The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-09-22
The Secret of POcket.Pickilg.

A SHORT time since, while our reporter
was visiting town in the interior, he
made the acquaintance Of a well-to-do
farmer, who, after making some inquiries
in regard to the growth and prosperity of
Detroit inquired if there were any pick
pockets in the city. The reply was Of
course in the affirmative. The farmer
laughed quietly moment, and then
said:
81 don't often tell my first experience
in seeing the lions Of your city, but am
not as sensitive over it now as l used to
be and III tell you about 1t. Some years
before my father died he went to New
York city on business, and while there he
bought himself gold watch. He wore it
as long as he lived, and when he died, q
few years ago, il came to me. Cf course
I was strongly attached 10 the watch, and
not little proud of it, especially when
put it in my pocket upon the occasion OF
my first visit to Detroit. | haven't any
doubt that 1 looked at it a hundred times
q day, and you Will not be al all surprised
when | tell you that had not been in the
city two hours before twas missing, chain
and ALL
II informed the clerk of the hotel where
was stopping OF my loss, and as did rot
remember of being ioatled by any one and
could give no clue to the thief he said
there was no use in calling in an
officer. He advised nc to offer
large reward for the return Of
the watch and add that no questions
would be asked. then put such an adver-
tisement in the morning papers, and dur
| ing the afternoon received note INFORM
ing me that if | would be at the corner of
ID 49,
at seven O'Clock with the reward ($lG0)
my watch would be returned to me. The
note also stated that must come alone,
and if during the day made any attempt
to inform an officer the writer would not
meet me- That would be watched ali
the time, and the only way that / could
recover my watch was by doing precisely
rs advertised.
"At seven o'clock was at the spot in.
Dictated, and after waiting a few moments
a well-dressed man in passing me asked
NE the time Of day. ! replied that it was
seven o'clock. Atthat he asked ne to walk
along with him short distance, and as we
walked he inquired if had brought the
S100 l replied in the affirmative, whep
he handed me my watch, received the
money, and was about to leave me, when
| stopped him, and told him would give
him $40 more to tell NE how he managed
to pick my pocket.
"'Ohp said he, placing his finger On
his lips, you promised to ask no ques-
tons, but would show you if it wasn't
for that nan standing over there on the
corner. He is detective officer and
knows me- and the man pointed across
the street.
az looked in the direction he hsd indi-
Gated, but could see no one that looked
like an officer, though there were plenty
of people standing in that locality. THAT
tall fellow with the stove pipe hat is the
one / mean; but must DC Off. Good
bye
1.-THE man hurried off and ] saw him
disappear round the corner then again
trie to see the tall fellow with the stove
pipe hat, but ii he had been there he had
disappeared, and / started for the hotel
happy in again possessing my fathers last
present TO me. At this thought put MY
hand upon my vest pocket, where / had
placed the watch moTnent.before, and
the next instant you could have knocked
me down with straw, for the pocket
was empty. The thief had indeed com
piled with my request, and shown me
how it WAS done / didn't advertise for
it again, and L came home without telling
the hotel clerk about that evenings ex.
Derience Detroit Post