The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-28
Robbers and Thieves-A Record Of
Thoir DOings.

The occurrence Of the State Fair, which
brings to the city large numbers of people
from all sections Of the State, and many from
other States, Is the occasion also Of an un-
usual visit OF corps of organized thieves
from northern cities. They come 10 regular
gangs with their respective chiefs, who,
upon arrival, after surveying the ground, as
signs each Of bis subordinates to the particu-
lar route, locality, or hotel, upon which he is
to operate. This is Gone as we'll to prevent
a conflict as to secure harmony, and to effect
ually "cover" the work without the loss
of valuable time and "talent.": Be.
sides the Fair this year. the Inauguration
of the Jackson statue attracted, perhaps, the
largest crowd ever before assembled in Rich.
mond, 80 that field of unusual promise vas
laid open for the operations Of the sneak.
thieves, pick.pockets, burglars, confidence
men, and professionals of every class and
description. Nor were they slow to take
advantage of the rich harvest before thems
They came in force. and from every source
comes The cry, "Pm robbed" my pocket.
book is gone,"" my watch has been stolen,"
&c. At
THE BALLARD HOUSE
several unsuspectiug persons were made
the victims OF these thieves, who, from the
manner in which they performed their ope-
rations, must have been regularly installed
guests of the house. Miss Evangeline Prem
ifidi. the English authoress, and correspond
ent of the principal London journals, who
came here to give an accurate, graphic, and
interesting report of the ceremonies attend
ing the nnveiling of the statue to the papers
she represents, was one of the hrst TO ee
robbed. At the usual hour for supper she
left her room, the door being unlocked, and
proceeded to the dlning.room, which is now
located in the Ballard House. Upon the cab
inetlay her watch and chain, very handsome
one, valued at four hundred dollars. She
did not dream of being robbed, but upon her
return the watch and chain had disappeared,
and rigid search failed to reveal thelr
Whereabouts, nor have they been discovered
since, Miss Prenifi5i offers one hundred
dollars reward for the recovery of her pro.
perty, and she has placed the case in the
hands of Detectives Knox & Wrenn.
Judge Hugh W. Sheffey suffered in sim.
liar manner at the, same hotel. He
wns also absent from his room for
few minutes. but few as they were there
was ample time for the professional sneak
thief !. to introduce himself, aostract
the watch, and then silently vanish. The
room @OI au, SApICos ShPiVySt - WV
ho,ise. was also successfully gone through =
Yesterday morning he was minus small
yalise. its contents, and some clothes which
were banging on rack. This hotel has 10
| It's employment two "expert" " watchmen,
and the proprietor never fails to provide for
the security and protection Of his guests.
but all his vigilance was unavaiiing Wnen u Inc
professional . came to town. There IS
still another to record, making the fourth I
MT.W. .J. jones.
On Monday double.case siver watch
fsmall), No. II, marked sspa.ent lever and
one gold chain with brass on both ends, was
stolen from his room. A fifth case also come:
| 10 light Colonel o. B. Finney was robbed
of his pocket.book containing $1l5. 1T Is
said several other rooms were robbed Whief
have not been heard Of. sr.
| FoRDs HOTEL
did not escape the argus eyes nor the absorb
inn capacities of tue thieves. Mr.. }. W
Tim berlake, OF Meechum's river, while In
the parIor Of this establishment, was robbed
OF . double csse gold watch, maker y. 5
W hite, OF Liverpool, and 3 4ong.iinked goit
chain work spiral. 80.
Mr. II. M. White suffered 10 the extent O
q railr5ad ticket valued at Sa8.09, also 9
Mr. George D. White, cadet from Lex