, 1874-12-20
CROS SSMEN.
Interview with an Old
English Profes-
si011al.
How aKid Is Trained Up in
the Way He Should
60.
The Fashion in Which a Wire
Works Up 'Dus
or Car.
Significance Of Right Out
Jarve and Right
Pitman.
NoW the Pal patters Flash to the
Worker. Ingenious hethed Of |
Fileling Props and
SuperS.
A Mob Engaged in Wedding
a Store---7he Filters
Work.
Difficulty Of Disposing Of the
Sugar---Large Profits
of Fences.
Systsm Pursued by The Aoll Tool:r--Rela- !
j tions Between hobsmen and |
Fly-Cops.
What It Costs to Get Out Of |
the Stone jug.
Difficulty Of Disposing Of the
Sugar---Large Profits
of Fences.
System Pursued by The Moll Too|tr--Rela-
tions Between hobsmen and
Fly-cops.
What It Costs to Get Out Of
the Stone jug.


Among batch Of prisoners who recently went
from this city to Joliet was an old English thief
whose sentence will prevent him from practiciug
Ills profession for ten years. He WAS man Of
the world, and, though he had received no educa-
tlon in youth, travel and observation, G;ded by
natural Abilities Eharpened By experience, had
Afforded opportunities for acquiring information;
and, while not deeply learned in any subject, he
had superficial knowledge Of nearly all the
isms and olcgiee, and thoroughly understood
human nature. Ordinarily he would say moth
ing to those who stopped ut his cell door in tho
County Jail; but sometimes, when IN good
spirits, he would chatter like woman, and en-
terrain victor for an hour with his adventures.
A reporter Of The TRIBUNE, who had been
sea1chln. . long time for thiei who would tell
some Ct the secrets Of his craft, heard Of this
man, and thinking he would be likely to
'squeal,'' called upon him tie day before he
left for tho Penitentiaty. Ho VAS fortunately
in joyial mood notwithstanding tho dismal
prospect before him. and after considerable per-
suaslon was prevailed upon to give an idea OF
life in tho there's community. He used grea:
many slang terms, but, since they would 55 1ain-
tellisible to the average reader without 8
glossary, they translated into English, and
put into paranthescs. The following .Eas the
conversation:
EARLY TRAINING.
Reporter-N"hnt las been your special line Of
business:
. Prlsoner-l am like nearly all other profess
tionals; havo bad an insight into almost all
branches OF thieying except the modern racket
foccupatlon) of jng (bank) working.
:Ieportor-How did you commence, and when
prisoner-I began when I Was 10 years old,
and for Eve years wus the kid Cboy) Of a mob
[gang) Of store-breakers.
Ecporter-What could you do?
.prisoner-Oh, 1 could listen and find out
thinss.-where yaluables were kept.-and w,tch,
and SEQ where something worth taking WAS put,
*:thout being suspected; and besides could
conceal myself in store in the daytime, and
open window for the mob when heard the
signal.
Repo1ter-lf you started so young, you must
have had considerable experience?
P1lsoncr-Yes. I am nearly 50 nov. nnd
haven't done (been in prison) over twelve
stretches (yecrs).
Eeporter-Were you working all the time you
were at liberty?
Prlsoner-Yes, whenever anything could be
Conc.
Reporter-How did you manage to escape ar-
rest7
Prieoner-That was easy as long as Ind
money.
Reporter-You we're born in England were you
not7
Prlsoner-Tes, in London. never knew who
my parents were, and, having no ono to take care
ot mo, YVES left to myself, and turned out
(adopted thie7ing) because didn't know of any
thing else to do There was no ono who had
sufficient interest in my welfare to put me- to
trade, and wRs allowed to run tho streets, and
Was picked up (stopred and talked to) by the
man Who educated NE in the ways that sro dark
knd mysterious.
Reporter-Who was he7
Prlsoae1-Ho Tas
A "FITTEH."
Reportar-What is that?
Prisoner-A member Of mob whose bugines.
It's to fit keys to locks.
Reporter--Was that all he did
p1lsoner-That was enough, as it would take
t"o or three weeks and even much longer to it
m intricate lock,
hepoFser-Dld he devote all his time to it
Etoro. ~ "~43 =" q
MepGrtsr-Hor would he GET an impression Of
Isaie-sock for instance:
no no. II. T., The mob would gst into shop and wh1e
o1ners were selecting goods which the7 could
iseporter-Ezcuso ma b,t Ar ,ot t,,,,x.,.....,.o
"hatcTer they can carry nyavs o' N01 t'''lS l.1he
1a''s t11aone1-No burglar does; bnncler will
iellQ" o"d "ho aoss not understand Lis business.
saInsh l1aoSs sof6i4 5ao y W take only the most
other thing-whaterer he frst cane ou 1ho
would lumber the mob up With a lot Of stnfr t,,.t
was almost va1ueless:. have knoTn sin Inn nm
70 Tastn 0. goods to sell for only ahout *l,uoo.
The fences arc hard men to deal with. mn; iI'ar
must have the Lions share for the supposed raj r;st
they run. tAa~ -
keporter-Go on with tho filter story. ~
Prisoner-Well. while the mob were overhaul
Ing tho stock looking for aiIks and 1aces, etc, he
would be at the vault door, or safe, examining,
tho loci. He had blank key ionc that had never
been fitted to 3 lo:k) and would cover the part
that goes into the lock with common brown SOAP
Tho key would then be inserted, very gently.
AID t1r rnnrinr Il nklfnl1r ha sznrld nnt II, !.