Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-06
HOW PICKPOCKETS OPERATE

Although the old saying Of ''set thief to
catch thief is utterly repudiated by the
Ponce Department, still there are many of the
detectives who know how to handle every tool
uSed ny 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 dexterously as the most ex-
pert operator in either line of business If YOU
have been robbed in any manner tell one of
them the circumstances attending the case and
ne will tell you where, when, and how the theft
was perpetrated, and, not unfrequently he
Will shrewdly guess the name of the offender
| Being IN the Detective Office few days since
we observed u curious scene, which we will
| describe. The Captain, Sergeants, and half a
dozen detectives were sitting about the fire
busily engaged in coloring their respective
meerschaums and canvassng the prospects of
thls or that thief. or relating how "COrkie
Jack " "did" this countryman, or how Cock
ney Bill got five years for appropriating a
gentleman's watch-when heavy -whiskered,
brOad-shOuldered, rOugh-loOking parsonage en-
ters. single glance satisfies all hands that
he is countryman and has been ssdone'' by
some sharper. The countryman says he has
been robbed of pocket-boOk containing $500
In gold. He is asked to relate how it occurred
and replied by saying that he left the Astor
House In the morning for Jersey City; went
down to the ferry-bOat where he bought q
ticket for Philadelphia, paying 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 sim
pie statement, one of the Detectives questions
him closely, and elicitS the further facts that
he stopped at the railroad ticket office. in the
ferry house, and bought ticket for Phladel-
phla; that In paying for the same he exhibited
roll of bank bills which he again put into his
pccket; that the boat was crowded; that in his
hurry to be first on the shore he had forced his
way to the bow of the boat that he was jostled
considerably by the crowd; that he had bun
die in his hand which he clasped tightly across
his breast with his left hand and arm; that a
well dressed gentleman with light mOustache
addressed 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 the money The De-
tective having got all the information he de-
sired, then said to the stranger, Fancy Char
ley has got your money, and I'll tell you how
ne dld IT When you bought your ticket,
Charley saw how much money you put in
your pocket; he stuck close to you while cross
ing the river, and ne 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 placing of
1t. lie kept jostling 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 panta-
loon, so that 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 walked few steps forwarl,
hits his left leg to step over the imaginary
chain, when in twinkling the Detectives
hand slides unperceived into his pocket, and
draws forth jack-knife without exciting the
least suspicion on the part of the stranger
When shown the trick, the countryman 'al-
lows it's pretty cute" and is satisfied where
his meney is gone. lie was then shown pic
ture of Charles, which graces the Rogue's
Gallery. and in it recognized the man who
had addressed him on the boat. But how to
get his money back, that's the question"
'Faney 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 requisition is procured
and Charley arrested, consequently he departs
for home minus $500.