The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-29 00:00:00

watches, snuff-boxes, pocket-books, or purses, never in-
terfering with the minor tricks, for if they should be
obliged to take out of the pocket a handkerchief,
after a good booty it is replaced. There are
different terms made use of expressive of their va-
rious methods of stealing from this person. In hust-
ling, the victim of plunder is surrounded in a push, and,
as will presently be shown, he is robbed of every valua-
ble article in his possession. Another mode more par-
ticularly applies to the quick extraction, as by a snatch
of a watch from the fob or waistcoat, pocket ; another
is particularized by violence ; the mob meets a man,
hustles him ; if he will not quietly drop, but becomes
obstreperous, he is knocked down and robbed ; the
Spitalfields weavers' bull-baiting on Easter Monday
afforded abundant opportunities for such robberies,
which at that time could be pursued by all classes of
thieves almost with impunity. The method of plunder
pursued by the swell mob is as follows :—Six, eight,
ten, or twelve persons form a mob, and go out
together. They are all respectably attired, and
frequent all public assemblages of the people where they
may expect numbers thronged together, as races, fairs,
prize-fights, processions, ceremonies, &c. These
places form a grand centre of attraction for them ; here
their bread lays, and here they are ever to be found.
They keep together, not appearing to be known to each
other. By noticing men, they are enabled, through
long practice, pretty correctly to tell whether a person
has property about him. Some betray themselves by
showing a certain anxiety after their charge by fre-
quently applying the hand to the pocket ; others by
retaining it there, &c. They soon mark a victim—
they follow him till a push occurs, either acci-
dentally by meeting a group of people, or inten-
tionally made by themselves. Two go before their
man, the others close up behind ; their victim is
hemmed in, a push takes place, he is jostled and hustled
about, the thieves cry out to those behind not to press
so, the press is increased ; the victim being surrounded
his pockets are presently turned inside out. No time
is lost ; if he does not readily raise his hands, but keeps
them in his pockets, or at his side, to guard his property,
his bat gets a tip behind, perhaps it is knocked over his
eyes. To right his hat he raises his arms, nor does he
get them dowu again till eased of everything in his
possession. His fob and vest pockets are emp-
tied by the thief standing beside him, and plac-
ing one arm against the chest of the dupe,
by this means keeping his arms and head up whilst with
the other he unbuttons the coat and rifles the pockets ;
the trousers pockets and coat pockets are emptied by
those behind, others behind them immediately take the
property. When the gentleman has been robbed, the
signal is given to that effect, the push subsides. The
person immediately discovers his loss, he looks about
him, and is, in the language of thieves, " stunned,"
but no detection takes place ; the mob move away in
different directions, and again assemble and repeat their
game. This system of thieving is nearly safe ; it is
practised with impunity in a push, and it may be
conceived to be a very lucrative profession when it is
recollected how readily, under the circumstances of a
push, a perion may be stripped of his property. This
game is so general, that few men of sporting notoriety
pass through life without having their pockets turned
inside out more than once.
The game of reticule hunting is extensively practised
by this class of thieves. At a race, the moment of
suspense and anxious expectation created invariably
when the horses, having rounded the distance post, are
spurred by their riders, straining every nerve to come
in, every eye is directed to the course, every attention
is occupied by the all-engrossing scene, but amidst all,
the thief is to be observed watching his prey ; to him
the turf yields no delight, but only as it contributes to
aid him in the system of plunder he pursues. A lady
is seen to carry a silk bag ; a boy engaged by the swell
mob, and smartly dressed, "steals near her, and
with his scissors cuts open the bag and extracts the
small pocket-book generally carried by females in
their silk bag or reticule ; at another part of the course,
the coach stands, you will see a thief, under pretence
of anxious wish to peep at the horses, raise himself by
stepping upon the spoke of a carriage wheel ; a single
glance into the inside tells him where the gentleman's
watch, spectacles, the lady's reticule and pocket-book
lay, deposited as in a place of safety by their side on
the cushion ; whilst their attention is wholly taken up
in observing the coming in of the horses, the thief
stretches forth his arm and takes what he sees. Much
valuable property is stolen in this way ; there are many
who for years follow this species of thieving alone,
making sufficient during the summer months to pass the
winter comfortably.
Although, for the most part, a thief confines himself
to the practice of one kind if thieving at any particular
time, yet, as will be perceived, he can practise, as
occasion may require many different branches of the
profession. Although the modes already described are
the principal descriptions of thieving, they aro by no
means all, the varieties are innumerable, many equally
deserving of notice ; stealing wet linen is a distinct
game, dog-stealing is another, but of all the minor
depredating crimes undescribed, there is none so ex-
extensively carried on, and more manifestly injurious,
than uttering bad money ; this is a trade for the indo-
lent, in which hundreds are constantly employed. The
money passes through several hands : first there
are the makers, silver is chiefly made in London,
but gold at Birmingham ; then we have the whole-
sale dealer, next the retail dealer, and last, the smasher
or utterer, who, as usual, receives least of the " sweets"
and most of the gall attending the prosecution of this
game ; most of the dealers are Jews, and from the
maker to the utterer each has his profit, but as a general
rule the retail dealer buys 6/. of base coin for I/. sterling.
One individual has for some time supplied most of the
town smashers ; he meets them regularly every morning
at an appointed house, and supplies each according to '
their means of purchase for that day's issue, the
sovereigns at 45., the crown at 10d., half-crowns at 3d.,
shillings at 2id., &c.
To guard successfully against the above plunderers
of society is a task of no little difficulty ; we must allow
experience to be a good guide. Pickpockets say, that
if a handkerchief be carried in the inside coat-pocket,
hat, or even pinned in the outer pocket, they are
foiled. Shop thieves say, if a till be locked or a nail
at the back part to prevent it drawing entirely ouf
they are balked. Pickpockets say, if they get a mao
into a push he must be robbed, unless he be aware of
them, if so their cant words will save him ; if he keeps
out of a push, his cash in an inside pocket, his watch
well guarded by a chain, or wears a cloak in the season,
they are foiled. The house-breaker says, a plate of
sheet-iron on the inside of the door foils him in his at-
tempt at panelling, and that Chubb's lock gives a great
deal of trouble in opening, but Bramah's has as as yet
defeated all their attempts. The thief who robs shop-
windows says, wire gauze curtain inside the glass foils
him. The thief who robs shops by " palming," that
the shopkeeper must be aware of the game of palming
to gu,ird against his attacks. And the most notorious
smashers say, that bad gold is known by its deficient.
standa-d weight, bad silver by its malleability and
reasy feel.

WIGAN ELECTION COMMITTEE

RESIGNATION OF MR. KEARSLEY.
Mr. KEARSLET resigned the contest on Saturday, and
Mr. EWART is declared the sitting Member.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, APRIL 27.
THE QUEEN V. LUMSDATNE.
This was a case sent from the Dorsetshire Sessions for
the opinion of the Court as to the validity of a poor-rate in
the town of Wimborne Minster, and the question intended
to be raised was, as to whether stock in trade was liable to
be rated. In 1833, stock in trade not baying been included
in a poor-rate, an appeal was entered, on the ground that
stock in trade yielding a profit was not included, and the
rate was quashed, and in 1834 a new rate was made, which
included the stock in trade. Another rate was afterwards
made, in which personal property was not included. The
Sessions wished to have the opinion of the Court whether
stock in trade yielding profit ',vas liable.
The ATTORNIY-GILNEILL appeared to contend, that this
rate, which included stock in trade, was a good rate. He
urged, that although the Courts bad always shown a dis-
position to avoid deciding in favour of this rateability, yet
it was clearly the old law that stock in trade was liable.
Rule absolute for quashing the rate.