The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-03-03
6eufral Misffllanu.
A Scene in the Detective Police Office.

! "A Il
The detective police officer who would be
expert at his business, feels it to be his duty
not only to become perfectly familiar with
the countenance of all detected offenders a.
gainst the majesty of the law, but also to fa-
miliarize himself with the various modes in
which thieves perform their work. Although
the old saying of "set a thief to catch
thief" is utterly repudiated BY the police
department, still there are many Of the de-
tectives who know how to handle every tool
used by burglars and thieves. who can show
you "where the little joker is" who can work
the patent safe or pocket-book dropping
game, or pick pocket as dexterously as the
most expert operator in either line of bust
ness. If you have been robbed in any man.
ner, tell one Of them the circumstances at
tending the case, and he will tell you where,
when and how the theft was perpetrated, and
no, unfrequently shrewdly guess the name Of
the offender. Being in the Detective Office
IA few days since, we observed a scene which
we will describe.
The captain, sergeants and half-a-dozen de-
tectlves were sitting about the fire, busily en-
gagged in coloring their respective meer-
schaums, and canvassing the prospects of this
or that thief, or relating how "Corkie Jake
did" his coun,rymen, or how "Cockney Bill"
got five years for appropriating gentleman's
watch, when heavy-w hiskcred, broad-shoul-
dered, rough-looking parsonage enters. A
single glance satisfied all hands that he is
countryman, and has been "done" by some
sharper. Ike countryman has been robbed
Of a pocket-book Containing $500 in gold.-
He is asked to relate how it ocuorred, and
replied by saving that ne left the Astor
House in the morning for Jersey City; went
down to the fsrry-boat, where he bought
ticket for Philadelphia, paving for it from
roll Of bills Which he afterwards put back in
his pocket, and when he landed in Jersey
City the money was gone. Having given
this simple statement, one of the detectives
questions him closely, and cicts the further
facts ,ha, he stopped at the railroad ticket
Office. in the terr! house, and bought ticket
fer Philadelphia; that in paving for the same
he exhibited roll of bank bills, which he
again put in his pocket that the boat was
crowded; thai in his hurry to be frs, on the
shore be had forced his way to the boat that
he had bundle in his hand which he clasp
ed tightly across his breast with his left hand
and arm: that a ~eli-dressed gentleman, with
4 light moustache, addressed several remarks
10 him, and stood by him in the crowd that
VIXEN TIE boat struck the bridge, lie stepped
o> >er the chain, left foot first, and went a.
shore, and when he got into the depot he
missed his money.
The detective having got all the informa
,ion he desired, then said to the stranger
Fancy Charley has got Your money, and lii
tell YOU how he did it. When YOU bought
your ticket, Charley saw how much money
YOU put in your pocket; he stuck close to
YOU while crossing the river, and he was the
weli-dressed man who spoke to you. The
bundle you held so tightly kept your left arm
occupied, just as he would have fixed it if
he had had the placing Of it. He kept jost-
ling against YOU, so that you would not no.
tice him when he took the money. When
you lifted your left leg to get over the chain,
his right hand went into your left-hand pock-
et aud the money was his. The act Of step
ping over the chain cased your pantaloons,
so you could not feel his touch"
The detective then points to a crack in the
floor, places the mans arm across his breast,
and tells him to imagine the crack to be the
boats chain, and requests him to step over
it. The countryman walks few steps for
ward, lifts bis leg to step over the imaginary
chain, when in tvirkling the detectives
hand slides unperceived into his pocket, and
draws forth jack-knife without exciting the
slightest suspicion on the part of the stran-
ger. When shown the trick, the countryman
"allows it's pretty cute" and is satisfied who
has get his money. He was then shown a
picture Of Charley, which graces the Rogues'
Gallery. and in it recogn ized the man who
had addressed him on the boat. But how
to get his money back, 'that's the question"
Fancy Charley is too smart to show him.
self in New York for some time, but is rus
,icatirg i'll the interior of New Jersey, and
the coultryman cannot remain TIL requsi-
tIon is procured and Charley arrested, conse-
qucntiy he departs for home minus his $500.
In few days Fancy Charley returns 10 the
city, where he lives fast life till MS money
is gone, and then watches for chance TO
prey upon some one else. In the same way
the officer will explain how burglary was
committed. how some female customer stole
a piece of silk from your store, or what be-
came of the family silver. 1t is necessary
that they should be able to see at glance
how tI.ing was done, before they are able
TO tell who did it, and 10 acquire This knowl-
edge they necessarily become experts in :hc
various tricks of the trade. Tribune.
Mishap of Newly Married Couple.
Tho Fall Rivnr Mare r.I,tos ~, Is, ,G,,.; ~