Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-01
GEfc,a the Ne,o York Courier and Enquirer.

Ffcm the Nsv York Courier and Enqui,er.l
Pick PocKErs "A gentleman from kentuc.
XIV, by the name of Sco,il, who happened to De
present on Wednesday night at the book sale of
Isaac L. Doughty, M 1863 Broadway, vas rub.
bed of a pocket book containing $40. Feeling
himself unusually pressed IN the crowd BY some
persons behind him, his suspicion was excited,
aud not without cause, thst some person was rob.
biua him, for on instantly placing his hand on
his coat pocket he found that the book and mo.
ney had been distracted as above stated. He
Immediately communicated his loss to the auc-
tioneer, who despatched his clerk to the Park
Theatre for Mr.. Merritt the police officer, and
caused the doors in the interim to be closed, by
which ali were prevented from getting out. In
i short time Mr. Merritt arrived, to whom the
facts were detailed, who finding the company in
the auction room exceedingly good humored. and
equally anxious With the person robbed to ferret
out the thief, proceeded to state his errand
there and to scrutinize the company.
Almost the first person whom he surveyed
was an old pick pocket and convict, by the name
of Rickhow, whom he took aside and searched,
but nothing being found upon him he was placed
under guard in one corner, while he proceeded
TO make further discoveries. The second whom
he recognized as suspicious person, was also
pick and cOnvict recently out of the
Safe P,isoD. by the name Of M'kenna. He was
also searched, but with the same success, and
also placed under guard. The third and last,
by the name OF Kimberley, also an old convict
and equally liable to suspicion as the others,
was then searched aud placed in the corner with
the other tw0 These three constituting the on
~ persons in the room justly liable to suspicion.
it was concluded by Mr.. Merritt that one or the
other OF them had committed the offence, either
separately Or as accompiices, and that the pocket
bouk and money had been secretly disposed of
by them 10 some way or other.
Mounting the rostrun of the auctionecr, he de-
sired the attention Of the company, and then pro-
ceedsd to tell them that the stolen property was
in all probability in the room. aud, for aught he
knew, transferred by the thief to the pocket of
some one present, the better to elude suspicion.
He, therefore. requested every individual to
search his own pockets to ascertain the fact; this
was done simultaneously BY all, but to no effect.
Again commanding attention, he requested the
company to stoop down and examine the -four.
This they all did, when rising up, presen-
ted the lost money which nc had found at his
feet, consisting Of one fifty dollar bill. one TWEEN.
". one five, and two two's on the National Bank
in this city. as the same had been described
by Mr.. Sco,i, previous to It's being found.
The company here separated, pleased At the
restoration of the money, while the three who
bad been placed in the corner. were given in the
charge OF sumo wachmeB and taken to the watch
house. where they were detained until morning
and then:committed by the magistrate to Bride.
well Tor further examination.