, 1874-12-20


10 rights they would collar him without any chin
Music (talk). In the course of time there Wer.
so many experts that d
| NEWER AND i SAFER WAY
vas devised.
| Reporter-An improvement
pr1soner-Yes-an excellent one, but it va:
mover patented. It was " flor (smartaE
way, and lessened tho chances OF discovery.
Reporter-What was it?
prisoner-They would sit a}ongside OF a lady
the pal as close as possible, 30 as to ehove the
dress out as far ns possible on tho other side
The wire would then put his hand into her pock.
et open her leather, take out tie money, anC
eLut it, leaving the book where i: was. II thu
owner became suspicious, she would feel hel
pocket. and know that the book was all right
and presumably the sugar. But when she Looked
for it, and found it was gone, eoma servant
would be- blamed, and probably arrested and senl
to hoe (jaiD.
Reporter-Couldnt ths people opposite the
lady seq the wire, as you call him. at work
PriBoner-No; his hand would be covered BY
shawl or coat.
Reporter-Tell me something about
THE HIGHEST GRADE
of pickpockets-the swell mob.
priaoncr-TheY work only at certain times in
different countries. having three or four laryests
year that Is, they work in Germany. ns ono
TING, in France at another, and in England at
another.
Reporter-Do they always travel in mobs7
Prisoner-(;euerally.
lcportcr-How many in party.
prlsoner-Usunlly tive; sometimes. however,
there is only one, aud then, again. but two.
Reporter-Ho. do fire divide the work?
prisoner-Threo stand in front OF the victim
and one behind, tho wire being al the side.
Rcporter-What were their ''eensous" IN En-
gland?
Prisoner-During tho most prominent races,-
the Derby and Epson, and also in fair times. :.
Reporter-WAen would thoy go to Germany?
Prsoner-Durins tho festivals.
Reporter-And to France2
Pr1Eoner-After the vine had been sold and
shipped. The largo and small dealers so to
Paris to get their money.
. Reporter-Tle mobs hayo these thinga all fig
ured out?
Prisoner-They are we'll posted in almost ev-
erytning. One OF them would 90 to 3 bank
where the wine merchants were drawing money.
and pick out man who had large sum, and
shadow him, and tiud out what part OF the coun-
try ho was goiug to.-what boat or train of cars
he would take. The man who goes to the bank
must havo soma legitimate business there, for
the detective system IN France is 80 perfect that
be would be dropped on (found out) in q minute.
Reporter-Would 8 mob follow q man very
far If they knew he earned large amount Of
money? ..
Prlsoner-Yes follow him until they got tho
sugar-all day il it was necessary.
Keporter-Do they generally succeed in such
osses?
rrisoner-They do not miss it once in twcntY
times; and if they were unsuccessful, they
would
TRY POT LUCE.
Reporter-Wllat is that?
prisoner-Pck out man whose appearance
inlicated that he ought to hare money with him.
and take his leather.
Kcportcr-How do they work the fairs?
Prisouer-WeA, in Germany, at certain sea-
sons, and in other countries on the Continent,
fatf a15 hnt1 T1,au rff Hal hrr
chants from all parts Of Europe, and from Egypt,
and the most costly articles are for sale ut the
booths. There is always an old man with the
mob-a venerable looking fellow, wao won'd bo
taken for respectable tradesman, and victims
are selected and aperatcd upon, and tho sNag
(plnnder) given to him to take caro- Of. No one
would suspect him Of being knuck (hlef).
These old men usually have letter. Of introluc-
tion to some ono living in the place. and do some
legitimate business while there.
Rcportcr-Iho ''swell mob" seem to have
things down to fine point.
rr1soner-Indecd they have; otherwise they
would get the collar, for it is hard to get ahead
Of 3 French detective. They have 80 many &C.
cret-scryco men that it is impossible to get ao-
quainted with their mugs, and they may get
onto q mob before thoy know it. Hence they are
Obliged to be circumspoct. and take very few
chances. But some Of tho swell dips arc so ex-
pert that theT arc never apprehended.
. Reporter-Whlch seems to be the best, the
English Or
THE FRENCH r1cKrocKETs?
Prisoner-The French. Tho best never get
caught. and have no occasion for leaving their
country, as they can work along day after day
without fear Of detection.
Hcporter-How do they work?
rr5onermIhsy work. as the English call it,
Reportcr-How many Of them are there in
party}
prisoner-Rarcly moro thnn two, as they arc
almost certain to be captured il there is moro in
mob.
Reporter-Thero do they work ?
Prisoner-At tho theatres, and other pisces
where men would be liable to show their mouey;
and they step alongside OF the one elected and
from pure cleveruess, extract his poclet-book
without his having the faiutest idea of what they
are doing.
Reporter--No matter where it was?
Frsoner-1n France the people carry their
money III their kicks (pants -pockets). knev Of
an instance where mau got $3.50, ,0u0 i'll $1,000
notes.
Keporter-Hor long have you been in Amer
ica :? j..
Prisoner-Fifteen or twenty years.
AMERICAN OPERATORS.
Reporter-What do you think OF ths pickpock-
ets here
Prisoner--They are the cleverest in the world.
Reporter-1u what respect2
prsoncr-In all respccts.
Reporter-Are thoy divided as the English
pickpockets sre
Prisoner-Not exactly there is no class here
like the wipe thieves Of London. Some Of them
work only banks.
Reporter-What do you mean by that?
Prisoncr-They will hang around bank until
they see man draw q large sum Of money, from
$500 to $1,000 say, and then watch for an oppor-
tunity to rob him.
Reporter-Whlo in the bank
Prisoner-When man draws largo sum it is
generally given him in packages OF 500 aud up
wards II he is . stranger, or not used to hand
ling funds he will 80 to some part of the bank to
count the money over and ho will break open
package, and lay the others to ono side. One of
the thieves will step up on his right, and the
other on his left. The one Oh his left will drop
a dollar or tive-dollar bill near his feet, and
call his attention to it, lie will think he has
dropped it, and thanking the man for the infor-
nation, will etoop to pick it up. As he does 80,
the other tliof who is only q few feet away, will
give one Light step forward, seize ono Of the
packages, and hand it to his pad ~ he passes
him on Lis way ont OF the bank. Tho whole
thing is done go quickly, that the owner OF the
money has no suspicious, and does not discover
his loss until the men have made their escape.
This class Of men have been remarkably success-
ful and they worked tho racket long while
beforo any one dropped on it. It is old now, but