The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-01
observation-disclosures l, 1919.
THE PECKPOCKET.

| >aid. i'll reply to question from Bob
Nnnsencc - returned Bob. GLOW can
,n,, make such foolish statement rs that
'rhp man is not alive who has but one fault &;
,,,, all have scores OF faults. Ii is only when
. msn practices one particular vice that we
mt all other follicS out of sight, and say
.hy has but one fault myself used to he
cr, or these tirSt-rate fellows who had but
onr fault. and most unlovely course OF
.rro,n> did have TO so through to effect 4
cure. The rock upon which | split was n
darling sin that did most easily beSct me.
From hovhood | was afflicted with an al
mo> irresistible propensity for indulglng in
DraclCal Jokes; many a troublesome scrapc
did ! ret myself into, and many a friend did
! i,sc by This means. But nothing. how
ever serious might be the result, could de-
fer me when an opportunity offered for
rracticinc my absurd sport. If the victims
were angry and indignant, | only laughed
m, louder. and wondered that they could
NJ. see the fun of the thing. But at length
one of my most exquisite jokes rccoited on
myself with so much force that | can never
even think OF practical joke without 70
>guirm nj the diSaSrccable recollcctions the
thought suggests.
"A> | was ascending the steps Of the EX.
change rcading-room, one day about two
wears ago, SAW, 4 little in advance Of me,
lny intimate friend. Dick Jones. Acceer.
ain: nay pace 10 overtake him, observed
the corner Of large pocket-book pro
trudn- from his coat pocket.
"'What Il careless fellow that Dick Jones
j." said 10 myself. IN give him lesson
that will make him more careful in the tu.
iur".' And coming close behind him
adroitlv transferred the we'll filed wallet
from hi> coat pocket to my breeches pocket.
then falling back among the crowd that is
aIwav> coming and going Change hour, |
entered the room by another door, waiting
the moment when he should discover his
loss. TO step forward and give him his wallet
and n long lecture at the same time.
Il had some little difficulty keeping him
in sight, a he rushed hastily hithcr and
thijhcr. bowinC 10 this man. shaking hands
with that, and having 4 few words with
another. | managed 10 follow him, how.
ever. taking care that he should not recog.
uizc me. and chuck!ing 1T the constcrna-
iion it would occasion him 10 find his
pockct-hook missing. Presently he put his
hand behind him, started. and turned
round, for the first time giving me view
Of hi face. Great Jupiter. it was not Dick
jon, ut all, but q gentleman had never
seen before i'll my life. hCrc was Il predic.
am"nl. As the cnormity of the act OF
whirl | had been guilty presented itScl
before me-. was completely overwhelmed
the blood rushed to NY head rs though
u:,S about 10 have iii attack of apopleXy
and Tor Il moment everything swan before
my eyes. Recovering myself with an effort
! started forward, only to see the gentle
man had robbed vanish through the door
Al high rate ofspeed, and almost instantly
h,.ruur lost in the hurrying crowd.
"Wlat was TO be done: why, return tht
Gentleman his pocket-book at once, o
couysr. But how: | didn't know who ht
Wa. True, the contents of the Wallc
might reveal that, but with what face coulC
SEX out The injured man and say My
dear sir, here'is your pocket-book, which
stole from you short time since. | an
sorry for the theft, and now return tht
property. The only apology | can offer i
that mistook you tor another gentleman
Iunlty!' What would the decply-iniurc(
and tQdly-irightencd gentleman say: and
uhryc all, what would he do Would h
not. with righteous and just indignation
,al You contouuded, contemplate THE
and pickpockct, you have been the cauS
or my having note protested to-day; yol
nave occaSioned me shocking loss O
vajuahla time: YOU have prevented Il splen
G!d bargain; in short. there is no end t.
IN. evils that have resulted from your afro
ciOu, crime. Your story Of the mistake i
4 palpablc humbu-, aud you only return
the property because you feel certain O
being detected before you leave the city
Thi> sort of crime is becoming too common
and feel il my duty TO give you i'll charg
Of The police. Yes; undoubtedly that l
what he would say. He would then opel
the door, beckon TO an officer, and have m
arrested. | should be dragged to prison
examined, and committed without bail
Al my trial the plea of insanity would b.
set up, OF course the intelligent jur,
would consider the defence lame, and shak
their heads Cravely at the story Of the mis-
take : the Judge would say that every othe
pickpOckct might plead a mistake if thi
and everybody would eyclaim How cas-,
the fellow got oil! Only three years in thi
State prison y
with these and similar thoughts run
ming through my head, | paced back an(
forth across the hall with agitated steps
chdcAyoring 10 think of some method o
'Nlicttlns myself from my unpleasant pre-
0iramrmt.
"'W hat the deuce am to do!' / KEEP
repeating to myself, as | fingered the con
founded wallet, which felt like lead in my
pocket, and weighed much heavier thar
lead upon my mind. How can l get the
infamous caltskin back to its lawful owner: !:
such things have been done; we often rea(
0i similar restitution in the papers. Lei
me see; how is it that thieves and pick
pockets manage such things without being
discovered: 'Ah, have it ! | exclaimed
almost aloud, in my intense satisfaction al
The idea. I'm just do the thing up i'll q
neat package and send it by mail. What a
goose was not TO think of that before!'
with heart much lightcned, eagerly
started TO leave the hall. Horror Of hor.
rors at the entrance ! beheld the gentle
man | had robbed engaged in conversation
with a couple of policemen, who stationed
themselves at each door, narrowly watch
inE every person who lett or entered the
il,nl. Words cannot express the utter, hope
less despair into which was thrown at this
,rTFlllng sight. ANY attempt at restoring
the property under these circumstances
would be sure TO be considered the effect OF
Tear, and not of honesty. Here was, as it
We're imprisoned with the most convincing
ana dainnlng proof Of my guilt about my
person, and with Il couple Of lynX-eyed de-
,ec'lNcs barring the entrance, from which
kept A. lar as possible, pretending to be alb
SoFDca III the pcruSal of paper. for | was
conscious my flushed and agitated counten-
alicc would betray me at the first glance.
nat would not give to have been as free
from quit and as much at liberty to 90 and
come where chose, like other honest men,
as was an hour before! But, no there /
was, trembling, skulking thief, watched
nv the police, and liable III any moment to
bc arrested with The evidence of my crime.
-, mat accursed pocket-book? how l
searched the hall with my eyes for some
place where, unob.eryed, / might hide it !!
but an iuslaDts thought convinced me that
such proceeding would only render mat.