Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-24
$500 PER ANNUM.
DETECTIVES.

] Inc detective Pollce Diiicer who Wonl1 he al
expert at his business feels i, TO be his dut,
not only to become perfectly familiar with tht
countenanccs of all detected offenders agains
the majesty of the law, but also to iamiliarizt
himselfwitl the various modes in which thieve!
perform their work Although the old saying
| of 'set q thief to catch thief is utterly re-
pudiated by the Police Department, still there
are many of the detectives who know how to
handle every tool used by burglars or 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 dexterous-
ly as the most expert operator in either line of
business. II you have been robbed in any
manner, tell one of them the circumstances at
tending the case, and he will tell you where,
when, and how the theft was perpetrated, and
not untrequenty shrewdly guess the name or
the offender. Being in the Detective Office a
few days since, we observed curious scene
which VIC will describe. The captain, SER
geants, and halta dozen detectives were sitting
about the fire busily engaged in coloring their
respective incerschaums and canvassing the
prospects of this or that thief, or relating how
"Corkie Jack" "didn This countryman, or how
"Cockney Bill" got five years for appropriating
gentleman's watch, when heavy -whiskered,
brond-shouldcred, rough-looking parsonage en-
tiers. A single GLANCE satisfies all hands that
he is n countryinan md has been "donen by
some sharpers. The countryman says he has
been robbed of pocket-book containing $500.
He is asked to relate how it occurred, and re-
plies by saying that he left the Astor House in
the morning for Jersey City went down TO
the ferry boat, where he bought ticket for
Philadelphia, paying for it from roll OF bills
which lie afterwards put back in his pocket,
and when he landed in Jersey City the money
was gone. Having given this simple state
ment, one of the detectives questions him close
ly, and elicts the further facts that he stopped
at the railroad ticket Office for ticket
for Philadelphia that in paying for the
same he exhibited a roll of bank bills,
which lie again put into his pocket; that
the boat was crowded that in his hurry to be
bow Of the boat; that he was jostled conside-
rably in the crowd; that he had bundle in
his hand which he clasped tightly across his
breast with his left hand and arm that well
dressed gentleman with light moustache, ad-
dressed several remarks to him, and stood BY
him in the crowd that when the boat struck |
the bridge, he stepped over the chain LETT foot |
first, and went ashore; when he got into the |
depot he missed his money, The detective |
having got all the information he desired, then |
said to the stranger, "Fancy Charley has got |
your money, and I'll 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 yon while crossing the river |
and he was the well-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 the planning of it. He kept |
jostling up against you so that you would not |
notice 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 pocket, |
and the money was his. The act of stepping |
over the chain eased up your pantaloons, so
that you could not feel his touch" The detec-
tive then points to n 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 eoun-
tryman walks few steps forward, lifts his left |
leg to step over the imaginary chain, when in
n .winkling the detectives hand slides unper-
ceived into his pocket, and draws forth jack
knife without exciting the slightest suspicion
on the part of the stranger. When shown the |
trick the countryman "allows its pretty cute"
and is satisfied where his money has gone. |
He was then shown picture of Charles, which 4
graces the Rogue's Gallery, and in it recog- I
nized 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 his face in New York for some time,
but is rusticating in the interior Of Jersey, and
the countryman cannot remain till a requisi-
tlOu 10 pIOSureu uuu Cuhiley utfeatcu, tousc-
quently he hedeparts for home minus his 5000.
In few days "Fancy Charley returns to
the city, where he lives a fast life till his mo-
ney is gone and then watches for chance to
pray upon some one else In tae same way
the officer will explain how a burglary was
committed, how some female customer stole a
piece of silk from your store or what became
of the family silver. 1t is absolutely necessa-
ry that they should be able to see at glance |
how thing was done, before they are able to |
tell who did it, and TO acquire this knowledge |
they necessarily become experts in the various |
"tricks of the trade."-Ne,e York Tribune,