The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-07

Gotham's Criminal Gang-An Expert Pocket
book ssDrorpeT'' Dropped Upon-A Full Term
AT the Fenitentiary and ri ~ Dollars Fine
Attempt TO Deingc n Heuse in West Four
tecnth Street.
Before Judge Shandley.
In the Court OF Special Sessions James Dixon. an
elderly, ogle.eyed. beetle-browed individual. was
yesterday charged by Henry Kierhor, resident
near the Hackensack with attempting 10 rob him OF
ten dollars by means Of the 'pocketbook dropplng''
game in which profession the defendant Is an old
hand and perfect adept. According TO the testi-
mony of the policeman who arrested him the de.
fendant has for several years past hve1 by
THIS DrsGRlcEFUL MODE OF PROCEDURE
"He hangs' around the ferries and railroad depots
and IN the vicinity Of Castle Garden,
to watch for sailors strangers who
are not likely TO understand hts game.
lie viii walk Immediately In front Of his victims
ana drop pocketbook close 10 their feet, and when
the parties have passed few yards he VIII pick up
the book and after them to inquire If they have
lost such an article. The lrst impulse to put their
hands in their pockets to be certain that they have
not lost their money, and when the genuine pocket
book is shown he either strives to steal by force,
or decoy the parties to some place where they can
be .'made sure OFF, This Is the ofllcer's definitions
OF Dixon's mode OF operations. In the present
Kierbon, who IL a verdant young Teuton recently
arrived in this country from the Fatherlapd. had de-
termned to SEND for a friend and left Hacken-
sack on Friday last with the intention OF
purchasing ticket from the agents OF the
bremen line OF steamers. Arriving IN New
York on the ferryboat from Jersey City the
ACCOMPLISHED AND EXPERIENCED 'DRoPpER"
dropped on him and inquired In German II he tKler-
HON had any 'geitin tmoneyl-tne only word In the
language Dixon understood Kierhof innocently
enough said That he had but little" and asked the
man how he could best tnd his way 10 the shipping
agents ofiice. When they came 10 Washington
Mari pf nlV cba cd nj
companion on The left leg at the same time picking
up a pocKetDook, which, ne said. he saw fall from
assured him ne saw the book fall from his pocket.
Kierhod's pocket. In another instant he was
seized by the arm by another man. who also
Kierhou became confused and Immediately drew
forth his wallet, much 10 the delight OF the robbers
who feasted their eyes upon the contents for mo.
meni, and then Dixon, making sudden rush 1T the
GRAsPED TEN DOLLAR ELL
and ran OF, his companion taking another direction.
kIerhon raised an alarm and 1au after Dixon INTO
Washington Market, VINO tried 10 dodge hun around
the meat stalls, but without success In about i've
minutes from the time The bil stolen the cour-
| ageous Teuton caught the .bllRern anu at once
i searched MIN Tor the $40 note, which lie found con-
cealed Ia mis- bosom. ReCa ptufing the cause oil his
din.cuty the young man next colared the old thief
and walked nm out OF The market, where he was
/ met by an officer and DIXON was arrested.
4 As the prisoner leaned over The bar in the court
he looked the very picture OF Marryats pirate
/ cnief.r lie had .'nothn 10 say about the matter;
tins man III his life afore to-day but the
Court thought otherwise for the sentence was six
months at the penitentialy and flne OF lftY dollars
the prisoner 10 stand committed uniI the line should
be PAID.
GUILT AND iNGRATITUoE.
John Ryan, an oid man, whose appearance would
almost elicit sympathy rom the hardest heart in
Gotham, was engaged ny Mrs G. y. Clark, of No. -
West Fourteenth street, TO clear out cellar, FOR
which size was TO pay him certain amount for his
! labor This was one day last week. Mr.. Clark went
| home 10 lunch at about one O'Clock on the day In
| question: and, gong into the kitchen to wash his
| hands, he disdovered thar ten ieet OF
THE LEADES WATER PIPE HAD BEEN CUT
on and carried away. He al once acquainted bis
wife with Inc matter, and the miserable Ryan was
sought but not found. He mad carried away ihe
pipe, but len his wages behind Ryan however natt
called the evening Of the same day and
ascer aimed from the servants that the
complainant wanted him. lie called early
the next day, but took care TO keep
\ in the Kitchen, and presently, hearing
MIR. Clark about, ne rushed from the house and took
shelter IN Colonel an buren's yard When arrested
he dld not deny having taken The pipe.
| Judge Shandley-Mhy did you cuJ this pipes DO
| you not know that you might have dcuged the
house,
/ RYAN, have been IN the country tweniy-erht
! years, and have never been before court before
! your Honor. have an orphan child 90 support and
| ] was compelled on this occasion 10 steal.
| ''Why did you not take the wages for which ron
agreed2 You could not ai'ord TO WORK for nothing
1 ] send you To the Island for t0ur fnonths.u
i The remaining cases OF minor importance heinz
disposed of The court adjourned ~ twelve O'Clock.