The weekly ledger., 1857-04-25
"Garrotting."
HOW IT is DONE, AND WHO DO IT.

! HOW 1T IS DONE, AND WHO DO IT.
We have lately received sundry letters
| from anxious correspondents in which they
desire us to acquaint them with the modus
operandi of Garrotters. Never having been
favored with any attentions on the part of
this new tribe Of nocturnal highwaymen, we
are unable to speak from our own experience
of them or their ways, and as nobody who
has ever undergone the Operation" which
they so adroitly perform, appears to be able
to give any clear account of the process-we
are equally at loss to speak from the actu-
al experience of others. In order, however,
to crafty our correspondents curiosity-we
have conversed with two or three of the
knowing ones about the Office of the Chief of
Police, and from them we have gathered the
following information on the subject.
Garrotters travel in pairs. One of the
pair, necessarily tall, athletic villain, carries
fastened on one arm near the elbow piece
of wood made to fit the human neck,-why,
we shall presently see. We will call him
number one.
His companion need not be Of any partic-
ular sze-it is only necessary that he be a
nimble folow-expert at unfastening breast
pockets. We will call him number two. 1t
is rather unusual for them to wander about
the streets making indiscriminate attacks
They select some good subject in deliberate
and business-like manner and, after keeping
his track until time aud place suit their pur-
pose-numher one carelessly walks alongside
of the victim closely followed by number
two. Quick as thought and before the VIC
tim has chance to suspect any evil design
number ones arm is under his chin, throw
ing back bis head while the elbow with the
wooden cap is pressed with great force
against his throat Between pain, astonish-
ment, terror and strangulation, he is utterly
incapable of resistance, and while in this state
number two quietly relieves him of his jewels,
watch and pocket-book. He is then violent
ly thrown or knocked to the ground, and
perhaps, to make it perfectly certain that he
will lie still, he is kicked half dozen times
or so about the head The whole operation
does not take more than one or two minutes,
and by the time he is picked up by some
good Samaritan and brought to state of
consciousness, the garrotters are far enough
away and probably snug in their quarters.
leisurely dividing their booty.
There are verious ways of approaching
the victim, governed Of course by the pecu-
liar circumstances of each case If number
one is not quick enough and fails to get his
arm with the wooden covering under the vic
TINS chin and against his throat in time to
| Illustrate resistance or prevent an outcry-he
is summarily quieted by slung shot. For
plunder being the primary object-maiming
and murder are secondary matters. From
professional motives they prefer to do their
business with as much expedition and as little
noise as possible; but if their victim should
unfortunately be in the possession of a stout
windpipe capable Of resisting ordinary gar
rotte pressure and should attempt to run or
cry out watch p he must be SO far subdued
as to admit of quiet operation-even
| though it become necessary to break his nose
or knock out his brains
| There is another class Of midnight robbers
whose number one encircles his. arm around a
mans neck and with clasped hands covers his
mouth while number two attends to the fnan-
cial part of the business These wretches are
called "Muggers" We take them to be eth
er " Garrotters," novititiate-or tenderhear-
ted knaves who from conscientious motives
prefer the gentle and numerous code of treat
ment.
Some persons are in the habit Of remark
ing complacently- often as the subject is
introduced
~ should like to see the garrotters come
at me, as long as have my revolver in my
hand I'll take all the risk of their choking
me-"
| To all this vain boasting we say-that re-
vovers are most excellent safeguards-when
well loaded, capped and the enemy three pa
ces before you in broad daylight; but at one
o'clock on dark morning we rather fear
that two well practiced garrotters are more
than match for one revolver-even though
it be placed ready cooked in the hands of one
of those selfconfdent individuals Meeting
on sudden with two stout, determined, well
armed and ayaricious knaves, somewhere be-
tween the hours of midnight and three o'clock
A. NJ. is quite enough to shock an ordinary
mans nerves and fright his aim from its propi-
ETY.. Still we say to our readers--if you are
obliged to be out alone late at night, 90
armed walk in the middle of the street
carry your revolver by your side, keep a
sharp look out at all points, and if any shah
billy or well dressed. i'll looking or respectable
individual, approach uncomfortably near,
cock your pistol SO that he may hear the
click, click, click, and if he do not suddenly
leave your company, why then, after fair war
ming, blaze away at him or run for the near
est station-house, just as you think most
prudent.
Although garrotters have recently aboun-
ded in side streets during the small hours of
night, we think the vigilance of the police
L..