# The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard/Chapter 1

THE
LONDON GUIDE,
&c. &c. &c.
INN YARDS AND COACHES.
Most people come up to town by coaches and waggons, a few on foot, and fewer still by water; therefore the inns at which the former put up, are places of especial resort for thieves and cheats of a better sort. The little public houses on the outskirts, as well as those along shore, are frequented by a very ordinary and more desperate set. All are upon the sharp look-out for dupes; the innocent, the artless, and the unwary, are alike their prey. The very sight of a countryman sharpens their appetite, especially if he brings his wife with him, because she embarrasses his movements. I cannot then compare ​the expression of their countenances to any thing so like, as that of a sportsman when he sees a covey of partridges rise from the stubble.—Sometimes the likeness is greater, when two sharpers, like two sportsmen, pursuing the same game, meet unexpectedly: "What are you after?" demands one, "Catching of flats," is the reply; and they cordially join in hunting down their prey.
Smashing is the first depredation to which strangers are exposed, upon setting foot in London, and consists in passing bad money in change, or pretending you yourself have paid such base coin. Without particularising any one description of characters at the inns, who would, be more likely than another to practise this species of cheatery, I must be allowed to say, they are all liable—Coachmen, guards, clerks, and waiters—to be themselves imposed upon, and although not guilty, are nevertheless likely to pass bad money. The original evil arises with fellows who hang about the inn yards, pretending to make themselves useful, or selling and buying some article or other; some of these we shall have occasion to say a word or two about, under the title of "Jobbers," and others called "Duffors or Buffors."
​Thus, while we are yet writing, it is placed upon record, that the hangers-on, or helpers, at the great public inns, are engaged in the most dangerous species of cheatery; one of those useful persons, at the Swan with Two Necks, Ladlane, was brought to Hatton Garden office, January 28, 1818, charged with passing bad notes, &c. "He had been in the habit, for four years before, of procuring customers to go by their coaches, for which he received a pecuniary reward," said the clerk at that inn: to this information Mr. John Lees, inspector of bank notes at the Bank of England, stated to the magistrates, "that there was scarcely a coach-office in town but forged notes (similar to that now produced from the Swan) had been passed at, and afterwards brought into the bank."
About a year before this, a "jobber," one George Meacock, who "hung about" the Queen's Head, corner of St. John's Street, for years, under the appearance of a general dealer and smuggler, and was supposed to be rich, since he lived comfortably,—was hanged for the same offence. He was always furnished with good smooth whites; which, according to the time of day, was the flash for bad shillings, as screens is for forged notes of the Bank of England.
​The name of the first-mentioned culprit is James Law, quite a youth, who will, probably, receive the reward of his early crimes about the time of the appearance of this publication. How can the honester part of those who are engaged about inn yards avoid coming in contact, and partaking in the corruption, while they are daily in the habit of seeing so many others actively employed in such nefarious transactions, as the passing bad money, or the representations of money? To what extent it is carried, with such means at their disposal, remains to be guessed at, since there is no probability of making a calculation. As bad silver is always stirring in great abundance at the inns, so upon the road; those of the drivers who have been contaminated, seldom give change without tendering base money, more or less: it happens at times that they give nothing but bad, so that the cheat is not discoverable upon comparison.
Not only must the New comer be upon his guard against bad-money, but must be as much prepared to meet the less refined depredator who would purloin his boxes and other baggage.
As soon as a coach enters an inn yard, it is followed or met by persons, who either actually expect friends by it, or pretend they do; ​together with those idle fellows who constantly hang about coach yards, without other visible means of livelihood than what they can pick up, and are therefore said to be "upon the kedge." But inn yards are nothing like so much infested as they were twenty years ago, because of the officers, who take away the offenders, "when they are wanted," but not until then, as it would not be worth their while. A complete clearance might be made, but the men not having done any thing capital, that is to say, rewardable by statute, the officers do not choose to interrupt them, and they accordingly go on nibbling, until something great turns up,—and then justice interferes.
The plan is, when the things lie about promiscuously, for the thief to become officious, as if willing to be serviceable; he looks about in a simple manner, asks an unmeaning question of one or other of the passengers, as if they were well known to each other; and then turning about with a smile, he takes up some box or bundle which he pretends to carry towards the house, or to the scales (as the case may be) where the baggage ought to go, still keeping near to or talking with the same passenger as before. Meanwhile, having taken a view of all being clear out ​of sight, he bolts off in quick time; next takes to his heels, and making a double turn or two round the corners, he eludes pursuit, much less detection.
Coachmen and guards, belonging to the mails and stage coaches, are mostly honest men, as the times go; many of them are of high character, and some become proprietors, and defy the world. But the practices of "shouldering" passengers, on their own account—doing the natives out of articles of life, which they bring to town to dispose of—the dealing in contraband goods, and a number of other out-of-the-way methods,—to say nothing of the wish to appear over-cunning,—bring them to "take care of things," for which there is no immediate owner. The feelings once blunted by one improper pursuit, leave their owner open to the fascinations of another, till at length the quality of the crime is no longer an object of solicitude.
This remark is more pointedly applicable to short stage and hackney coachmen; the latter of whom are mostly "turned-off characters"—a few are "returned lags;" of course neither the one or the other are to be trusted out of sight,—nor yet scarcely in your sight.
If gloves, a handkerchief, a shawl, or other ​small article be left in the coach, it may be known by Jarvy's taking off his hat and placing it in the coach; theu holding the door tight behind him, he deposits the article found in the poll of his hat, which he puts on his head.
N.B. Whatever coachman manœuvres the door of, his coach, he is at no good: the hackney man keeps his open to prevent his number from obtruding itself upon your notice; the stage-coachman keeps his tight against his back, the better to conceal what he is at. The landlord of the tap, or watering house, the next barber's shop, or cobbler's stall, are the places to enquire what is become of the things, generally speaking.
At every inn yard there are a kind of "hangers on," as we mentioned higher up, who are men of the worst character, since they affect an integrity they do not possess, and therefore are sometimes entrusted when they ought not to be. They are vastly familiar with the people really employed; they run of errands, and carry messages; and if there is a thing to be done upon the sly, they get off with impunity, because the person whose immediate business it should be to detect him, is induced to wink at, in hopes of sharing the depredation. Sometimes they hang about the tap-room for entire days, to hand off what ​may come to hand (by the coaches) either of contraband or of stolen property; at other times they are employed to stand at some given place—as the corner of an avenue, or under the gateway to catch hold of what may be thrown down to them from the coaches, with a view either to cheat the proprietors, the revenue, or the right owners. See more on this subject under the head of "wagering kiddies," or gamblers of the lower sort.
Most guards have a particular tune upon their horns for every different species of service, known only to each his own particular dependant, which gives a wonderful facility to their manœuvres. I have sat down with the landlord of a tap-room, who, without looking out, would remark, "here comes such-a-one;" "Jemmy is in first," and the like notice, showing his great familiarity with the tunes: and then again "run out and pick up ——'s basket;" or "here's a pig coming this time." In this manner giving facility to the concealment and disposal of ill-gotten articles of life.
In the year 1815, the G—— mail brought up one hundred and twenty pieces of India handkerchiefs weekly—forty in a bundle. No one could imagine how such an article should come ​from that place; nor is it our business or inclination to enquire how they got there. It was pleasant to see the hangers-on scamper away with the square bundle of a morning; sometimes from one point, sometimes from another, taking care not to make their deposit at the same place too often.
From all this, the reader must be aware, that persons so employed, are not trustworthy with his luggage, and that he would do well to see after it witn his own eyes; for if he permit one of the officious hangers-on to meddle with it, no opportunity will slip by unimproved, even though the coachman and guard are standing near. These are not a check sufficiently strong upon his dishonesty, since he is himself down to so many of their tricks—such as "shouldering," and the like, that they dare not interfere in his "nibbling."
Shouldering, among coachmen, is that species of cheating in which they take the fares and pocket them, generally of such passengers as they overtake on the road, or who come across the country; but it not unfrequently happens that they take passengers the whole line of their run, even when the proprietors scarcely have one inside for themselves. A curious story of this ​nature is told by an old man in Lad Lane, that when he and a certain great man there, were upon the same coach, not one of six inside passengers were down upon the way-bill; and, that he having proposed to give their employers at least one of them, the great man threatened to kick him for this puling conduct, and did actually collar him; and applied to him the words—"fool, rascal, and b—— thief." Thus it is, the worst spoke in the wheel generally cries out the first.—They "shouldered" the whole six!
Those who travel much by stage coaches, should always take care to see themselves booked, as in case of accident, they cannot recover damages against the proprietors without it.
Every one knows (and their employers know it) that hackney coachmen invariably share with their masters in large proportions. Those often get good prizes left in their coaches, by people who carelessly leave their boxes or parcels behind, in the hurry to meet their friends; or what is more general, those who take out their papers, money, pocket-book, &c. to look over in a hackney coach, in order, as they thiuk, to save time, too often leave some part behind them; or, by the motion of the coach get it jostled out ef their hands. At no time has a hackney man been ​known to restore to its rightful owner such things as may have been so left, at the earliest opportunity, nor unless a handsome reward is offered.
By the way, the number of a hackney coach should be always noted the moment it is called (or ordered); and in so "calling" them, as well as every word that is said to the coachman, a certain air of command or authority should be kept up. This holds them to their tethers; tells them they have no green-horn to deal with, and deters them from extorting too much for the fare. If a person, meekly or hesitatingly, gives his orders, the coachman and attendant waterman pass the word "Johnny Raw;" or if it be a lady, they protract the sound of "Ma'am" to her;—thus, "yes M-a-a-m" and "no M-a-a-a-m."
When a coach is called from the stand, the waterman opens the door as it draws near you, in order to prevent the number, which hangs on it, from obtruding itself on your sight: at setting down, the coachman, with the same view, keeps open the door whilst he gets paid, especially if there be a dispute; or, if he twigs something left behind, he slaps the steps or the door, so as to make the horses move on a step or two; he then halloos at them with who-o-o; swears a good peal of oaths at them, to intimidate his ​customers, and then resumes the dispute, if convenient.
If a hackney coachman be a smasher, or dealer in bad silver, he endeavours to set down his fares (by night) in a dark place, if possible, in total disregard of your orders, generally quarrels with his horses, should he be obliged to take them by the heads,—which quarrel is sometimes meant for his customers. He most frequently "throws off," or talks to his horses of "the precious good looking load they have been "dragging:" "no great shakes; I'll bet a pound of my own money," he will say, while making the animals stand; and if you supervent his attempts at smashing, he mounts his box, with the observation—"You knows about as much as I do, mastee;" but if you reply sharply, rebuking his impertinence, he does not hesitate to charge you with crime, by inuendo, as "Vhere did you come from? I vonder!" making a motion as if you had come from a prison; and adding, "you'll soon be bowled out, I'll be bound." Such is a fair sample of tiie conduct of the far greater number of hackney coachmen.
Smashing is managed thus—a bad shilling or two, or a half-crown, is placed in the left hand between the lingers, and the hand is then ​half-closed upon them; which operation is performed while he tugs at the coach door to let you out.—(Those who smash under other circumstances have more leisure to prepare themselves). Should "the fare" want change for a pound note, the result is no longer doubtful: three or four shillings, at least, "come to his share." But the chiefest ingenuity is, to persuade you that you yourself have tendered bad money to poor Jarvis; who, after turning your money over and over, and perhaps taking a trial upon the stones, declares they ring bad, and you must change them for good ones. If you appear tolerably "soft," and will "stand it," he perhaps refuses these also, after having "rung the changes" once more. This is called "a double do;" and then, lest the transaction may have been "stagged" by some impertinent by-stander, or a trap, he mounts his box, and drives away with the utmost precipitancy.
N.B. Whenever a hackney coachman thus drives off in a great hurry, rely upon it something is the matter; in which case, he does not pull up at the next coach stand, but drives past it, "standing for no repairs."
Every one should be apprized, the moment they arrive in town, or rather before they enter it, ​of the absolute necessity there is of taking the number of a hackney coach as soon as it is called. Servants ought to have this salutary precaution impressed on their minds; as also, that as soon as any company comes to the door of their masters in a hackney coach, they should set down in their memories, if not in chalk or in ink, what number it bears. If a reward were paid for such vigilance, when any thing has been recovered by that means, it would add to the stimulus, and have an increasing good effect.
WALKING THE STREETS,
As well as riding is effected more securely by affecting an ease or knowingness, which deters imposition in a great degree. We spoke higher up of assuming an air of authority in giving orders to hackney coachmen; no less serviceable is it to appear like a thorough bred cockney in your gait and manner, by placing the hat a little awry, and with an unconcerned stare, penetrating the wily countenances of the rogues, you attain one more chance, at least, of escaping the snares that are always laid to entrap the countryman or new comer: these latter are easily recognised by their provincial gait, dialect, and! cut of the cloth; by the interest they take in the commonest occurrences imaginable, and the broad stare of ​wonder at every thing they see. Such men attract the attention of passers-by of every degree; and, it would be surprising indeed, if the knavish part of the community did not endeavour to profit by the want of knowledge apparent in Johnny Newcome, or Johnny Raw, as such men are aptly called. He is followed for miles, sometimes for an entire day or more, by a string of pickpockets or highwaymen, until they can find an opportunity to do him. It came out on the examination of Sethard, for robbing A. Anderson, that he and his companions had followed their victim from the waterside to Mincing Lane, thence to the Hercules, in Leadenhall Street, where the foolish man counted over his money; thence to Snow Hill, and back again to the corner of St. Martin's le-Grand, where they hustled and robbed him of near sev-tuty pounds, the hard earnings of twenty years at sea; and all this by broad day-light!
Walking the streets has been reduced to a system in London; every one taking the right hand of another, whereby confusion is avoided; thus, if you walk from St, Paul's towards the Royal Exchange, you will be entitled to the wall of those you meet all the way; whereas, if you cross over, you must walk upon the kirb stone. The contrary mode is a sure indication of a person ​being a stranger, or living at the outskirts of town, and is certain of attracting attention to his awkwardness (a thing always to be avoided.) A pickpocket will hustle such an one against his accomplice in the day time; the stranger will be irritated no doubt, and express his indignation, which will be the better for the rogues: in a half-minute's altercation, they get the best of the jaw, because the loudest and most impudent;—a spar or two ensues, in which he who pretends to support the stranger to the ways of town, draws him of his pocket-book, or his watch, if he has either, a fact they take care to ascertain beforehand. Money in the breeches pockets, can only be come at in a crowd, or by flooring the victim; the former of which is most usually, but the latter very seldom, performed in the day-time.
From all this, my reader will see the necessity of cautiously, yet energetically, pursuing his way, without dread or doubt; since it is better to walk a little out of the right path, than run the risk of being directed wrong: to steer clear of assemblages in the streets, by going round them, or pressing rather rudely through them; whereby you become the assailant, if I may be allowed the term, and add one more chance of steering clear of danger.
PICKING OF POCKETS.
This way of obtaining the property of others, is certainly the most genteel, profitable, and alluring of any, because it requires some degree of ingenuity to exercise it properly, and a great deal of address and firmness to get off without detection. Professors of the art are admired for their dexterity, by every one but the immediate losers; and people laugh at the droll way in which the sufferers relate how they were done. I have myself seen two friends just as they found out that one of them had lost his Reader or Tattler;—to see the vacant stare of the one, and the broad grin of the other, was to me as high fun, almost, as the actual possession of the property. Even magistracy itself seldom looks half so glum upon a predatory marauder of this order as he does upon a night robber, a housebreaker, or a highwayman. Whenever the prosecution is brought up to the point of conviction, the prosecutor always leans to the side of mercy; and the capital is "taken off:" one never hears of a pickpocket being hung.
Lagging is the worst they can come to. Lucky dog that I was, in adopting so safe, so genteel, ​and such a productive part of the calling! Whatever may be said of it, now I have given over the pursuit, I must say i have done a violence to my taste, as an amusement, however good the relinquishment may be as to morals. If the opportunity were to arrive of choosing again, I scarcely know which line of conduct I should take; but having so taken it, I am determined to be sincere, and I mean to be a little more particular in the details of this my favourite pursuit than upon other topics; although these are all collected out of the mouths of each the first in his profession, living or dead, at home and abroad.
Although the officers constantly patrole the streets, or ought to do so, yet they suffer well-known thieves to mix in the crowds that assemble around print-shops, and other showy exhibitions of goods. If a horse tumbles, or a woman faints, away they run to encrease the crowd, and the confusion; they create a bustle, and try over the pockets of unsuspecting persons; till at length, having marked out one, the accomplice shoves him hard up against other persons, (perhaps some of the gang) who naturally repress the intrusion. Thus wedged in, they next hit him on the head (more or less hard), when he, to save his hat, or to resent the insult, lifts up his arms, a ​third or a fourth still farther behind gives one more shove, rams his flat hand against the belly of the person marked out to he done, and pulls out his watch. If it be his pocket-book they are after, they lift up the skirts of his coat to come at his inside pocket; but should it lie on his breast, then the rogue, who is next to the victim, seizes his collar and drags, until the buttons give way, or there is space enough between the coat and the body for the accomplice to thrust in his arm. So situated, it is clear that every other pocket must be liable to a visit, the breeches not excepted. As he in the rear is generally a short man, or a boy, he thrusts in underneath the arms of the accomplices, who make room for him on purpose, and he is thus enabled to pick two or three pockets at leisure, especially in large crowds; such as a boxing match, or my Lord Mayor's Show. Upon the last mentioned occasion, the chief place for the sport is Ludgate Hill, though the whole range from Blackfriars to Guildhall aifords a fine harvest, from the moment my lord takes water to his return home. On that day the gangs assemble regularly, and enter the city at various points. For many years the practice has been to station two women, of good stout growth, near the place of operation, who receive ​the few stray articles that may be picked up before the grand rush is made, when they join in, and increase, the confusion. Some ten or twelve men, mostly armed with sticks, are attached to these women, and act in concert on one side of the hill, while a gang similarly composed take the other side, and numerous smaller detachments, and single rogues, are strewed about in all directions.
As the procession advances, the first object is to create a bustle, and if possible a fight. They, therefore, inclose between them a few people of respectable appearance, and press them forward rudely; those in front resent this, pretending to be offended, and thrust back those next to them; the sticks go to work upon the heads, and the accomplice embracing his fellow, reaches round at the fob, or pockets of the victim, whose hands are employed in protecting his head.
The trunk-maker's corner was, for many years, the spot for making a stand at; and the articles stolen used to walk up the Old Bailey to Whetstone-park corner. But things of this sort must change in a course of years, for the very circumstance of this exposure must of necessity compel alteration, to prevent detection. Yet again, on consideration, this is not so certain, since there ​are not a greater set of fools in the world than your hackneyed thieves: they have been known to throw themselves in the way of certain detection, or, to stand, like the silly penguin, to be knocked down; when, at the same time, a good run for it, would have preserved them in safety.
N.B. But should a pickpocket take to his heels, and be easily distinguished from his followers, it is not always advisable to stop him; unless indeed, you are fond of a bit of a spree, or admire being in trouble, as is exemplified in the simple narrative of a writer "on the police," who has not thought proper to give us his name. He says, "that he detected a daring noon-day robber, and brought him to conviction." Again, he observes, "To be candid, I must confess that my cure for stagging, was accelerated by means of certain bruises and fractures which I received from the hands of three or four of these gently, and that close to my own house. Very few shopkeepers would undergo a second tune, so much trouble and expenceas I then did; and, therefore, I do not blush to avow that I forfeited my recognizance in one instance, and have passed over the detection of several others to avoid consequences so ​inimical to my repose." What is more, they can mostly fight a bit, and some are armed with knives, which they would not hesitate to use in a scuffle.
Strangers, and silly persons, who are the chief objects with the pickpockets, are not better known by their first appearance, than from the ill-advised custom of asking the way, and standing gaping at the names of the streets, as if in doubt which road to take. This being a sure indication that they are at a loss, and of course confused, such a person is perhaps accosted, and misdirected into some street or lane more adapted to the robbers' purpose; and there met again, or overtaken by one, two, or three others, he is either hustled, or his pockets neatly picked, or he is knocked down with a bludgeon. Therefore it is recommendable, that no one should ask his way in the streets, but in decent shops, or, at most, of persons carrying small parcels, which indicate they are shopmen or porters: thieves do not go about encumbered in that manner, at least not hitherto; but they might possibly adopt it hereafter, from this hint, as the best method of catching flats. Never ask your road of a gentleman, in appearance; if he be a real one, he either will not condescend to answer, or more probably ​Does not know any more than yourself; and for a better reason—that thieves frequently go well-dressed, especially pickpockets; good toggery, being considered a necessary qualification for his calling, without which the Diver could not possibly mix in genteel company, nor approach such in the streets. But the close observer may always discover in the dress of the genteel pickpocket, some want of unity, or shabby article, as a rusty hat, or the boot-tops in bad order, or a dirty shirt and cravat: He may come at the same conclusion, by noticing an article of dress which has been made at the top of the mode, some long while before the other parts of his dress, together with similar attempts to appear the would-be gentleman of ton. Mr. Pullen was, however, an exception to this general rule: the neatness and uniformity of his rigging, from top to toe, his cleanliness, the mild smirk of his red face, and at length his age, contributed to render him as truly tespectable looking a pickpocket, as we shall ever find again. A curious proof how far this feeling regarding Mr. Pullen may be carried, will be learnt from the following anecdote. Mr. Pullen found occasion to go into a public house at some part of town distant from the usual haunts. He was here in close ​conversation with two gentlemen, when the master of the house beckoned him out, and gave him leave of absense. "I shall go instantly,—but my cane and gloves lie in that corner," replied Mr. Pullen. To this Boniface objected, ordered him to "evacuate the premises," without the goods, and proceeded to acts of violence; the two strangers interfered, protected "the respectable looking old gentleman," as they called him, disbelieving the landlord's information, which they attributed either to a hoax, or to malice, and went off in triumph to another house. What is more, they handed him along arm in arm between them, and he could scarcely get liberty to speak a word to a nice crummy young woman, who seemed surprised and interested at his situation. "He wished to send home a message by her," he said; but the two boobies would not lose sight, and did but just loosen their hold. The interview was abridged by their intrusion, and with the use of a little force, the fair frail one was permitted to pursue her way.
But what a tragedy! One of the strangers lost his pocket-book, soon after he had occupied his present seat, as he said, and the other a small packet of less value. They suspected their new acquaintance, and he was searched by consent, ​but nothing was found upon him, though the packet was discovered under a chair at a distant part of the room. As none of the parties had gone out; they were the more puzzled the more they thought how it could have been lost. The fact is, briefly, that the female carried it off; the loser having been mistaken in saying, he had felt it since he entered the room;—a warning to people how cautious they should be in stating unnecessary particulars, too hastily.
Here was a very neat and clean job done, and all safe and right; and is that sort of practice which for distinction's sake is termed "picking of pockets," simply; though hustling, and knocking down, or tripping up are the same thing prastised with more violence. We will, therefore, describe all those methods as carried on against single persons.
The pickpocket who does the thing "neatly," as the phrase is, goes alone; or, at most, two together. His intention is not to use violence, and he even avoids being felt at work; for which reason the law has made it capital felony to execute his task so adroitly as not to be discovered in the act of taking; notwithstanding which law, he always endeavours to incur the highest crime, ​while the judge as invariably apportions to him, the lesser punishment.
For the accomplishment of his purpose, he walks the crowded streets, and tries the pockets of various passers by; till at length he finds the situation of the pocket-book,—which has been the favourite aim ever since the extensive circulation of bank-notes. If it occupies the outer coat pocket, the task is easy: he dips his hand into the pocket, spreading his fingers to keep open the top, and with the forefinger and thumb draws it forth. Sometimes out it comes, easily, which will be the case if not near so large as the pocket; but should it stick, or hang by something else, the rogue stands no repairs, but pulls away by main force.
During the first part of the operation, and previously, he has walked a step or two cheek-by-jowl with the person to be robbed; he looks about smiling, (to take off the attention of those who may be near behind,) as if they were acquaintance, and the thing a mere matter of course and familiarity. A thin worn-out great coat, flowing open, is an excellent screen.
If the thing to be drawn is heavy, and its weight might be instantly missed, he presses equally hard upon the edge of the pocket, or ​stoops a little to take hold of the bottom, gives a jirk, steps upon the heel, or jostles against the person done; then seems to beg pardon, and runs. For the inside skirt coat-pocket, he lifts up the skirt or tail, and out comes the pocket-book. Should a button impede the way out, a little knife, fastened to the hand, soon removes that obstacle.
N.B. Whenever you are jostled against, or your heel is trodden upon, you may suspect that person, and he who is nearest to you on the other side.
Two are much safer to get off than one, as the second keeps a good look-out; and he it is that goes off with the prize, having received it from him who first took it. This one, being next to the victim, if seized, as is most likely, kicks up a row, and uses the most disgusting language; or, in quite other tones, offers to pursue him who has gone off; but in fact, in pursuing, throws obstacles in the way of others; but should he come up with, and overtake him in the hand of justice, they together fight away if possible to effect an escape; sometimes dropping the thing stolen, at other times it gets handed to a confederate, who perhaps has the audacity to claim the property as his own.
​Many women are as expert as men, and they always have one or two at hand upon great occasions, as I said before. They are furnished with a species of pocket which completely encircles their bodies, coming down half way to the knees; if the wearer be somewhat stout and bulky, it is clear she can conceal a good deal. Besides, if she be searched upon suspicion, the articles will traverse from before to behind, and back again, with a very small quantity of dextrousness; and she would thus elude discovery by any ordinary scrutiny of her person. The same sort of pocket is used in shop-lifting.
Women who walk the streets at night, are invariably pickpockets; and I see no reason to set down those who by day entice the men into their dens, any thing better. Such as stand at the corners of lanes and courts, inviting men to stop, are clumsy hands, but contrive to pick up a good harvest occasionally: they rob indiscriminately every article of dress, knocking off the silly (perhaps drunken) man's hat in the street, with which the accomplice runs away; at other times they will take off his cravat, while bestowing upon him their salacious caresses. A broach, or shirt-pin, is constantly made good prize of, but should the deluded man enter one of those ​pestiferous abodes, which are so numerous in this metropolis, the loss of all he has is inevitable.
N.B. It is recommended over again not to be stopped in the streets, even by a handsome woman, though that should be by day. They have great nimbleness of lingers, and convey away your property while talking you into a silly passion for their persons,
Although it seems brutish to rebuke a woman who should press against you in a crowd, in a church, at an auction, or in the streets, yet this should be done. At the Rev. Rowland Hill's meeting house, the women attend as well as the men pickpockets; they are found amongst the crowd of a procession to St. Paul's, and in fact at every collection of people. Such women amuse you with asking silly questions; perhaps complain to you of some man who is pressing her, while one of her accomplices rifles your pockets in the mean time, from behind another accomplice, who keeps his arms up so as to prevent yours from defending your property. Perhaps she seizes your arm, as if for protection, but in fact to keep you from using it.
One very excellent trick for a woman to perform is, to turn round quick upon the gentleman to be robbed, and running hard against him, ​endeavour to touch him in the wind, pretending herself to be very much hurt. Her accomplices are behind, and improve upon the accident, by embracing the victim; and the hindermost is generally the thief who hands off the property. It must be present to every one's mind, that when a person is hit upon the belly, or pit of the stomach— and those women are taught how to place their blows—he will naturally bend from, the effects of the blow: At that moment it is, he loses his watch, a dive is made into his breeches pocket, and both are drawn; and if the lady's hurt is very bad, (that is, well played off) his pocket-book goes to wreck also.
This same trick of turning round, is also practised by two or three men; and a good method is to stoop suddenly down, whereby the person to be robbed comes wholly, or in part, to the ground; and during the struggle to recover himself, or the efforts of tiie accomplice to assist him, the job is effected.
Ladies who press to the windows of drapers shops are fine game. When they wore pockets with hoops, scarcely any operation in all the light finger trade was easier than the dive, or putting in one's hand; afterwards, on the disuse of the hoop, the thing was performed by a short fellow, ​or boy, getting between the legs of the accomplice (a tall one) and spreading the petticoats, cut off the pockets, with a knife attached to the hand.
The practice of cutting pockets is much lessened of late years, why, I know not for certain; but apprehend the fear of incurring the penalty of Lord Ellenborough's act, may have had its effect; and since there are several methods of achieving the same thing, there could be no possible reason why the safest should not be adopted. Any other course of proceeding would be foolish, to say no worse of it. A capital small blade, set in a ring for the middle finger, or the thumb, was a much better contrivance than the common penknife, or the sliding blade; because their right hand can be employed in cutting, and grabbing the money at one and the same time, whilst the left is engaged no less usefully in bothering his gob. This latter, is nothing more than placing the flat hand (back or palm) over the mouth, (or gob) of a fellow who is likely to sing out; at the same time taking care that it shall seem to him the effect of accident, not capable of being reckoned uncivil, if the business should come to a patter. In all mobs where there is not sufficient noise, this bothering the gob, is invariably had recourse to; the fellow ​might otherwise call out "pickpockets," or some such stuff, when he felt the things going from his person.
Notwithstanding the generally received notion, that pickpockets are an innocent race of mortals, who merely purloin a little of your pelf, yet nothing can be more contrary to the real fact. No means of escape would be left untried, in case of detection, even although that should cost the life of an individual or two. They are invariably taught boxing, scientifically, women as well as men; I mean, so far, as how to place a blow or two with the happiest effect. Indeed, picking of pockets frequently assumes the character of footpad robbery, having all its characteristic features of force, and violence of conduct on the part of the perpetrators. This brings me to speak of that next species of robbery by those who are appropriately termed Scamps, called
HUSTLING;
Which is performed in various ways, as suits the present situation of both parties. Higher up, I described the way in which the persons to be done, are crannued together, in order to be robbed. The next degree of violence is that where the arms are seized from behind by one, whilst the other frisks the pockets of their contents. ​Just the same end is obtained by picking an instant quarrel, and collaring the victim, pull him forward; while he is thus upon the stoop, the accomplice takes a dive into his pockets, handing off whatever he may find to a third accomplice, who perhaps has been making free use of his stick promiscuously over the heads of all parties. Another plan is to seize him by the collar of the coat behind, and pull him backwards: he must be a rum customer, indeed, if he gets over this, and a dig in the guts in front; for having lost wind, he will not recover it again until his property is irrecoverable.
A more daring hustle is, where a person being run against violently, as if by accident, and his arms kept down, forcibly; while the accomplice, pretending to take "the gentleman's" part, draws either his watch, money or book. More cannot well be done in an instant thing like this. Should the pair come down whop, it is far the better for the thieves; they both get up, pardon is begged, and they part as quickly as possible. The sufferer, in adjusting his dress, then first discovers he has been robbed. Those who give preference to this mode of do, are of the secondary sort of thieves, not at all to be considered clever; they mostly wear short jackets, (at least one of them) the better to effectuate escape by ​running, the cloth being made smooth;, if not slippery, with grease, &c. their operations seldom commence until dusk; they never attack other than single persons; and the fall of the year, is the most prolific in this sort of crime.
If this be not "foot-pad robbery," I know not what is; the only difference seems to lie in that robber who demands the property in one case, in the other he takes it without asking. The genuine decent pickpocket, who does the trick in a neat way, deems himself insulted in being classed with those, as well as with the following description of street robbers: He decries the use of violence upon the person robbed, unless it be in self-defence, and to make his escape.
Women hustle at night, while bestowing their unasked for caresses, adroitly entering your pockets should you come in contact with them. A short lass, and a tall or big one, are the best adapted to this business: the former forcibly contending with thelatterthe promised enjoyment, seizes you round the middle lasciviously, when the business is done neatly; she hands over the things to her companion, who moves off instantly, while the other keeps you in tow until the booty is out of I each, and then she becomes uneasy until she herself is safely out of vour sight. But ​should you charge the watchman with her person, you would not recover the property, and the charge falls to the ground as a matter of course. I have frequently known both women brought in and searched, but nothing was found upon them; in such cases they have a third accomplice, but generally the stolen things have been deposited in some nook or corner conveniently situated near where the transaction took place—such as the interstices of window shutters, for bank notes; or the broken corner of the same,—holes are dug in the mortar of walls for the express purpose,—very often upon the ledges where window-shutters are stowed away by day. Such are the contrivances of those wretclies who prowl the streets to take advantage of silly men.
Never suffer a watchman to go out alone, after he has heard the charge, in which the scene of action is of course pointed out: he would take care of the property himself; and you might ascertain that he had met with it, by his becoming extremely jolly in his answers, not to say impudent,—among other things, affecting to doubt "whether you ever had so much about you."
TRIPPING UP, (BY THE PADS)
Is the next degree of street depreciation, and is performed either with a stick, which is thrust ​between the legs, or by kicking up the heels of the party. A little more violent still, is the mode of Knocking Down, with the fist, or a bludgeon. This latter is seldom or ever heard of in our streets, but both are practised at the out-skirts, leading to the adjacent towns. So strong and active are the patrol at present, that robberies never occur at the hours of their being on the watch.
Boys will throw themselves down flat before persons they design to make prey of; the accomplice pressing forward from behind, precipitates you over the former, who, in rising up draws out your watch with the utmost facility. Or you may be eased of your money with as little difficulty, while thus bent down, let the breeches be so ever tight.
At the moment we were going to press with this sheet, (March 22, 1818,) three Urchins, attacked some ladies in Holborn, who waited the drawing up of a Hampstead stage (which takes place near the house of our publisher.) Although apparently little rogues, they brought their victims to the ground; and, but for timely interposition, or, from immature skill, would have robbed the three ladies. The time, was past dusk.
​When women slip down in the street, or faint away, I would advise you to think twice before you lend your assistance; for, although she may turn out that which she appears to be (a very respectable person), yet the thieves are so numerous, and constantly upon the alert, that it is a thousand to one, but you get done in some way or other: it happens sometimes, that the lady herself draws you, having been pushed down, or tripped up by one of her own fellows; also, these sort of women know how to run plump against you, as if they had been killed by the collision, and down they go!
Should a lady under your own protection fall or faint, in the streets, (your wife for instance) take good care what persons (women or men) lend their assistance: it is a great chance but they will be upon the do, probably for the first time in their lives.
We just now hear of a gentleman who has found occasion to come home alone, three times a week from Homerton, at very late hours, (sometimes an hour after the patrol went off duty) without any interruption whatever; and this, although he always traversed the garden-lanes, and crossed over the fields, during a great part of the winter, without other arms than a stick, ​or any light, natural or artificial, for the greater number of times. The reader is requested not to follow the example, seeing that this gentleman, in addition to much personal courage, was withal reckless of life; and that the well-known havidge called "Haggerstone" lies but a short distance from the path, Of this place it is a sufficient character to tell, that the constables dare not enter it, to execute a warrant, in the usual way by two or three, but are compelled to augment their numbers, in order to overcome a stout repulse; and yet the place cannot muster above forty men; about a third of whom may deserve a middling good character.
Notwithstanding this anecdote, which we know to be fact, it is not to be denied, that numerous offences of these latter descriptions take place all round London, which are never made public, for various reasons. Of these, the chiefest are the dislike people have to be considered keepers of late hours; add to this the trouble and anxiety of prosecutions, the incipient proceedings upon which are by no means rendered palatable to the prosecutor's taste; the desire in most people to keep out of public notice (though sought after by so many others), and we have accounted for the impunity a great number of offenders enjoy.
​When the victim floored, imprecations and oaths, and threats of vengeance, in case of resistance, immediately follow, accompanied by the most active search for the property, while they cover his mouth, kneel on his body, or beat him, as the case seems to them to require. The voice is generally in an under tone, or a kind of vociferated whisper; and many of these fellows are really so savage, that they will inflict further punishment if dissatisfied with the booty they may find.
N.B. The reader, especially if he be a stranger to the ways of town, should not ramble about in lanes, or bye-ways, especially at dusk; and the more so, if he is conscious his appearance is such as to promise an easy couc[uest, or a good booty. Therefore, people should never carry much property, in such situations, nor seem puzzled at the route they should take, nor show their distrust at the appearance of the rogues, but stare them in the face.
Now as to these, and all personal robberies, out of doors, I would advise a sort of knowing circumspection, on which I made some remarks before. Suppose, for a moment, that you were to bustle through the crowd in the streets, shoving about the people; thus, in order to avoid the pickpockets, assuming yourself to be one, to all ​external appearance? It is not probable yon would be attacked by them, upon the old and sure principle, that dog will not eat dog. So if you stare them well in the face (not sheepishly), eye them downwards, twig the shabbiest part of their dress,—and, if a row is begun, you join in the phrases used, as "go it;" "now, d—n his eyes;" "what are you at?" "now for it;" "go it my jumbo!" or, whatever may be said upon the occasion, you would certainly increase the chances of getting clear. This is what I always repeat. "The chances only of getting clear of their clutches" are increased by following these precautions; for no one can be at a certainty; as I have known a police officer (Handcock of "Hatton Garden," five years ago) to be stopped and robbed on the highway, when well-armed, and a magistrate who had his pocket picked at the theatre.
As one test of the truth of what I have said, you will invariably discover in the person whose pocket has been picked while walking singly, something that points him out as a proper object of attack: he is easily to be found out as an unknowing one; he is either a silly looking chap, or an unwieldy one, or a new comer. In making this distinction of walking singly, I beg to claim ​the full foice of the word; for, as to picking pockets in a crowd, it is quite a different sort of matter,—there, every body goes to wreck. The reader of any discernment, then, will see the propriety of keeping out of crowds; for in them nothing can help him, but strength to get away us soon as possible; and that will be scarcely in his power, if he is well wedged in by eight or ten desperadoes.
Need a word be said of the necessity of keeping the handkerchief concealed, if you mean to preserve it? An outside pocket, in which the handkerchief is visible, is sure to part with its contents at noon-day, even, though you should not walk half the length of the Strand. That circumstance would be most likely to bring its owner into further trouble; as so careless a mode of placing the handkerchief marks him out for one of the unknowing ones, he would be followed and further pilfered, as certainly as that he has a nose.
Walking, from the time of dusk to that of the patrols coming on duty, a little before or a little after, is more replete with danger as the times are worse. Men who only rob occasionally are thereby driven to desperation; and they then sally forth to commit depredations on the persons of ​the unwary, which we, upon mature reflection, (after detection of the offenders) frequently consider to partake in a small degree of insanity. Their necessities blind their judgments on such occasions; they mistake the object, and get into trouble, from which they are released only by a hempen habeas corpus. Such a mistake may be compared to the old story of "catching a tartar."
Therefore, it is advisable, to keep a good look out, and especially avoid fellows who are running hard, or who follow you step by step for any length of way. Pull up all at once, regard the motions of the foe, and resolve upon a stout resistance, if you are likely to obtain help in a minute's space, by calling out while you parry the blows, or the endeavour to get you down. If help is not at hand, so as to come up to your assistance in that time, you had better give it in with a good grace, and submit to your fate; for they will but increase their brutality as you rise in your opposition—in case they are not interrupted, or likely to be.
But mark this: provided you make good use of your lungs, and also make a decent stir before you get touched with hand or stick, I'll pound them to bolt in a jiffy; for those sort of gentry have a maxim, "never to give a chance away;" ​and as they are rank cowards, they, on such an occasions, put a question to themselves, and that is "Which is to be off the first?" since he that remains to the last is likeliest to be taken.
These statements are exemplified often: the robbery of a gentleman in Shepherd and Shepherdess fields by the three bakers (1816), one of whom proposed to murder him, because he made so much noise, is a proof of one part of the above proposition; for, although the place is much frequented, yet no one was nigh enough to alarm them from their purpose. Another part of the above statement was proved under our own observation while yet we were writing it [January, 1818.] A Mr. F—d was followed from the meeting house in Moorfields along London Wall by two of a gang who inhabit thereabout: they were short and stout; Mr. F. being a little lame in one leg, gave them good reason to expect an easy conquest, as his appearance did a good booty. At the turning into Basinghall Street, (no one at that moment coming up it) one of the rogues ran up to Mr. F—d, pushed a leg between his, and brought him to the ground; instantly putting his hand into his waistcoat pocket, he had but just time to extract a few shillings, when his accomplice became alarmed at the ​vociferations of the gentleman (though he already knelt upon him)—and ran away. They could not be overtaken, nor was the occurrence known beyond the circle of his own friends. It was an operation of about half a minute.
Here it will be noted that the end of a street was chosen; and hence it may be concluded that such would be always preferred, even though I did not know that tactic before hand. Indeed, it will scarcely be expected that I should adduce instances, or proofs, of any proposition I lay down, seeing that every word comes from actual experience, either personally, or fey immediate information from the real actors in the scenes I describe. Well, then, I have to inform you, Reader, that the corner, or opposite the corner of a lane, or other avenue is always fixed upon; and the moment is that in which they come to take a glance down it, to see that it is clear of interruption. Sometnues an accomplice runs on before, to find the turning that will suit the purpose; he then goes into it a yard or two, and turns about just in time to contribute his assistance to the plundering; perhaps to receive into his arms, the victim who has been knocked towards him, and to complete the flooring of the unfortunate person.
​Few such cases are brought before the magistrates; but I repeat it, they happen oftener than would readily be supposed. On that account it is, I have dwelt upon particulars so long, in order that my readers may learn to avoid the dangers that thus surround them. To which let me add,—let them look out sharp upon hearing a whistling or calling, even although the latter should be but a person's name (man or woman), or the former, the ingenious imitation of the canary bird's call. The fag-end of a song is a good signal sometimes; though the words may not be appropriate, they convey a meaning previously agreed upon, and are as intelhgible to each other as Greek to a Greek, or the sign and counter-sign to the guard that visits a military out-post.
N.B. If two persons are in company, it is the safest method, at late hours and dangerous places, to walk at some distance from each other—say from six to eight yards.; it would require double numbers to attack both at once, besides the chance there would be of one of you running away and making a row, if both attacks did not take place simultaneously. Moreover, strangers to town in particular should be careful not to let others know what money or valuables they carry about them; and the town-bred knowing-ones ​too, had better profit by the advice, and not submit to be drawn of their secret by the offers of preposterous wagers, the usual method of coming at a knowledge of the contents of your pockets, I verily believe some street robberies proceed from this very cause, and are perpetrated by the friends, or companions of the sufferers themselves, who probably commit no other offence during their lives. This last is, to be sure, a mere supposition, but I could not otherwise account for three or four such robberies that have been circumstantially detailed to me; but it is much more probable that a person thus excited to the commission of crime, would continue in the same course until the hour of detection arrived.
Although we again disclaim to treat of those offences and evils that have ceased, yet we should be guilty of a dereliction of duty were we to omit noticing the
HIGHWAYMEN,
That upon very rare occasions, start up in the neighbourhood of this metropolis. Indeed, so seldom are they now heard of compared to what ​they were formerly, that the mention of this offence will appear mere Bagatelle to most of our readers after all the apologies we can offer. It was a mistaken notion of Mr. Barrington, that they receive intelligence from the ostlers and other attendants at inns, or introduced themselves into the company of travellers, of whom they wormed out the secret of their property, its amount, and the hour they meant to take the road, &c. Whatever might have once been the case, I will venture to say no such thing has happened within forty years last past.
No, no, they chance it, when they do go out. Else how came Joe Haines to attack the Bow Street officers, in the Green Lanes? If he had intelligence at all of three Traps being in the postchaise he made precious bad use of it. He was shot in the thigh, and afterwards taken and hanged in chains. That took place twenty-one years ago; and since that time we have heard of about four highwaymen only; the most prominent of which was the robbery of the Leeds mail by Huffey White; and another, nearer home, of a Young City Traveller who having lost his money at Newmarket races, stopped some people on Finchley Common, was pursued by the horse ​patrol [Highgate to Barnett] as far as Kentish-town, where he was taken.
N.B. Persons who travel with a good deal of property, if they mean to preserve it, should provide fire arms, at all events, taking care that they are in primest order for firing; for it will be an easy matter to foresee, that a flash in the pan would occasion your certain death. No time remains for priming when a desperate fellow holds a pistol at your head. You should also make up your mind to do execution, if put to the test: dalliance with edge tools in such cases would be fatal. To this mistaken notion Mr. Fryer sacrificed his life in White Conduit fields (1798): having thrown out his tuck, and failing to use it, the foot-pad shot him dead! This is a practical lesson for you, even though I did not know before hand what was likely to take place, in almost every possible extremity.