But even this has been discounted by an experiment before a United
States government commission, showing that electricity can be so
applied as to give the scientific cracksman a greater field for
operation than ever before. The experiment was made by an expert
burglar, who, having retired from business after amassing a
sufficient competency, was requested to favor the commission by
contributing the light of his knowledge.
He demonstrated that by the aid of electricity he could, within a
short time, reduce safes of the highest repute to old iron. For this
purpose he took out of his pocket a style in the form of retort
carbon, similar to those used for arc lamps; a few yards of electric
wire, black eyeglasses and a plate pierced in the middle. It was with
this simple outfit he pierced in less than three minutes a circle of
holes in a cast steel safe with walls one and a half inches thick.
His method of procedure was simplicity itself. To the electric supply
current of the chandelier overhead he connected two wires, one of
which he fixed on the safe, and the other at the extreme of his carbon
style. It was suitably insulated by a wooden handle. Then, having
inserted this pencil in the hole of the plate, whose purpose was to
protect him against the heat and light, he produced a voltaic arc of
immense power between the point of his style and the wall of the safe,
thus melting the metal with the greatest ease.