Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-09-04

fine class of goods and price
them, and reprice them, in fact
keep the clerk running all the
time, and before they go out he
will have his counter covered
over with all sorts of goods, and
will find himself considerably
out of pocket when he comes to
replace the different articles
While one engages the atten-
ton of the clerk, the other slips
away goods which are of the
most value and convenient size.
Female shoplifters have Il double
skirt, or two skirts sewn up at
the bottom and arranged in such
a manner as to form one i'm
mense pocket, extending all "a
round their body. Shoplifters,
too, are of all classes, some Of
them well dressed, others but
scantily clad. The male "lifters"
generally take in jewelry stores,
and steal the smaller and more
valuable articles; one, of course,
pricing, while the other takes
what he can get. To work a
jewelry store, however, requires
experts, and none but old hands
attempt the business.
PICKPOCKETS.
Now you have it! Every
one knows how pickpockets
work. They will take your
watch, snatch your diamond,ro
your vest pocket of bills or
small change, relieve you Of
your purse, and often right be-
fore you face, and you none the
wiser until you miss your pin,
your pocket-book, your money
or your watch; then you know
they've gone, but how could the
thief doit without your knowl-
edge? Your watch gone, and a
strong vest chain broken in two
and yourself perfectly innocent
of the loss until you search in
your pocket for the time of day.
These sort of thieves may in
reality be called professionals"
for their work embraces cOnsid-
cradle skill, and they are truly
the 'Elight-fingered gentry
They generally work i'll crowds;
wherever there is a large con-
course of people there are pick
pockets; or in crowded cars,
too, they operate, and generally
most successfully. The ferries,
railroad depOts, and even crowd
ed churches are their favorite re-
sorts; while the older hands, or
experts will even take car III
which there are comparatively
few passengers. In such case
they will sit beside their intend
ed victim, always picking out a
man or woman who is likely to
have money. They are very
careful to watch when he or she
pays the fare, in which pocket
the money is carried, and then
they work accordingly. The
place they like best though, is
the crowded railroad depot, for
almost every person carries con-
siderable money, enough at least
to repay them for their trouble.
BURGLARS.
Burglars are also professionals,
and when good professionals
they again change their name
and become "cracksmen." The
burglar picks out in every case
some building, either private
house, a bank, warehouse or
store, where he knows there is
plenty of "swag" to be obtained,
and he takes all the chances of
being arrested or shot. Besides
This house-breaking implements,
he carries such little accessories
as a revolver, slung shot or
knife, and is a decidedly dam
gerous man to corner. If cor
nered, he will fight; he is fully
aware of the risk he runs if
captured, and makes his arrange
ments with due caution, and if
in tight place fights according
Ily. If in such an extremity, he
has one aim and that is to get a.
way, and the life of any one
counts very little in his estima-
ton, when reckoned beside his
own chances for escape or I'M
prisonment. Burglaries are al
ways planned, and a burglar
seldom works alone; there are
generally two or three, and
sometimes more. fla house is to
be entered, every means is taken
to obtain information as to the
strength of theshutters,the style
of locks and fastenings at the
doors, and the number of male
inmates, which, in case of a sur
nrise will have TO be confronted,