Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-03

In view of the many cases of pocket
picking we have been called upon to
chronicle in such rapid succession, per-
haps the following information, gather
ed from a recent conversation with one
of our most experienced detectives, may
prove valuable to large number of peo-
pie, who might otherwise suffer from
the depredatiOns of these thieves. Our
knowledge has heretofore been confined
to the ordinary daily accounts of crime
appearing under the stereotyped heads
of ''Mysterious Car Robbery" Thieves
in a Stage, ''Pickpockets at Work, ="
and other startling titles of a similar ma
ture But we have occasionally been
furnished with information that gave us
a deeper insight into the appearance and
mode of operation of these cheUa2jers
d'induStrte, but, as it usually came to us
in the form of a sensational article, or
was woven into the plot of some novel
or play, we were led to make so much
allowance for eXaggeratiOn that we sell
dom retained a truthful conception of
the real live rasCals who jostle against
us on the streets. ObstruCt our passage
on the cars, and occupy seats next to us
in the stages.
now WE THINK THEY LOOK.
1t Is generally presumed by majority
of our citizens that pickpockets possess
some indescribable popularity in their
personal appearance by which they can
readily be distinguished from honest
folks. Many people entertain the idea
that these kind of thieves must necessa-
rily have a low forehead, villainous
1uaor Iaroa o1paly IN
conceal false hands and kit of pick
pockets instruments. This mistaken
suppositiOn accounts, in a very large
large measure, for the ease with which
so many robberies are committed. In
many cases the very caution of the victim
assists the operation of thieves. While
the over cautious are engaged in casting
suspicious chances around, with the
intention of avoiding some one who
corresponds with that mental pic
tnre of rascal-some genteely-
appearing parsonage, whom they do
not for a moment suspect, relieves
them of their valuables. The appear
ance of the tastefully attired lady, with
the modest countenance and delicately
formed hands, who apologies so grace
fully for her rudeness and haste in leay-
she has Just picked 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 a solicitude that eXcites admiration,
does not conform with the general i'm
preston of English Bill, the notorious
English pickpocket.
There are some uspicious-looking
among these people, just as there are
among lawyers, doctors, merchants, or
any other class of the community, but
they will compare favorably in personal
appearance with any body of honest
citizens, phrenologists to the contrary
Notwithstanding.
PICKPoCKET'S JOKE.
An amusing instance of the inability
of the public to distinguish an honest
man from thief, happened some time
since on the Portland railroad. A thief,
who had been picking pockets for
twenty years, and who is at present
serving out sentence in the State
Prison, had been operating for several
weeks SO extensively as to arouse the IN
dignation of travellers on this road. Some
of his victims had expressed the deter
mination to fog and tar and feather the
first pickpocket captured. About this
time the thief was wanted in this
city, for stealing large amount OF
bonds from a gentleman On Brooklyn
ferry-boat, and detective was sent to
Portland to arrest him. He secured his
man, and started for this city. They