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Story
June 23, 1923
Ajo Copper News
Ajo, Pima County, Arizona
What is this article about?
An old-fashioned burglar attempts to crack a safe after 20 years in prison, only to discover it's a radio that activates with an announcement, trapping and terrifying him in a comedic tragedy.
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PERILS OF THE AGE
A Tragedy
The old-fashioned burglar pried up the window with his old-fashioned jimmy, and cast the eye of his old-fashioned lantern around the room.
It was his first job after twenty years up river. With a grunt of satisfaction he noticed the object of his search, and dropped to his knees to rub his fingertips on the bottom of the rug. The old feeling of hair-breadth sensitiveness was still there, as he grasped the dial and began to twirl it. There was no sound of falling tumbler to reveal the combination, even to his sensitive ear.
In perplexity the old-fashioned burglar flashed his light on again.
It was a new kind of safe for there were two dials.
The old-fashioned burglar grasped the other and slowly turned it.
There suddenly appeared a dull glow of light.
A burglar alarm!
He was trapped.
A voice spoke out of the silence.
"Who's there," gasped the old fashioned burglar, his nerve gone.
"WJZ. Newark. New Jersey, O. D. F. Announcing," replied the voice.
"Recitation. Uncle Wiggly's Bed Time story by-"
Poor old-fashioned burglar
A Tragedy
The old-fashioned burglar pried up the window with his old-fashioned jimmy, and cast the eye of his old-fashioned lantern around the room.
It was his first job after twenty years up river. With a grunt of satisfaction he noticed the object of his search, and dropped to his knees to rub his fingertips on the bottom of the rug. The old feeling of hair-breadth sensitiveness was still there, as he grasped the dial and began to twirl it. There was no sound of falling tumbler to reveal the combination, even to his sensitive ear.
In perplexity the old-fashioned burglar flashed his light on again.
It was a new kind of safe for there were two dials.
The old-fashioned burglar grasped the other and slowly turned it.
There suddenly appeared a dull glow of light.
A burglar alarm!
He was trapped.
A voice spoke out of the silence.
"Who's there," gasped the old fashioned burglar, his nerve gone.
"WJZ. Newark. New Jersey, O. D. F. Announcing," replied the voice.
"Recitation. Uncle Wiggly's Bed Time story by-"
Poor old-fashioned burglar
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Tragedy
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Deception
What keywords are associated?
Burglar
Safe
Radio
Alarm
Tragedy
Announcement
What entities or persons were involved?
Old Fashioned Burglar
Story Details
Key Persons
Old Fashioned Burglar
Story Details
An experienced burglar, fresh from 20 years in prison, breaks into a home and tries to open what he thinks is a safe by manipulating its dials, but activates a radio instead, which announces a bedtime story and startles him.