New-York tribune., 1873-01-03
A THIEF-RIDDEN COMMUNITY.

| PICKPOCKETS ALLOWED TO PLY THEIR TRADE
ON EVERY sTREET-CAR LINE-EXCUsEs OF
| THE POLICE CAPTAINS-A POLICY THAT ONCE
| DROVE THIEVES FROM THE CITY.
OF late pckpockets have appeared in the
streetcars greater force than usual and have piled
| their calling with boldness and impunity The lines
most infested by the thieves the Crosstown Broad
| way and Universityplace Third Sixth, and Eighth
ayes Their operations may be watched any night on
these lines especially the Third-aye. and Grand
| and Fory-second It. Cross-town lines.
night two ago a reporter OF THE TRIBUNE got on
Thirdave car at Twenty-sixth-st The much
crowded, there being ample standing inside. on
the rear platform three men, One Of them who was
over six feet in hight and OF stalwart proportions
planted himself in the doorway and his two confederates
stationed themselves him. Every person who
tered the the platform compelled to pass
these men, who jostled him and hlched his pockets.
1t was evident that they were thieves, and the con-
ductor asked order chem of the but to all
these requests he turned deaf At Fourteenth-st
the gang left the without having obtained any plum
der for the apparently that OF those who
ran the gauntlet had watches wallets to be taken.
After they had left the the conductor acknowledged
that he knew they pckpockets and that they often
boarded his car but claimed that If he denOunce
them thieves his passengers to look out for
their watches and Wallets he would probably pay the
forfeit with his life; for II not assaulted on the car,
he would be followed and attacked his way home.
Several Instances OF this kind had occurred, he sad
fellowconductor having been beaten not long so
brutally to be confined to his bed for three weeks
HAUNTs THIEVES.
This gang must be well known to.the conductors aud
police The leader, the one who stood the doorway,
is already stated above the medium hight well built,
with very prominent nose light hair and eyes, and
the night In question wore heavy dark overcoat and
fur cap One OF his confederates nearly tall, and
the thrd was shorter ana stouter one pecularty OF
the party that however cold the night none of them
There seem 10 be three gangs Of thieves who
ply their trade on tne cars .: she Lhrdsye line one
where they alight aud take car bound up town see
ond gang operate the cars between Fourteenthst.
and the Cooper Union, and third from that point 10
the neighboIhoOd OF the BOwery Theater.
The Of the Grandst and Cross Town Line are oc-
cuped by thieves frequently between the Academy
of Music and the Fifth Avenue Hotel. While Barnums
Museum and Menagerie exhibiting in Fourteenthst
this line the especial resort OF thieves who reaped
harvest from the crowds Of country people who visited
the Museum The Broadway aud Uniyersltyplace cars,
carrying probably the best class oi Passengers nave
long been infested by pckpockots.
During the evening the ears are crowded by persons
ana M theHS & Sal SSehes & ana ws e 1d IN the 9
vicinity Oi Booths Theater, and the Eghthaye ears
the Grand Opera House are haunts OF thieves who
may also be found on stormy Gays ana nights AT lhe
startingpoinJs at Vesey and Canalsts.
The Fourth and Madisonaye. cars and the branch OF
the Thlrdave leading the Grand Central Depot,
thrOnged with thieves after the arrival OF express
trains. Occasionally heavy sums OF money and large
amounts bonds obtained from unwary passengers.
There are Isolated other roads, and occasionally
in Broadway stages but these the principal cars
where thieves work almost nightly.
The success OF the thieves may be judged from the
number OF advertisements from victims printed IN the
daily iournals offering rewards for the return OF Vau
able papers, watches jewelry, and other articles, and
having the significant termination, "NO questions
asked"
THE TRUE POLICY.
The police have various excuses to offer Some OF the
captains say that they have not sufficient force 10 drive
the thieves from the cars Others say that IL they
to arrest the Iaen suspicion from the knowledge
they professional thieves the prisoners would
be discharged by the magistrates soon as taken be-
fore them and that would be OF necessity WITHIN "a
hours after the arrests were made.
The detectives say that they have not the time 10
cover all the lines. and they visit none. There Is
another good reason, the majority OF the Officers OF the
companies refuse to allow the detectives TO ride fee
and fund TO be drawn from for this or any
similar purpose by the Police Commissioners, the de-
tectiyes be compelled to pay, and the fares would
amount to than they are willing to dis0urse
That this evil be grapped with ana overcome, was
demonstrated few years ago by Inspector Daniel Car
penter since deceased. He detailed for special duty
two each police precinct through when lines
OF cars passed These were known as car detec-
tyes selected for their personal knowledge or
thieves and their Their orders were 10 arrest
every known thief whom they found public convey
The the thief there was 10 be taken
pad fdcit evidence that he INTENDED TO steal Inc
prisoners taken TO the nearest staton-house
anu locked up III discharged by the maSistraCes-anu
tins was done in majority OF cases-t was to make no
difference, and the arrests were 10 continue
This policy pursued with the happlest enect Inc
thieves found their vocation runed All the weu-known
gangs compelled other cities and for several
there scarcely single complaint OF pocket
picking After the death OF Inspector Carpenter, the
system abrogated under the plea OF lack or patrol
for this daty and since then pckpockets have had