Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-10-01
he 'splant" was made upon her, affords good
xample of the style Of putting up'' house rob-

example of the style Of putting up" house rob-
berry:
The Young man with whom she had casually
become acquainted called after the family had
gone out, and she asked him into the back par
lor. He then asked her to dress and go out with
| him, and he remained in the back parlor while
she dI Iessed. While in the back parlor he asked
her if she could could get glass of wine, and
she told him she could not as the wine was lock-
ed up. He said it did not matter, as they
should have one when they went out, and that
he expected TO meet his sister at Elephant and
Castle They then LETT the house and went for
walk, on reaching the Elephant and Castle re-.
mained there for sometime, waiting for the
Young mans sister but did not see her. They
next proceeded to public-house, where they
had glass of brandy and water, and the young
man accompanied her to the end of the street.
where they parted, wi.hsthe intention that they
should meet Mt one o'clock on the following day
and spend the afternoon together. On going to
unlock the door she found it 9iar, and on going
in found that the house had been robbed. On
discovering this she did NOT Know what to do.
but thought she would make up story about
thieves having got into the house, and took
knife and chopped her hand; but after this.
not knowing how to face her master or mistress
after being so wicked, she took mp the knife a.
gain, intending to kill herself, and inflicted the
wound on her throat"
This confession was enough for the officers,
and her "young man," with his confederates,
were caught and convicted
The leading mobsmen are the only class ofthieves
who touch as they term it, the ordinary socie-
ty of better men. The practitioner in this line
must dress and be as much like gentleman as
possible, in oider 10 pursue his avocation with
out suspicion. Accordingly, he lives with a
woman, who passes for his wife. in genteel lod-
gings, and generally in the drawing-ruom floor.
As his earnings are often very large, he has ev-
erything about him Of the most expensive kind
his style of living is luxurious. and he drinks
nothing less than hook and champagne. de
sometimes keeps a banki e account. and one
man named Brown. lately apprehended, had
a balance at his bankers of $500. AS the
members of this fraternity work wholly IN the
daytime, going ont in the morning and return
ing in the evening, the landlady believes that
they are engaged in mercantile pursuits, and
have business in the city; and as 1t is part OF
their game to pay their way literally, she es-
teens them to be model lodgers
The domestic habits of thieves are all pretty
much alike; huctuating between the prison and
the hulks, they exhibit the usual characteristics
OF men engaged in dangerous enterprises. Ihey
mainly pass their time when not at work IN
gambling, smoking and drinking and in listen
ing to the adventures OF their companions 1t
must be remembered, however, that the profess
ed thief even if he drinks, is never drunk: he
is employed in desperate undertakings which
require him to have his wits about him quite as
much if not more, than the honest man. When a
pickpocket is flush of money, he spends 1t in
the most lavish manner-takes tour with his
female companion to the Isle of Wight or to a.
ny other place he has wish to see, and puts up
1T the best hotels. In some of these trips he
thinks nothing of spending 230 in fortnight,
and when the money is gone he comes back a,
gain to work Thieves are generally faithful
to each other; indeed the community OF danger
in which they live developes this virtue to an
unusual extent. Ifa pal is apprehended, they
cheertully put down their guinea apiece to pro-
vide him with counsel for his TRIAL. and if he
should be imprisoned they make collection for
him when he comes out. A curious circum-
stance is tile rapidity with which news OF any
OF the body having been arrested travels among
his COMPANIONS. We are assured that no sooner
is young thief captured and taken to the sta
tion house, although he may have been plum
dering far away from his home, than some ass''.
ciate brings him his dinner or tea as matter OF
course
The best class swell mobsmen sometimes act
upon the ioint-stock principles with limited IL
abilities.' When good thing is in prospect
gold-dust robbery or bank-robberry-lt Is NOT
unusual for several of them to post rs much as
ESQ apiece in order to provide the sinews OF
war to carry on the plan in business-like man
ner. If in the end the job succeeds the money
advanced is carefully paid back to the persons
advancing it--several of whom have lved lor
wears OH plunder thus obtained without the po-
| lice being able to detect them. Often the re-
ce;vers make these adventures in crime. ana
blot the robbery of jewellers shop with as
much GOODNESS and shrewdness as though u were
an ordinary mercantile speculation ana 1le pro pr,
duce is disposed of in the same pusihesslllhe I'm
manner. Watches are what Is termed 're-cnrlS-
tened that is, the makers names ana nu'i'oerS
ara taken out and fresh ones put IN; they are
then exported in large quantities to America
All articles of plate are Immediately thrown ,hto
the crucible and melted down, so as 10 pace
them beyond the hope of identlhcstloh' III
many cases when the receiver cannot !iorouen-
IL depend upon the thief it is, we oelieVe' Gus
tomary to employ intermediate receivers, SO aS
TO render it impossible to trace the properly 10
liz ultimate destination. 1t must not oe sup
posed that the passion for gain IS always Tue
sn,s Incentive to robbery. oh how 40 love
thieying! If had thousands ia stiii oe
thief" such were the words uttered oy you.h
n Coldhathhelds Prison, and overheard oy ehe
governor.