired, and shot Mitchell in the back near the shoulder with goose shot, as he was getting over a back wall to make his escape. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The police, on hearing the report of the gun, came up and secured Holmsdale and Dyson in the garden, when they were taken to Marylebone police office. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soon after an anonymous letter was sent to the police-station of the M division stating there was a man in , , lying in bed in a certain house, who had been shot in the back when attempting a burglary in Regent's Park. He had on a woman's nightcap and nightgown, so that if any went into the room they would fancy him to be a female. Inspector Berry of the M division went to the above house, and found Mitchell in bed in female disguise. He was taken into custody, and made to dress in his own clothes. On examining them there were holes in his fustian frock-coat where the shot had passed through. He was taken to Marylebone police court and put alongside the other prisoners, and identified as having been seen in the neighbourhood of the Regent's Park on the morning before the burglary was committed. He had been seen by the police to leave a notorious public-house frequented by burglars, at the Old Mint in the Borough. They were committed at the Central Criminal Court, tried on , convicted, and sentenced to be transported for life. Holmsdale having been previously transported for years, and Mitchell and Dyson also having been formerly convicted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We took the particulars of the following burglary from the lips of a man who was a few years ago of the most experienced and expert burglars in the metropolis, and give it as an instance of the ingenuity and daring of this class of London brigands:— | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the year a burglary was attempted to be committed at a furrier's at | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
343 | the corner of near by cracksmen. of them, Henry Edgar, was about feet inches high, of fair complexion, with large features, brown hair, and gentlemanly appearance, dressed in elegant style, with jewellery, rings, and chain, and frilled shirt. A party, Edward Edgar Blackwell, was the son of a respectable cutler in Soho, about feet inches high, of fair complexion, teeth out in front, with sullen look, also fashionably dressed, though inferior to the other. The person was slim made, about feet inches high, dark complexion, with dark whiskers and genteel appearance, a gentle, but keen dark eye, and elegantly dressed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They went to a public-house between and o'clock, when the former went back into a yard with the pretence of going to the water-closet. The publican did not miss them. The house was closed at o'clock, and they were not discovered. The party went out to give them their signals at the time formerly arranged between them. He did not give them any signal, but they, being impatient and accustomed to the work, thought they would try it themselves. They went up by a fire-escape, and got on to the parapet of the furrier's house, at the corner of . Here they cut panes of glass in a garret window, with a knife, at the same time removing the division between them. The servant going to bed in the dark, discovered the men. Giving no alarm, she went down stairs to her master. The master came up, with loaded pistols in his hand, presented them at the garretwindow, telling them if they attempted to escape he would shoot them. Edward Edgar Blackwell was so frightened that he lost his presence of mind, and fell from the parapet into the yard, a height of storeys, and was killed on the spot. Henry Edgar, being more courageous, made a desperate leap to the top of a house in , and got through a trapdoor, and made his way into a floor front in , where people were sleeping, and alarmed them. To prevent their taking him, he leaped from a floor window. Some people, passing-by, saw him jump from the window, and gave information to the police. He was, thereupon, arrested, and conveyed in a cab, with the dead body of his "pal," to police station. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It was afterwards ascertained that his ankle was dislocated, and he was removed to , where he was watched hours by successive police- men. His friends were allowed to see him, and by ingenious means of them contrived to effect his escape. They conveyed him from the hospital in a cab to , Friars Street, ; then removed him in a cab to the near Whitechapel. Soon after, his companions took a house for him in Corbett's Place, Spitalfields, when he was given into the hands of the police by a brother of of his "pals," who went to station, and lodged information. He was arrested before he could lay his hand on his pistols, committed for trial, and sentenced to penal servitude. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We give the following as an illustration of the ingenuity and perseverance of the cracksmen of the metropolis— | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A burglary was committed some years since, at a warehouse in the City, where the premises were securely fastened in front, and the servants were let out by a strong door at the back, secured by strong locks. There was no sleeping on the premises. The burglars had to make keys to get through the outer door into the premises, and had then to get a key to a patent lock for an iron door into a private counting-house. They made another key for a very strong safe which, when opened, had a recess at the bottom enclosed with folding doors also secured by a patent lock. Before they got to the booty they had to make keys of patent locks. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not satisfied with this, they made a key for the patent lock of another iron door, leading to another portion of the premises where there was a iron safe. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They were occupied months getting the whole of these keys to fit, and had to watch favourable opportunities when the police were absent from that portion of their beat. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The thieves, during the night, carried off iron boxes containing railway-shares, bills, and similar property to the extent of , besides other valuable articles. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Through the ingenuity of certain policeofficers employed to trace the robbery, the whole of the scrip and documents were recovered while certain unprincipled Jews were negotiating to purchase them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Some burglars, after they have secured valuable booty, do not attempt another burglary for a time. Others go out the very next night, and commit other depredations, as they are avaricious for money. Some of them lose it by keeping it loosely in the house, or placing it in the bank, when the women they cohabit with reap the benefit. These females often try to induce them to save money and place it in their | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
344 | name in the bank, so that if their paramour gets apprehended, they have the pleasure of spending his ill-gotten wealth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Some cracksmen succeed occasionally in rifling large quantities of valuable property or money. In such instances they live luxuriously, and spend large sums on pleasure, women, wine, and gambling. Some of them keep their females in splendid style, and live in furnished apartments in quiet respectable streets. Others are afraid to keep women, as the latter are frequently the cause of their being brought to justice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There are some old burglars at present, keeping cabs, omnibuses, and public houses, whose wealth has been secured chiefly from plunder they have rifled from premises with their own hands, or received from burglars since they have abandoned their midnight work. They had the selfcommand to abandon their criminal courses after a time, while the most of the others have been more shortsighted. Some of these persons, though abounding in wealth, receive stolen goods, and are ready to open their houses at any hour of the night. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There are great numbers of expert cracksmen known to the police in different parts of the metropolis. Many of these reside on the Surrey side, about and , in the Borough, Hackney and Kingsland Roads, and other localities. Some of them have a fine appearance, and are fashionably dressed, and would not be known, except by persons personally acquainted with them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A number of most expert cracksmen belonging to the felon class of Irish cockneys, have learned no trade, and have no fixed occupation. Others come to their ranks who have been carpenters and smiths, brass-finishers, shoemakers, mechanics, and even tailors. Sometimes fast young men have taken to this desperate mode of life. Some pickpockets, daring in disposition, or driven to extremity have become burglars. In a short time they learn to use their tools with great expertness; great numbers have been trained by a few leading burglars; some are as young as or years; others as old as or —incorrigible old convicts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tools are secretly made for them in London, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, and other places. Some burglars keep a set of fine tools of considerable value. Others have indifferent instruments, and are not so expert. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They find very convenient agents in some of the cab-drivers of the metropolis, who for a piece of money are very ready to assist in conveying them at night to the neigh- bourhood of the houses where they perpetrate their burglaries, and in carrying off the stolen property, and some of the employers of these cab-drivers are as willing to receive it at an underprice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They have no difficulty in finding unprincipled people to open their houses to receive the stolen property temporarily or otherwise. There are many houses of wellknown receivers; then there are hundreds of low public-houses, beer-shops, coffeeshops, brothels, and other places of bad character, where they can leave it for a few hours, or for days, placing of their gang in the house for a time, until they have arranged with the receivers to purchase it. There are certain well-known beer-shops and public-houses where the burglars meet with the receivers. They meet them in beer-shops in the purlieus of Whitechapel, and in the quieter publichouses and splendid gin-palaces of the West-end. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There are a number of French burglars in London, who are as ingenious, daring, and expert as the English. There are also some Germans and a few Italians, but who are not considered so clever. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Few of the cracksmen in the metropolis are married—though some are. They often live with prostitutes, or with servants, and other females they have seduced. Some have children whom they send to school, but many of them have none. They frequently train up some of their boys to enter the fanlights or windows, and to assist them in their midnight villanies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
While most of the burglars are citytrained, a number come from Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Bristol. These occasionally work with the London thieves, and the London thieves go occasionally to the provinces to work with them. This is done in the event of their being well known to the police. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For example, a gang of Liverpool thieves might know a house there where valuable property could be conveniently reached. Their being in the neighbourhood might excite suspicion. Under these circumstances they sometimes send to thieves they are acquainted with in London, who proceed thither and plunder the house. Sometimes, in similar circumstances, the London burglars get persons from the provinces to commit robberies in the metropolis—both parties sharing in the booty. In a place where they are not known, they do it themselves. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The burglars in our day are not in general such desperate men as those in former times. They are better known to the | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
345 |
police than formerly, and are kept under more strict surveillance. Many of the cracksmen have been repeatedly subjected to prison discipline, and have their spirits in a great measure subdued. The crime of our country is not so bold and open as in the days of the redoubtable men whose dark deeds are recorded in the Newgate Calendar. It has assumed more subtle forms, instead of bold swagger and defiance—and has more of the secret, restless, and deceitful character of our great arch-enemy.
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