Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-04-04
PickpOckets.

IT is generally presumed bv majority
of our citizens that pickpockets possess
some indescribable peculiarity in their
personal appearance by which they can
readily be distinguished from honest
folks. Many people entertain the ideathat
these kind of thieves must necessarily
have a low forehead. villainous counten-
ance, and wear a large cloak to conceal
false hands and kit of pickpockets' in
struments. This mistaken supposition
accounts in a large measure, for the ease
with which so many robberies are com.
mitted. In many cases the very caution
of the victim assists the operations of
thieves. While the over-cautious are en-
gagged in casting suspicious gances
around, with the intention of avoiding
some one who corresponds with that men
tai picture of a rascal-some genteely-
appearing parsonage, whom they do not
for moment suspect, relieves them of
their valuables. The appearance of the
tastefully attired lady, with the modest
who apologies so gracefully for her rude
ness and haste in leaving car, does not
suggest the fact that she has Just picked
a pocket. The plain, honest-looking old
gentleman, who wears an expression as
benignant as Beecher's, and assists an old
lady across the street with solicitude
that excites admiration, does not con-
form with the general impression of En-.
glish Bill, the notorious English pick
pocket.
There are some suspicious-l looking faces
among these people, just as there are
among lawyers, doctors, merchants, OF
any other class of the community, but
they will compare favorably in personal
appearance with any body of honest citi
zens, phrenologists to the contrary not
withstanding.
An amusing instance of the inability oi
the public to distinguish an honest man
from thief, happened some time since or
the Portland Railroad. A thief, who had
been picking pockets for twenty years
aud who is at present serving out sen
tence in the State Prison, had been oper
ating for several weeks so extensively
as to arouse the indignation of travellers
on this road Some of his victims haC
expressed the determination to fog anC
tar and-feather the first pickpocket cap
tured. About this time the thief waI
"todnted" in this city for stealing a large
amount of bonds from a gentleman on ,
Brooklyn ferry boat, and detective wal
sent to Portland to arrest him. He SO
cured his man, and started for this city
They experienced some difficulty in find
ing seats; but finally the thief procured
one with a gentleman who resided il
Portland, and the detective occupied tn,
corresponding seat on the opposite side o
the aisle. The thief introduced himsel
to his neighbor as a detective, and in
formed him, in a consequential tone, tina
he was taking the man opposite, who wa
a well-known pickpocket, to New Yorl
to answer for bold robbery he hat
recently committed. He also advised hi
fellow.traveler that his prisoner wa
probably the very man who had picket
so many pockets in that neighborhood
"He likes to play practical Jokes" con
tinued the thief, "On the train we hav
just left he made several gentlemen
believe that was the prisoner and he tn
officer" The real detective sat watching
his prisoner, all unconscious of the ap
preaching storm. The gentleman move'
to another part of the car, and commu
nicated the information he had just re
ceived to several friends. One of then
had been robbed few days before O
over 5000, and no was still very angry,
He stepped over to the detective, and
in a loud voice, said: 80 they hav
caught you at last, you miserable Gu
throatS You are the rascal who stole m
money. Iknow you. l saw you whe
you took 1t, and IL you had not escaped
would have shot you like u dog. 70