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

pretty good idea before he un-
dertakes the job where to put
his hand Oh that money or those
jewels; and he is always more
or less a brute, having some lit
tie discretion, less fear, and
large share of dogged courage.
tits make or break with him,
and he weighs the risk just as
carefully as the probable value
of his booty.
There is in the planning of
burglaries, as a rule, a master
spirit; a man who directs the
entire arrangements and is obey
ed by the men who under his
direction undertake the matter.
Bank robberies almost always
give an example of this sort, as
also do the burglaries commit
ted on warehouses, all show
that brain work has not been
stinted, and that good general
ship has always been the foun-
dation of a good "job." This
class Of thieves, too, pay enor-
nous prices for their various i'm
plements; among burglars tools
captured by the police of this
city and others will be found in
struments Of the finest metal
and manufacture; 'jimmies" OF
steel, whose texture and quality
were mquestiOnable; saws and
files unsurpassed in finish, and
far superior in value to any hon
est tool. This class of thieves
60 i'll for large hauls, and take
corresponding risks, and are
probably the most dangerous set
of men in the entire thief COM
munity.
lllGHN A1 MEN
Are such as prowl around the
street at night in gangs of twos
and threes and strike down the
pedestrian, whom
they relieve Of his watch and
This class Of thieves is
too we'll known to need dcscrip-
ton.
This list may be closed with
two more references-the conf
dence man and the wagon
thieves. The confidence man
is one who by plausible story,
can overcome any suspicious
you may have formed and get
you to give him the money he
wants. They have many lodges
such as collecting for missions,
for widows and for orphans, for
church building, for Sabbath
schools, etc. Then, again
they will call on the lady
of the house and tell her her
husband has been arrested and
wants $40 or $40 Immediately
to get ont; and, somehow or
this dodge is generally
successful. Confidence men
are generally termed swindlers,
and in this article the many
tricks and devices they resort to
cannot be dwelt upon. Wagon
thieves are bold in their mode
of operation. There will be
two men in wagOn-a light
business affair; they drive up OPP
posite some store where valua-
BILE goods are exposed for sale
on the outside; they will seize
sOmething-a chest of tea, bags
of coffee or flour, a string of |
boots or shoes, dry goods, any
thing-throw them into the wag-
on, and drive off before the as
tonished stOrekeeper knows
"what's what"
WHATISDONE WITHTHE "SWAG."
When thieves have made a |
haul they always take their
booty to some of the many pla-
ces where thieves congregate,
and there it is all kept until it
can be disposed of with caution.
Silver often gets melted up and
sold in bars, silks go to odd
places in Baxter street, where
you would hardly think the jew
who buys them could afford to
pay for cotton, and sometimes
they are pawned. The Serbs"
or places where thieves live, are
well patronized by men-Jews
mostly-who can buy all sorts
Of goods at, of course, very low
prices and retail them to great
advantage. Country peddlars
also get hold Of a good many
stolen articles, and take them
off into places where there is lit
tie fear of ever being recOg-
nized, and sell them for almost
anything.