The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-29


bar and officers Of police, in relation to the
rest Of pickpocket known by the name Of Jack
Hatfield alias Milton, and subsequent Imprisonment
OF the officers concerned in his arrest, on their re-
fusal to give bail to answer in civil suit for da-
IMAGES for his alleged false Imprisonment. The
matter was partially disposed Of, under writ Of
habeas corpus, before the Recorder, on Saturday,
by the re commitment Of the pickpocket to the
custody Of of the officers concerned for reap
pearance before him on Monday Of next week, and
the assent Of counsel to allow the officers to be
leased on their own promise OF appearance to an
swer the action for alleged damages. Thus the
case now stands; but it is to be presumed that dur
ing the present week the Grand Jury of Albany
county will indici the rogue, and that he will then
be demanded under bench warrant, tiled, con-
victed and sent State prison for the full term of
| the law governing the offence of grand larceny,
which constitutes the charge against him. Hatfield
alias Milton is known as of the shrcwdest and
most industrious Of his profession" He is con-
| sidered as the liking pin" of the "knuckrrs," or
chief of the pickpecket tribe of this country and
his arrest and Imprisonment has tended to inter-
fere, very materially, with the contemplated extcn.
sive arrangements made by this class Of sneaking
thieves to plumber the delegates about to assemble
at the Baltimore Wing Convention, which has
been long held in anticipation by them the field
| for rich harvest. This is easily made apparent,
when it is known that no delegate appears there
without sufficient money to meet his expenses to
and fro and that many from the far West and Souri,
never travel on such occasions witheut "pocket
full of rocks" to meet the boasting wagers brag
ging temptations Of their opponents.
| The great increase Of pckpOckets in our Northern
cities within the past few years has induced to
look about order TO ascertain the cause and we
ud that nearly every burglar, thief and robber, that
| is discharged from our State prisons, Immediately
| commences operations as pickpocket. This may
be accounted for IN very simple manner, and it
may result from the total inadequacy OF the existing
laws OF this State TO punish this offence it de.
serves We have been induced to think that the
experiences cvinced by many discharged convicts in
| ight-hngered operations, has been the result Of
daily practice upon their associates While in inn
| prsonment. II is well known to all who have
Witnessed the discipline Of the prison at Sing Sing,
that the convcts uarch to and from their cells and
| workshops, under the eyes OF their keepers, in
"single fc," with the clock step.' Thus closely
huddled together, after the other, the almost
irresistible temptation is offered-either in sport or
| reality, by the convict in the rear, to pick the
Jacket pockets Of his associate in front, of any little
| article thai he may have deposited there for his
| own use-and to such an extent has this trickery
or thievery been carried, that old thrice chewed
| quid of tobacco has been known to pass from the
head to the foot of the gang while they march
| ing TO or from their workshops. BY this means
they acquire the first principles of the "profes-
sion," which are put into full practice as soon as
they set at large
There is another reason, no doubt, that prompts
old rogues to adopt this system of plumber in pre-
ference to burglary and other higher offences It
is because there no laws in this State making
pckpocketing special offence, such as exist in
almost every other State of the Union. The
crime is punishable under statute, either as a
grand or petit larceny only. IF the rogue is ortu
nate enough to steal 1925, then he is liable to
an indictment for grand larceny alone, which SUBJ
jects him TO from two to five years imprisonment
If less than that sum- it is petit larceny only, pun
ishable with imprisonment in the city prison or
penitentiary, from one day to six months We
have no laws in this State, making the attempt 10
pick pocket a special offence, such as
exist in Pennsylvania, where it is a felony pun
ishablc with three years imprisonment or less.
The effect of this law in Pennsylvania, has almost
totally prevented the operations Of these thieves in
| the populous towns of that State, and although
large numbers Of them reside in Philadelphia, yet
their F" business Transactions are confined almost
| exclusively TO this city, Baltimore ana Washing
ton. Within the past several months, no less than
| ten notorious pickpOckets have escaped from the
hands Of justice in this city, because the present
laws were not sufficient to keep them in custody,
although evidences Of attempt" in several in
stances and actual commission Of the act in Others
was in the hands Of the police magistrates at the
time they discharged. The combination
that exists among this class Of thieves is such tina,
they can control large sums OF money at short no.
| tlce, to procure the aid of able counsel, and the
purchase of straw" responsible bail, if one OF
! their gang is arrested in his operations They,
therefore. can and do escape justice, even when
the testimony is clear and strong against them
| The attention OF the members Of the Assembly
from this city has been called to this subject through
| the columns OF this press at various periods bat
| with little effect, no movement has ever been
| made by them to protect the community by the
enactment of additional laws, making pickpocket-
| ing special offence.
| THE GROWING CRoPs We learn from gentle
man who has Just returned from a tour through
Frederick and Washington counties in this etatc AMI
through thirteen Of the principal wheat growing counties
In Virginia that the Of abundant harvest
been better within his recollection Every where
the wheat presents unusually healthy and advanced
appearance and bids fair to yield 10 the husbandnan
rich return for his toll In regard other products
Of the soil the appearances equally hattering Bali
| finer, .apriI3 ~
| VIRGINIA ELEcTIoN.-An election took place in
Virginia Thur.day, for two members Of Congress in
place Of Messrs Wise and Gilmer nine members the
State Senate, to supply the places Of members whose
terms have expired, and the whole 1871 members Of the
House Of Delegates SO far heard from the wings have
gained three and lost one, leaving net gain Of two
| r
nary last the murder Of his wife, the Circuit for
tauque county and sentenced to be hung the lah of
March respite was granted by Gov. b0uck until the
first Friday in May for the purpose oil giving full oppor
tunity TO investigate the alleged Insanity Of Corne2