The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-09-15
From the Detroit Post i
A FARMERS EXPERIENCE WITH A PICK
POCKET.

A short time since, while our reporter was
visiting a town in the interior, he made the
acquaintance of a well -to-do farmer, who,
after making some inquiries i'll regard to the
growth and prosperity OF Detroit, inquired ii
there were any pickpockets in the city. The
reply was. of course, in the affirmative. The
farmer laughed quietly u moment, and then
said II don't often tell my experience in
seciug the lions Of your city, but am not as
sensitive over it now rs | used to be, and I'll
tell YOU about it. Some years before father
died he went TO New York city on business
and while there he bought him gold watch.
He wore il as long as he lived, and when he
died, a few years ago, he gave it to me. OF
course l was strongly attached to the watch,
and not little proud Of it, especially when
put it in my pocket upon the occasion of my
first visit to Detroit | havn't any doubt that
1 looked at it a hundred times a day, and
you will not be at all surprised when tell
you that had not been i'll the city two hours
before it was missing chain and all.
Il informed the clerk of the hotel where
was stopping OF my loss, and rs | did not re-
member of being iostled by amy one, and
could give no clue TO the thief, he said there
was no use in calling in an officer. lie ad-
vsed me to offer a large reward for the re-
turn of the watch. and add that no questions
would be asked. put such IN ADVERTISE
ment in the morning papers, and during the
afternoon received u note informing me that
| If | would be at the corner OF B and
L. streets that evening ut seven O'Clock
with the reward 800 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
he watched all the Time and the only way
| that could recover my watch WAS by doing
precisely as advertised
'.t seven O'Clock | was at the spot indicat
cd, and after n few moments Il wcll-dressed
man in passing asked me the time of day.
replied that it was seven O'clock At that he
asked me to walk along with him short dis
tance and as we walked he inquired if | had
brought the 800. | replied in the atlirma
tive, when 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 me how he managed to
pick my pocket 'Sh" said he, placing hi>
finger on his lip; you promised to ask me
no questions, but | would show YOU if il
wasn't for that man standing over there Oh
the corner. He is u detective officer ant
knows me-" and the man pointed across the
street. l looked in the direction he had in
Dictated, 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 slove-pipe hat on is the one | mean
but must be off. Good bye The MAJ
hurried off and ! saw him disappear
round a corner; then again tried to see tho
tail fellow with stove pipe hat but if he
had been there he had disappeared, and
started for the hotel happy in again possess
ing my fathers last present to me. At thi:
thought put my hand upon my vest pocket
where had placed the watch but momen
before, and the next instant you could have
knocked me down with straw, for the peck
ct 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 came home without telling the hote
clerk about that evenings experien ce."