The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-28

A NOTED PrCKPocKET PLIES HIS FocA-
TON AT A CHURCH, AND IS CAPTURED AZ
TER AN EXCITING CHAsE.--As the wor-
shippers we're leaving Christ church, which
is located on the corner of Michigan ave
nue. and Twenty fourth street, after the
morning service Sunday, they were some
what surprised at the entrance OF nsuie
and n face that was entirely unfamiliar 10
the congregation. The figure was .hat OF a
tall, raw boned athlete, about twenty years
of age, and the face was one mat lna!cated
ANYTHING rather than any plous procilvitles
or excessive religious en'husiasm. His
dress was of very decided nfglig< order,
witbout any cravat or even q collar about
his neck, while slouched hat, carroty
complexion, pug nose, and black eye,
indicated that his presence there was not
from any desire to participate in the quiet
pleasures and instructions Of the Sabbath
school. Still he had the air Of a person on
important business, and he was curiousiy
watched by many who saw him enter. His
purpose soon became apparent, and formed
an exciting sequel to his introduction (pro-
badly the firss) to the sanctuary.
He stood there watching the throDg in
tensely as they passed by, until lady,
whose name was not learned, came along
with porte-monnaie in her hand. With
the quickness of thought he seized this,
and was off with the celebrity of deer. At
first the spectators were dumbfoupded in
their amazement but before the agile form
of the sacrilegous thief was lost to view
the cry of "Stop thief" was raised, and
soon large party were in hot pursuit.
Fortunately, Sergeant Barrett and officer
Higgins, of the First Precinct police, hap
pened to be near by, and soon joined IN
the chase. The course Of the pursued and
pursuers was in q westerly direction.
Through Bridgeport, past the city limits,
they ran, new recruits joining the pur-
suing party as fast as the old ones gave out
from exhaustion (among them citizen on
but still the fugitive, stimu-
lated by the yells of his would-be cap
tors, kept on, showing no signs of fatigue.
Across the prairies, clearing bitches
and fences at single bound, still he
ran, and it seemed that he would effect his
At one time, when his pursuers
were q considerable distance behind, he
met an old gentleman driving in buggy,
and as ked him for ride, ready consent
being obtained. As he was about to step
into the buggy he cast an eye toward the
horse, whose appearance did not indicate
that his chances for escape would be in
creased, and, turning contemptuous look
to the benevolent old gentleman, said TO
him, You be id; can run faster than
that horse ~; and left him petrifed with
4 considerable distance out
upon the prairie, some three and half
miles from the starting point, he lodged
around the corner of school-house, and
when the pursuing party arrived he was no
where to be seen. At last lady was
found who saw him jump through broken
pane of glass into the building. A search
was at once instituted, when he was found
curled up under the teachers desk. He
was then conducted in triumph to the
armory amid great excitement on the part
Of the crowd who had witnessed the ex-
citing chase.
He proved 70 be well known pickpocket
named Fox alias Dean, and who, only the
day before, had been tried in the police
court on the charge Of vagrsncy, convicted,
and subsequently released on special bail.
After his arrest he stated that it was his
intention had the horseman who was in
pursuit Of him come up to him to knock
him down and appropriate The animal, when
he believed he could have escaped. -Lhi-
CQqO Times, 18th.